Paleontologists have described a new species of snake that lived during the Early Oligocene of Wyoming, based on four nearly complete, articulated specimens found curled together in a burrow.
Hibernophis Brighthaupti It lived 38 million years ago in what is now western Wyoming. Image courtesy of Jasmine Croghan.
Hibernophis Brighthaupti It lived in North America 38 million years ago (Early Oligocene Epoch).
The fossil has unique anatomical features, in part because the specimen is articulated, meaning that it was found all together with its bones in the proper order, which is unusual for a fossil snake.
Hibernophis Brighthaupti Probably an early member Boideia A group that includes modern boas and pythons.
“Modern boas are widespread across the Americas, but their early evolution is poorly understood,” said researchers from the University of Alberta. Professor Michael Caldwell And my colleagues.
“These new and extremely complete fossils add important new information, especially about the evolution of the small burrowing boas known as rubber boas.”
“Traditionally, there has been a lot of discussion about the evolution of small burrowing bores.”
“Hibernophis Brighthaupti This suggests that northern and central North America may have been an important base for their development.”
According to the team: Hibernophis Brighthaupti Thanks to its location, the specimen has been remarkably well preserved for tens of millions of years.
“38 million years ago, these particular Hibernophis Brighthaupti “At the time the snakes lived, the Southern Basin-Range volcanic system was incredibly active, emitting huge amounts of volcanic ash,” said Professor Caldwell, lead author of the study.
“The ash settled and helped preserve the remains of the organisms found within the fine sandy mudstone matrix typical of the White River Formation.”
Paleontologists speculate that the animals may have fallen victim to a small flood.
“Geologically speaking, they were preserved in very unusual conditions,” Professor Caldwell said.
“Fossilization is a brutal process. You need exactly the right conditions to preserve something.”
Four discoveries Hibernophis Brighthaupti The curled-up sleeping arrangement also suggests that this may be the oldest evidence of communal hibernation, a behaviour we know today.
“Modern garter snakes are notorious for congregating in the thousands and hibernating together in burrows and holes,” Professor Caldwell said.
“They do this to take advantage of the ball effect created by hibernating animals to conserve heat.”
“It's fascinating to see evidence of this social behavior and hibernation going back 34 million years.”
of study Published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
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Jasmine A. Croghan othersMorphology and taxonomy of a new fossil snake from the early Rupelian (Oligocene) White River Formation, Wyoming. Zoological Journal of the Linnean SocietyPublished online June 19, 2024; doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae073
Source: www.sci.news
