Xantusia

Conrad, J. L., 2008, Phylogeny And Systematics Of Squamata (Reptilia) Based On Morphology, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2008 (310), pp. 1-182 : 101

Xantusia + Cricosaura

(figs. 54C, 55C)

DIAGNOSIS: According to the current analysis, Xantusia and Cricosaura share one unambiguous synapomorphy uniting them to the exclusion of Lepidophyma : 48(1) posteroventral process of jugal absent.

COMMENTS: Morphological data have previously suggested a sister taxon relationship between Cricosaura and Lepidophyma . Molecular data suggest a sister-group relationship between Xantusia and Lepidophyma ( Hedges et al., 1991; Hedges and Bezy, 1993; Vicario et al., 2003). Recovery of a novel phylogenetic topology here may be related to the broader sampling of outgroup taxa compared to previous analyses. Even so, the composite coding of Xantusia in this matrix will be eliminated in future versions of this analysis to further analyze the current phylogenetic hypothesis.