Pristiguana

Pristiguana is an extinct genus of possible iguanian lizard from the Maastrichtian Marília Formation of Brazil. The type species is P. brasiliensis.

Description

Pristiguana was discovered in the Bauru Group of Brazil. Its discoverers said, in 1973, that it is originally considered as the oldest fossil lizard in the family Iguanidae. It resembles living primitive South American iguanids in some features, and shares some features with teiids. However, in 2012 study, phylogenic analysis found that it was a primitive iguanian forming a clade with Huehuecuetzpalli. Later studies questioned its pleurodontan and iguanian affinity. The specimen is apparently lost.