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  11. Early Pliocene Varanus (squamata, Varanidae) Remains From Megalo Emvolon, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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  11. Early Pliocene Varanus (squamata, Varanidae) Remains From Megalo Emvolon, Thessaloniki, Greece.

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Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography
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Early Pliocene Varanus (Squamata, Varanidae) remains from Megalo Emvolon, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Chara Drakopoulou1, Georgios L Georgalis2, Georgios Lazaridis1

  • 1Laboratory of Geology and Palaeontology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|October 15, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fossils from Greece, identified as Varanus cf. marathonensis, suggest an Asian origin for this monitor lizard species. This finding extends the known range and temporal presence of Varanus in Europe.

Keywords:
EuropeRusciniananatomymonitor lizards

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Vertebrate Zoology
  • Neogene Paleontology

Background:

  • Fossil varanid lizards provide insights into evolutionary history and paleobiogeography.
  • The Early Pliocene epoch in Europe is characterized by significant faunal turnover.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and classify new fossil varanid material from Northern Greece.
  • To determine the phylogenetic affinities and paleobiogeographic implications of the fossil material.
  • To reconstruct the paleoenvironment of the Megalo Emvolon locality.

Main Methods:

  • Excavation and analysis of fossil varanid remains from the MVL site.
  • Comparative morphological analysis of cranial and dental features.
  • Phylogenetic placement based on anatomical comparisons with extant and extinct Varanus species.
systematics

Main Results:

  • Fossil material from Megalo Emvolon (4.2-3.2 Ma) is referred to Varanus cf. marathonensis.
  • Cranial features, particularly the postorbitofrontal bone, distinguish it from Varanus mokrensis.
  • Morphological resemblance suggests an Asian lineage, with closer affinities to Australasian Varanus species.
  • The find represents a potentially latest European record for Varanus marathonensis.
  • Paleoclimatic data indicate a warm, humid Early Pliocene environment in Northern Greece.

Conclusions:

  • The Megalo Emvolon Varanus cf. marathonensis extends the known temporal and geographic range of the species in Europe.
  • The findings support an Asian origin for this lineage of monitor lizards.
  • Fossil varanids in Greece show trends of size reduction potentially linked to Plio-Pleistocene climate changes.