Stellagama cf. stellio (Linnaeus, 1758)

Ma‛ayan Lev, Dani Nadel, Mina Weinstein-Evron & Reuven Yeshurun, 2022, Squamates and amphibians from the Natufian cemetery of Raqefet Cave, Israel: taphonomy, paleoenvironments and paleoclimate, An International Journal of Paleobiology 34 (12), pp. 2394-2414 : 2402

Stellagama cf. stellio (Linnaeus, 1758)

The rock-tailed agama is the second most common lizard at the site (NISP = 44, 4% of the total assemblage) and is represented by maxillary and mandibular specimens, and vertebrae ( Figure 5 (b)). The specimens were assigned to Stellagama following Smith et al. (2016). The maxilla is characterised by a steep angulation of the triangular shaped facial process. The dorsal end of the facial process has two posterior processes that are asymmetric, the medial facial process is longer than the lateral one. There is a strong notable depression on the slightly medially curved premaxillary process. The anteromedial process is pointed in the dorsal direction. There are two anterior subpleurodont, monocuspid caniniform teeth, the second is much longer and has greater girth than the first. Posteriorly the teeth are acrodont and triangular; they are crowded and increase in size posteriorly. The Lateral surface is smooth and bears five labial (ventrolateral) foramina.

The dentary is characterised by a large rounded strong mandibular symphysis. The Meckelian groove is narrow anteriorly with no restrictions, it has a constant depth and height until its posterior expansion at the angular articulation. The subdental shelf has a consistent height until it posteriorly expands ventrodorsally. A subdental gutter is present and is apparent for two-thirds of the dentary from the anterior subpleurodont teeth to the posterior acrodont teeth until the last four posterior teeth. The dorsal inflection in the coronoid articulation is absent. There are two anterior subpleurodont large caniniform monocuspid teeth and posteriorly triangular, laterally flattened acrodont teeth. The size of the acrodont teeth increases posteriorly, however the posterior most teeth are slightly smaller. On the lateral surface, the largest acrodont teeth are located in the middle of the dentary and the teeth are separated by a ventrally oriented groove. The lateral surface of the dentary has five mental foramina that vary in size and depth.

The trunk vertebra is procoelous and is characterised by an oval dorsoventrally flattened condyle and cotyle. In the dorsal view, the neural arch is wide and the interzygapophyseal constriction is moderate. Prezygapophyseal particular facets are elongated ovalshaped and anterolaterally directed. The neural spine is strong and wider in its posterior half. In the ventral view, the centrum is triangular, its ventral surface is slightly convex, and the synapophyses are laterally protruding. In anterior view, the neural canal is wide, the neural arch is triangular in shape, and its anterior edge is V-shaped. The synapophyses are well-defined and laterally protruding. The prezygapophyseal facets are dorsolaterally tilted. In posterior view, the neural canal is wide, the neural arch is round, and its posterior edge is U-shaped. Postzygapophysis is thin and laterally protruding. In lateral view, the synapophyses are well-defined and oval shaped. The neural spine starts to rise dorsally from the anterior edge of the neural arch.

The species inhabits various habitats in the Mediterranean region, semi-arid and arid regions, always in rocky areas. It is most common in the Mediterranean maquis habitat (supplementary Figure S2 (b)). This species was identified at various Epipaleolithic sites in Israel, including the Kebaran sites of Iraq e Zigan ( Heller 1978), Nahal Hadera V ( Bar-Oz 2004) and Meged Rockshelter ( Stiner 2005), and the Natufian layers of Abu Usba Cave (mixed layer with Holocene intrusions, Stekelis and Haas 1952), Hayonim Cave ( Stiner 2005), Nahal Oren ( Nadel et al. 1997), Nahal Ein Gev II ( Munro et al. 2021), Abu Salem ( Marks and Scott 1976), Ramat Harif ( Munro et al. 2020), Eynan ( Biton et al. 2021) and EWT ( Valla et al. 1986; Lev et al. 2020).

Figures

Figure 2. Plan of Raqefet Cave (a) provenance of the faunal samples, with the different contexts presented in this study labelled in red (b).

Figure 5. Anura and lizard bones from Raqefet Cave. Bufotes viridis sl (a) presacral vertebra, from left to right, dorsal, anterior and posterior views; Stellagama cf. stellio (b) left maxilla, medial and lateral views; (c) right dentary, medial and lateral views; (d) trunk vertebra, dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior and lateral views; Eumeces schneiderii (e) right dentary, medial and lateral views; (f) trunk vertebrae, dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior and lateral views; Pseudopus apodus (g) left maxilla, medial and lateral views (h) left dentary, medial and lateral views; (i) trunk vertebra, dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior and lateral views.