Ovoo gurvel

Norell, Mark A., Gao, Ke-Qin & Conrad, Jack, 2007, A New Platynotan Lizard (Diapsida: Squamata) from the Late Cretaceous Gobi Desert (Ömnögov), Mongolia, American Museum Novitates 3605, pp. 1-24 : 3-4

Ovoo gurvel , new taxon

HOLOTYPE SPECIMEN: IGM 3 /767, well-preserved partial skull with the braincase and mandibles missing.

ETYMOLOGY: Ovoo - is from Mongolian ovoo (pronunciation: o-boe), meaning ‘‘a heap or cairn’’ (fig. 3). A remnant of the pre- Buddhist religion of Mongolia, these cairns are said to be inhabited by local spirits. Occasionally they are also way points and navigational aids along old caravan routes and, more recently, roads. Ovoos are venerat- ed by Mongols and are worshipped by circling them clockwise three times and adding offerings in the form of rocks, prayer-flags, money and even vodka bottles. Gurvel - derives from the Mongolian word for lizard.

TYPE LOCALITY AND HORIZON: Little Ukhaa Tolgod Nemegt Basin, Mongolian Gobi Desert; Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation ( Loope et al., 1998).

Known distribution: Known only from the type locality and horizon.

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from Cherminotus longifrons and other closely related varanoids by the following character states: nasals paired; presence of aperture between premaxilla

27.891N 104 ° 57.84W

and maxilla (the premaxillary fenestra sensu Gauthier, 1982; see also Gao and Norell, 1998); anteromedial process of maxilla separating premaxilla from septomaxilla; dorsal septomaxillary foramen strongly reduced and close to midline (from Gao and Norell, 2000).

Sharing with Aiolosaurus oriens character states including presence of a premaxillamaxilla aperture; dorsal septomaxillary foramen strongly reduced and close to midline. Distinguished from Aiolosaurus oriens and other closely related varanoids by the following derived character states: presence of paired mystery bones roofing the nasal/frontal suture; absence of dermal sculpturing on the skull bones (region unpreserved in Aiolosaurus oriens ); premaxillary nasal process broader than deep; premaxilla-maxilla aperture large and rounded; premaxillary teeth 12 (as opposed to 7 in Aiolosaurus oriens ); maxillary teeth 12–13 ( Aiolosaurus oriens 10 at most).