Data from: The first pre-Quaternary fossil record of the clade Mabuyidae with a comment on the enclosure of the Meckelian canal in skinks

We here describe the first Neogene record of the squamate clade Mabuyidae.
Although this clade has a cosmopolitan distribution today, no
pre-Quarternary fossil record of these reptiles has so far been
documented. The material comes from the locality Solnechnodolsk (Russia)
and is dated to the late Miocene (MN 13). Although it comprises only jaw
elements, it constitutes the first evidence of the occurrence of fossil
skinks around the area of the Black Sea. The material is identical to
Heremites vittatus, showing the existence of this lineage as early as the
late Miocene. Thus, it may be used as a potential calibration point for
further studies. The comparative anatomy of the structures of lower jaw in
selected scincomorph taxa with a special reference to Mabuya group is
presented. The closure of the Meckelian canal is the condition at the
basal node of the clade Sphenomorphidae + Eugongylidae + Egerniidae +
Mabuyidea, whereas the closed canal in Acontias (Acontidae) evolved
independently. However, Sphenomorphidae (Asymblepharus and Scincella) +
Eugongylidae (Ablepharus) retain a large anterior opening of the Meckelian
canal, whereas only a small opening characterizes the basal node of
Egerniidae and Mabuyidae, except for H. vittatus and H. septemtaeniatus.
The closure of the Meckelian canal in these two taxa is less well
developed in comparison with other mabuyid skinks. Thus, a heterochronic
pedomorphic process might have played a role in the evolution of these
skinks. The Meckelian canal condition supports the monophyly of Heremites.