The first fossil record of Amphisbaena heterozonata from the Late Pleistocene of Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Abstract

We report the first fossil record of the living amphisbaenian Amphisbaena heterozonata, from the Late Pleistocene ofBuenos Aires province, Argentina. The specimen consists of a nearly complete skeleton, including cranium, coming from the LatePleistocene Luján Formation, at the Altos Verdes Lake, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The specimen is referred to Amphisbaenaheterozonata on the basis of several cranial and postcranial morphological features, including an enlarged second maxillary tooth. Thisspecimen constitutes the first fossil record of a living species of the family Amphisbaenidae in South America, and also the first fossilrecord for Amphisbaena heterozonata.