New Findings of snakes of the genus Palaeophis Owen, 1841 (Acrochordoidea: Palaeophiidae) from the Middle Eocene of Crimea

E.A. Zvonok and P.B. Snetkov

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2012, 316(4): 392–400 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2012.316.4.392

Full text

Abstract

The vertebrae of aquatic snakes, referred to the three known species of the genus Palaeophis (P. tamdy, P. nessovi and P. cf. toliapicus), are described from the Middle Eocene (Lutetian) deposits of the Ak-Kaya locality of Crimea, Ukraine. These species demonstrate different degree of aquatic adaptations and lived in a restricted area in the eastern part of the Tethys Ocean during the Middle Eocene.

Key words

Acrochordoidea, aquatic snakes, Eocene, Lutetian, Palaeophiidae

Submitted July 23, 2012 · Accepted November 20, 2012 · Published December 25, 2012

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