Paleontological discoveries on the south coast england A new species and genus of fossil snakes called . Paradoxophidion Richard Weniwho lived more than 37 million years ago. The discovery, based on vertebrae collected at Hordle Cliff in Christchurch Bay, Hampshire, expands our knowledge of Eocene biodiversity in Europe and provides relevant information about the evolution of caenophidian snakes, a group that brings together the majority of extant species.
According to natural history museumidentification of Paradoxophidion Richard Weni That meant a better understanding of the origins of modern snakes. Fossil material describing this species was collected by Roy Gardner in 1981, but it remained without definitive classification for over 40 years.
Recently, a team led by Dr. Georgios Georgalisof the Institute of Animal Systematics and Evolution of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and Dr. mark jonesResearchers from the Natural History Museum used microcomputed tomography technology to analyze the vertebrae in detail. The results were published in a magazine Comtes rendus parevol.
‘s site Hordle Cliff Almost two centuries ago, it became known for its abundance of fossils of reptiles, mammals, and especially snakes. This area corresponds to the Headon Hill Formation, and in particular to the late Eocene Mammal Formation, approximately 36.9 million years ago.
During this time, the climate was much warmer than today. Dr Jones explained to the Natural History Museum: england It was much warmer than it is now. Although the sun was slightly less bright, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was much higher and the country was still closer to the equator.
research Paradoxophidion Richard Weni This was based on an analysis of 31 vertebrae taken from different parts of the spinal column, all of which were small, with a central vertebra length of about 2 mm. The researchers used micro-CT scanning to create a three-dimensional model of the fossil, allowing them to precisely examine its morphology and share the data digitally with the scientific community.
According to Comtes rendus parevolthis species exhibits a unique combination of vertebral features. Prominent triangular pituitary gland, domed arched neural arch, thick, laterally flared zygomatic roofand the pararhibus, which descends below the level of the accessory lobes. are distinguished by these characteristics Paradoxophidion Fossils and all other known extant snakes.
Through detailed anatomical analysis, Paradoxophidion Although it shares certain characteristics with the racerophyds, a mysterious group of Eocene aquatic or semi-aquatic snakes, there are notable differences.
For example, the new species has a prominent pituitary gland on all the vertebrae of the trunk, whereas in the russellophyd these structures appear only on the anterior vertebrae. On top of that, Paradoxophidion It has a shorter and wider vertebral centrum and is smaller in overall size than the russelophyds previously reported from Europe and Asia.
Comparison with other fossil snakes from the Eocene england And in continental Europe, it was also possible to renounce belonging to genres such as: Kaduselyx, paraplate spondylosis, Hordrophis, totland fiss, Vectofis, Parelix, head nophis, Eoannilius, Danophis, Syndoraria, Kadulkovoa, Falselix“Karama grass”, Meserophis, Liperophis, Anomalophis, Utel Sophis,others. Paradoxophidion is distinguished from all of them by a combination of its small size, the morphology and location of the neurovertebrae, the presence of the pituitary gland along the entire vertebral column of the trunk, and pararadicular structures.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this discovery is that Paradoxophidion Richard Weni. According to Comtes rendus parevolthis species exhibits a mosaic of traits present in distant groups of snakes, making its precise classification difficult. Some vertebral features are similar to acrochordids, a modern family of aquatic snakes known as elephant trunk snakes. It is now found only in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Paradoxophidion It shares with acrochordids the presence of a pituitary gland, a downwardly directed pararadius, and a large neural canal in all vertebrae of the trunk, among other features. This similarity suggests that it may be the oldest known member of the Acrochordae family.it would significantly expand its temporal and geographical scope. The authors caution that given the lack of conclusive evidence, they cannot rule out the possibility that it belongs to another basal group of Caenophydia.
As quoted by the Natural History Museum, Dr. Georgalis expressed his enthusiasm for working with these fossils: “As a child, I dreamed of being able to visit a natural history museum, let alone research there…it was an amazing feeling.” He went on to highlight the evolutionary significance of the discovery, saying, “Paradoxophidion brings us even closer to understanding how advanced snakes emerged.”
discovery of Paradoxophidion Richard Weni It had an important impact on paleontology and the study of Eocene biodiversity in Europe. According to both sources, the existence of this species england This indicates that Caenophydian snakes had already achieved considerable morphological and ecological diversity during the Eocene. A combination of characteristics found in different groups today. Additionally, this discovery reassessed the role of museum collections and paleontological research in reconstructing the evolutionary history of reptiles.
Paradoxophidion Richard Weni It entered the fossil record as important evidence of the diversity and complexity of the Eocene fauna. englandhelped outline the development and adaptation of reptile communities throughout the Paleogene.
About The Author
