Lacertidae

Villa, Andrea & Delfino, Massimo, 2019, A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 187 (3), pp. 828-928 : 864

Lacertidae ( Fig. 24F–I )

Vomers of lacertids are very much larger in their posterior-half (which is laterally rounded in dorsal view) than in the anterior one (which is straight). Acanthodactylus erythrurus , Ophisops elegans and Psammodromus have a lower difference in width between the two portions. The two former species have also a more angular lateral margin of the posterior-half ( Fig. 24F, G ). A wide and deep notch for the vomeronasal fenestra separates the two portions. The posterior end is usually bifurcated, because of the presence of two posteriorly developed and pointed processes: the medial one is usually the longest one, but variation may occur. The dorsal surface of this end is the articulation surface with the vomerine process of the palatine, whose anterior margin can be marked by a very low and arched ridge ( Fig. 24H ). A well-developed longitudinal ridge runs along the medial margin of the dorsal surface of the bone. A deep lacrimal groove runs longitudinally along the ventral surface of the anterior-half of the bone that is otherwise smooth. By the posterior end of such a groove there is a large foramen, which opens on the dorsal surface in a moderately wide and posteriorly directed cavity. Another groove, bending medially at its anterior end, is present on the dorsal surface, roughly in the middle of the anterior-half. A small foramen connects this second groove with the cavity in which the former foramen opens.

Figures

Figure 24. Vomers. A, Laudakia stellio (HUJ.OST-Z-5), articulated vomers in ventral view. B, Laudakia stellio (HUJ.OST- Z-424), right vomer in dorsal view. C–D, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (NHMW 611), vomer in dorsal (C) and ventral (D) views. E, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (NHMW 721), articulated vomers in ventral view. F–G, Ac. erythrurus (UAM.R.ACVII), right vomer in dorsal (F) and ventral (G) views. H–I, Lacerta bilineata (MDHC 381), right vomer in dorsal (H) and ventral (I) views. J–K, Ab. kitaibelii (MDHC 239), fused vomers in dorsal (J) and ventral (K) views. L–M, Chalcides ocellatus (MDHC 250), fused vomers in dorsal (L) and ventral (M) views. N–O, Ophiomorus punctatissimus (MDHC 427), left vomer in dorsal (N) and ventral (O) views. P–Q, Tr. aurata (MDHC 280), left vomer in dorsal (P) and ventral (Q) views. R–S, Anguis gr. An. fragilis (MDHC 102), left vomer in dorsal (R) and ventral (S) views. T, Pseudopus apodus (MDHC 215), left vomer in dorsal view (the specimen is broken roughly at midlength).Abbreviations: asv, articulation surface with the vomerine process of the palatine; lg, lacrimal groove; nvf, notch of the vomeronasal fenestra; pp, posterior process. Scale bars = 1 mm.