New finds of anguines (Squamata, Anguidae) from the Early Miocene of Northwest Bohemia (Czech Republic)

New material on anguines is described from two Lower Miocene localities in Northwest Bohemia in the Czech Republic: Merkur (MN 3) and Dolnice (MN 4). Although the material is disarticulated, it was possible to assign several elements to one species based on similar ornamentation of the skull roof bones and similar morphology of the teeth. Two new species, Ophisaurus holeci nov. sp. and Pseudopus rugosus nov. sp. are described. Pseudopus rugosus becomes the second species of the genus Pseudopus described from the Merkur locality. In addition to the new Ophisaurus species above, the species O. spinari is described on the basis of the parietal and Ophisaurus sp. 1 and Ophisaurus sp. 2 on the basis of the frontal bones. A further five anguines, designated Anguine morphotypes 1 to 6, are described on the basis of the marginal teeth bearing elements (premaxilla, maxilla and dentary) and on the pterygoid, the angular bone and elements forming the posterior portion of the lower jaw. The described specimens present a relevant contribution to our knowledge of the diversity of anguines in the Early Neogene of Europe