多凿齿蜥类(Squamata, Polyglyphanodontia)是晚白垩世时有鳞类中的优势类群之一, 地理分布广, 体形大小迥异, 形态多样性高。特别表现为多样且独特的牙齿形态, 如横向凿状牙齿和类似哺乳动物臼齿的多尖型牙齿。多凿齿蜥类在经历了晚白垩世的繁盛之后却在白垩纪末和恐龙、翼龙以及有鳞类中的沧龙共同灭绝。近年来多凿齿蜥类化石已报道的属种众多(共计60余种), 但因其兼具臼齿蜥类和鬣蜥类的形态特征、早期研究描述简略和图版不足, 多凿齿蜥类的成员组成、该类群在有鳞类中的系统位置以及类群内的系统关系还存在争议。本研究较全面地梳理了曾归入多凿齿蜥类的属种的分类学和该类群的系统发育学分析结果, 讨论了多凿齿蜥类的定义以及该类群内的形态多样性。

Polyglyphanodontia (Squamata) were widely distributed and represent one of the dominant squamate groups during the Late Cretaceous, exhibiting significant variation in both body size and morphology. Their dental morphologies are particularly diverse, featuring some unique tooth types among squamates, such as the transverse chisel-shaped teeth of Polyglyphanodon and the mammalian molar-like multicuspid teeth of Peneteius. Notably, this highly successful squamate group went extinct together with dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and mosasaurs (Squamata) at the end of the Cretaceous. Recently, scientific interest in polyglyphanodontians has grown, driven by an increasing number of fossil discoveries worldwide. Despite the identification of more than 60 species and the availability of well-preserved fossil materials, controversies remain unresolved regarding their taxonomy, intra-relationships within Polyglyphanodontia, and the phylogenetic position of the group within squamates. These uncertainties stem from their mosaic morphological features, simplistic descriptions, and incomplete or inadequate illustrations of fossils in some early studies. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the species previously reported as polyglyphan odontians, examine the taxonomic history and phylogenetic hypotheses of the group, clarify the definition of the clade Polyglyphanodontia, and summarize its morphological diversity.

国家自然科学基金面上项目(42072031), 中国科学院古脊椎所重点部署项目和云南省科技领军人才项目(202305AB350006)联合资助