Late Miocene amphibians and reptiles: new insight into the pre-Messinian herpetofaunas in Turkey

The herpetofauna of the late Miocene age in Turkey is nearly unknown, as it is represented by a single known anguine assemblage from the latest Miocene of Suleymanli locality. The amphibians and reptiles from the three early late Miocene (MN 9) localities of Bayraktepe 2, Kutahya, and Altintas in Anatolia are described here. One amphibian (Latonia spp.) and five squamate (Pseudopus sp., Varanus sp., Colubrinae indet. 1 and 2, and Naja sp.) taxa are revealed. The Bayraktepe 2 and Kutahya localities are dominated by anuran remains, and exclusively Latonia, whereas the Altintas locality is represented by reptilian taxa. Although the material is relatively poor, it provides the first information about the late Miocene assemblage of amphibians and reptiles in Turkey. The records of Naja and Varanus from Altintas are currently the oldest records of these taxa in Anatolia.

Automated summary

The late Miocene herpetofauna in Turkey is poorly known, with only one known anguine assemblage from Suleymanli. However, new findings from three early late Miocene localities in Anatolia have revealed a variety of amphibians and reptiles, providing the first insights into the late Miocene herpetofauna in Turkey. The oldest records of Naja and Varanus in Anatolia are currently from the Altintas locality.