Post by creature386 on Feb 13, 2013 1:21:32 GMT 5
Palaeophis casei
© 1982 by The University of Oklahoma
Temporal range: Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Sauropsida
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Infraorder:Booidea
Superfamily:Alethinophidia
Family:Palaeophiidae
Subfamily:Palaeopheinae
Genus:Palaeophis
Species: P. casei
Location: The Case Estuary Number 1 Site, Meridian, Lauderdale Country, Mississippi. The Bashi Marl, Wilcox Group.
Description:
Palaeophis casei (Case's ancident snake), is a small species of the Palaeophis Genus, it's fossils were collected in 1980. The known specimen are PU 23488 (Holtoype, known from trunk vertebra) and PU 23489 (thirteen trunk vertebrae). It got the species name in honor of one of the collectors (Gerard R. Case). The Holotype was chosen, because it's vertebra is the most complete. To figure out it's size, the Thamnophis butleri specimen MSU 2442 (4,72 m) was used, due to having an equal vertebra size (3,2 mm). Palaeophis casei is believed to have a different ecological nishe than it's relatives, it is believed to have lived in estuaries, feeding on small fish.
Classification:
It is differs from other Palaeophis in being smaller, having only one very short posterior hypapophysis, a small neural spine, restricted to the posterior one-third of the vertebra and the deeply grooved edge of the neural arch. It's colsest relative in the Genus seems to have been the much larger and bulkier species P. virginianus (roughly 5,5 m long and weighing 150 kg).
Source: J. Alan Holman (1982): Palaeophis casei, New Species, a Tiny Palaeophid Snake from the Early Eocene of Mississippi, in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Page 163 of 163-166 (preview)
© 1982 by The University of Oklahoma
Temporal range: Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Sauropsida
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Infraorder:Booidea
Superfamily:Alethinophidia
Family:Palaeophiidae
Subfamily:Palaeopheinae
Genus:Palaeophis
Species: P. casei
Location: The Case Estuary Number 1 Site, Meridian, Lauderdale Country, Mississippi. The Bashi Marl, Wilcox Group.
Description:
Palaeophis casei (Case's ancident snake), is a small species of the Palaeophis Genus, it's fossils were collected in 1980. The known specimen are PU 23488 (Holtoype, known from trunk vertebra) and PU 23489 (thirteen trunk vertebrae). It got the species name in honor of one of the collectors (Gerard R. Case). The Holotype was chosen, because it's vertebra is the most complete. To figure out it's size, the Thamnophis butleri specimen MSU 2442 (4,72 m) was used, due to having an equal vertebra size (3,2 mm). Palaeophis casei is believed to have a different ecological nishe than it's relatives, it is believed to have lived in estuaries, feeding on small fish.
Classification:
It is differs from other Palaeophis in being smaller, having only one very short posterior hypapophysis, a small neural spine, restricted to the posterior one-third of the vertebra and the deeply grooved edge of the neural arch. It's colsest relative in the Genus seems to have been the much larger and bulkier species P. virginianus (roughly 5,5 m long and weighing 150 kg).
Source: J. Alan Holman (1982): Palaeophis casei, New Species, a Tiny Palaeophid Snake from the Early Eocene of Mississippi, in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Page 163 of 163-166 (preview)