Pliocene Amphibians and Reptiles from Clark County, Nevada

Abstract

Pliocene herpetofaunas are uncommon in the published literature. Here we report on a small Pliocene (Blancan Land Mammal Age) herpetofauna from the White Narrows local fauna (Clark Co., Nevada) dating approximately 4.9 to 4.3 Ma. At least two species of Bufo, a phrynosomatid lizard, Xantusia, and a colubrine snake were recovered from sediments deposited in a basin that held a small lake. Climate was probably subhumid, but a cooling and aridification trend was occurring. The vegetation may have been a mosaic of oak-juniper (?) woodland and a riparian community. The White Narrows herpetofauna is depauperate in comparison to the present community which is probably due to sampling bias and not a climatic factor.