Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 16. (Budapest 1918)

Fejérváry, G.J.: Contributions to a Monography on fossil Varanidae and on Megalanidae 16

878 0. J. DB FEJERVÁRY anatomical research settle the question by justifying an identity, if striving for a n a t u r a 1 s y s t e m free from artificial limits, we must, in spite of the long time (duration), and not from mere speculative consideration, give w

r

ay to supposing things differently to how we see them. Besides the palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatological conditions, — in spite of the long period embracing the whole Neogene age — do not present such far-reaching changes in the course of, or between, the Miocene and Pliocene, as could have prevented the existence of the Fig. 5. Aspect of the World at the Miocene. (After KOKEN [in ARLDT, op. cit., Karte 21] drawn by Miss FLORA LÁNOH & the author). self same Varanus species and lead us to consider the rise of a new species as necessary postulaturn of changed biological conditions ; on the contrary, Varanus is to-day yet a tropical and subtropical genus, and V. griseus BAUD, is even met with in the temperate zone (Caspian-Sea); this latter species being besides the most widely extended, as according to BOULENGER (Catal. II., p. 307), it is inhabiting NorthAfrica, Southwestern Asia, and from Arabia and the Caspian Sea to NorthW> stern In dia, thus occurring in a very great part of the subtropical Old-World. As regards the Miocene and Pliocene geographical configuration of Central. Europe,

1 it chiefly differs by the fact of the 1 KAYSER, Abriß d.allg. u.stratigr. Geologie, Stuttgart, 1915, p. 337 & p. 342-343.