Fossil Reptile Species

Reptile fossils are important fossil finds from the Fossil Butte Member (FBM). Aquatic (water based) and terrestrial (land based) reptile fossils help scientists understand the ecosystem of Fossil Lake and its surrounding environment. 15 species of reptiles have been identified from the FBM.

• 1 Snake Species
• 2 Crocodilian Species
• 3 Lizard Species
• 8 Turtle Species

 

B. idelmani cast of lost specimen

Snake - Boavus idelmani

Order Squamata, Family Boidae
The family Boidae has 44 living species found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, Europa, Africa, Asia, and the western United States. Snakes in the Boidae family are carnivorous and a few are aquatic. B. idelmani is small and may belong to the neotropical subfamily Tropidophinnac (dwarf boas).
Snakes are a very rare find from the Fossil Butte Member (FBM). Only 1 species has been identified from a small number of specimens. In 2017, a fossil specimen appearing to be a snake of a different species was found in the FBM. Identification of this new snake species is pending.

 

S. ensidens cast of FMNHPR2378 specimen

NPS Photo

Lizards - 3 Species Identified: Saniwa ensidens & Bahndwivici ammoskius & Afairiguana avius

Order Squamata

• Family Varanidae (Monitor Lizards) - S. ensidens
• Family Shinisauridae (Crocodile Lizards) - B. ammoskius
• Family Iguanidae (Iguana Lizards) - A. avius

Living members of the Varanidae family (monitor lizards):

• include the largest living lizard: the komodo dragon
• are found primarily in tropical rainforests and freshwater swamps
• most are strict carnivores, though some will feed on fruit

S. ensidens is the largest lizard species from the FBM, one specimen measuring 6 feet. Like living monitor lizards, it had a long neck and powerful limbs. It most likely used its strong legs and claws to climb. Its long tail would have been used for balance and defense.

The Shinisauridae family (crocodile lizards) contains one modern species, Shinisaurus crocodilurus. S. crocodilurus is:

• found only in China
• lives in freshwater systems
• spends most of its time in shallow water or overhanging branches
• is carnivorous, feeding on snails, insects, and fish

The fossil species B. ammoskius and the living S. crocodilurus are skeletally indistinguishable.

The more than 300 modern members of the Iguanidae family:

• are found throughout the Caribbean, southeastern United States, Central America, and northern South America
• feed primarily on invertebrates like insects and spiders
• are found in tropical and subtropical terrestrial (land based) habitats

 

T. greenriverenis cast of private specimen

NPS Photo

Crocodilians - 2 Species Identified: Borelosuchus wilsoni & Tsoabichi greenriverenis

Order Crocodilia

• Family unknown - B. wilsoni
• Family Alligatoridae - T. greenriverenis

The most common crocodilian fossils found in the FBM are isolated teeth. Crocodilian species continually shed and replace their teeth, frequently breaking them off while feeding. There are 23 living species of crocodilians.
B. wilsoni belongs to a primitive crocodilian group and was neither true crocodile nor true alligator. It was part of a sister group to the group that contains both modern crocodiles and alligators. The largest B. wilsoni specimen discovered from the FBM was about 15 feet long. Growth rings in B. wilsoni fossil teeth indicate this species could grow as large as 16 feet long.
T. greenriverenis belongs to the subfamily Caimaninae (caimans), one of the two primary lineages of the Alligatoridae family. The 6 living caiman species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. They inhabit slow moving, freshwater streams, lakes, ponds, and flooded wetlands. Modern caimans feed on insects, amphibians, crayfish, shrimp, and birds.

 

Turtles - 8 Species Identified

All identified turtle species had aquatic or semi-aquatic habits. The species below are organized by family.

 

C. undatum cast of private specimen

NPS Photo

Baenidae Turtles - 2 Species Identified: Chisternon undatum & Baena arenosa

Order Testudines, Family Baenidae
The extinct Baenidae family:

• is known only from western North America
• dates back to the early Cretaceous (about 120 million years ago)
• went extinct sometime in the late Eocene (about 35 million years ago)
• aquatic turtles
• sometimes called "bottom-walking" (possibly not good swimmers)
• fed mostly on fish and crustaceans
• characterized by long tails and the inability to retract heads into shells

 

A. byssinus cast of SSTM specimen

NPS Photo

Soft-Shell Turtles - 3 Species Identified: Apalone heteroglypta & Axestemys byssinus & Hummelichelys guttata

Order Testudines, Family Trionychidae
Members of the Trionychidae family:

• have webbed claws and feet
• only 3 claws on each hand
• have solid bone on the central part of their body, covered by thick skin
• lack hard bone on the outer edges of their shells
• can move quickly in open water and through muddy lake bottoms due to their light, flexible shells

Living members of the Trionychidae family:

• are strict carnivores
• known to feed on: fish, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals
• found in North America, Africa, and Asia

The 25 living species of the Trionychidae family are found exclusively in freshwater systems, suggesting that the upper portion of Fossil Lake was not salty.
Both A. heteroglypta and A. byssinus would have been apex (top of the food chain) or near-apex predators of Fossil Lake.

 

River Turtle - Baptemys wyomingenis

Order Testudines, Family Dermatemydidae
The Dermatemydidae family has only one living species, Dermatemys mawii. D. mawii is:

• nocturnal
• aquatic
• inhabits tropical, freshwater systems in Central America and southern Mexico
• feeds primarily on aquatic vegetation

B. wyomingenis specimens are exceptionally rare fossils in the FBM. Three specimens have been identified: 1 adult and 2 juveniles. Scientists find B. wyomingenis nearly identical to D. mawii.

 

E. wyomingensis fossil

NPS Photo

Pond Turtle - Echmatemys wyomingensis

Order Testudines, Family Emydidae
Living members of the Emydidae family:

• include over 40 modern species
• are primarily aquatic, freshwater species
• include some brackish (slightly salty) water tolerant and terrestrial (land based) species

The bone structure of E. wyomingensis suggests it was not a strong swimmer. It may have behaved similar to the modern painted turtle, spending much of its time out of water, basking in the sun.