An Oligocene Snake from a Coprolite

Four associated snake vertebrae were found in a coprolite from the Oligocene of South Dakota. A new henophidian genus and species is described from specimens characterized by small tubercular neural spines on the posterior portion of the neural arch. The Scolecophidia, Henophidia, and Caenophidia ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Herpetologica 1978-09, Vol.34 (3), p.258-264
Main Authors: Parris, David C., Holman, J. Alan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bones
Cervical vertebrae
Fossils
Genera
Herpetology
Keels
Mammals
Snakes
Spine
Vertebrae
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Four associated snake vertebrae were found in a coprolite from the Oligocene of South Dakota. A new henophidian genus and species is described from specimens characterized by small tubercular neural spines on the posterior portion of the neural arch. The Scolecophidia, Henophidia, and Caenophidia may be distinguished on the basis of vertebral characters.
ISSN:0018-0831
1938-5099