A new lizard from the Lower Cretaceous of Shandong, China

ABSTRACT A new squamate taxon is described from the Lower Cretaceous Doushan Formation, Qingshan Group, Laiyang, Shandong Province, China. Two incomplete mandibles represent a morphologically peculiar lizard taxon, which has heavily built jaws and highly specialized crushing teeth in a greatly shortened tooth row. Results of phylogenetic analysis show that the new taxon is a member of the Scincomorpha, and can be grouped with the Lacertiformes on the basis of character states related to jaw structures.