Unusual morphology in the mid-Cretaceous lizard Oculudentavis.

Oculudentavis khaungraae was described based on a tiny skull trapped in amber. The slender tapering rostrum with retracted narial openings, large eyes, and short vaulted braincase led to its identification as the smallest avian dinosaur on record, comparable to the smallest living hummingbirds. Despite its bird-like appearance, Oculudentavis showed several features inconsistent with its original phylogenetic placement. Here, we describe a more complete specimen that demonstrates Oculudentavis is actually a bizarre lizard of uncertain position. The new specimen is described as a new species within the genus Oculudentavis. The new interpretation and phylogenetic placement highlight a rare case of convergent evolution in skull proportions but apparently not in morphological characters. Our results re-affirm the importance of Myanmar amber in yielding unusual taxa from a forest ecosystem rarely represented in the fossil record. • A new species of the reptile in amber, Oculudentavis , is described • Oculudentavis is a bizarre lizard, not a bird • The bird-like appearance of Oculudentavis is due to convergence in skull proportions Bolet et al. describe a second, more complete, specimen of the mid-Cretaceous genus Oculudentavis (new species) from the amber deposits of Myanmar. Comparative morphology and phylogenetic analyses prove that, despite its bird-like appearance, Oculudentavis is a bizarre lizard of uncertain affinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]