Colombophis ("snake of Colombia" in Greek) is an extinctgenus of snakes of the cladeAlethinophidia, a group of "primitive" snakes. The genus was first recognized in the Villavieja Formation in the town of Los Mangos, part of the known fossil fauna of La Venta in the department of Huila (Colombia), in the middle Miocene. With the remains of a fossil snake was erected the species Colombophis portai in 1977, based on forty fragmentary vertebrae.[1] These vertebrae are characterized by a low neural spine, and subdivided paradiapophysis and thin zygosphene. The vertebrae are medium to large, so the snake would measure about 1.77 metres (5 ft 10 in) long, similar in size to the current Boa constrictor.[2]
Remains found in the Brazilian Solimões Formation in the Purus River area (Late Miocene), with vertebrae shorter than wide, thick zygosphene and high neural thorn, were classified as a new species, Colombophis spinosus;[3] fossil remains found in Venezuela (Urumaco area) and Colombia (La Venta) also seem to belong to this new species rather than C. portai.[3] Traditionally, Colombophis was taken as a representative of the family primitive Aniliidae, fossorial and primitive snakes that still retained some traces of lizard as Anilius, the false coral. However, retention of primitive traits that identify Colombophis and other members of the superfamilyAnilioidea (including features already found in the Cretaceous snake Dinilysia patagonica) indicate that this group is paraphyletic and that for now, Colombophis remains as an Alethinophidia of uncertain classification.[3] Moreover, their remains indicate that the ecosystems of South America from the mid-Miocene were humid tropical environments as reinforces the finding of other reptile faunas of Urumaco, La Venta and Solimões as Paradracaena and Eunectes stirtoni; Colombophis, like Dinilysia, must be adapted to move and feed in semi-aquatic environments.[3] Fossils were also found in the Socorro Formation of Venezuela.
Referencesedit
^Hoffstetter, R. and Rage, J.C. 1977. Le gisement de vertébrés miocènes de La Venta (Colombie) et sa faune de serpents. Annales de Paléontologie (Vertébrés) 63: 161–190.
^Hecht, M.K. and LaDuke, T.C. 1997. Limbless tetrapods. In: R.F. Kay, R.H. Madden, R.L. Cifelli, and J.J. Flynn (eds.), Vertebrate Paleontology in the Neotropics: The Miocene Fauna of La Venta, Colombia, 95–99. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
^ abcdHsiou, A.S., Albino, A.M., and Ferigolo, J. 2010. Reappraisal of the South American Miocene snakes of the genus Colombophis, with description of a new species. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (3): 365–379
External linksedit
Colombophis in Wikispecies
Paleobiology Database: Colombophis
March 14, 2024
colombophis, snake, colombia, greek, extinct, genus, snakes, clade, alethinophidia, group, primitive, snakes, genus, first, recognized, villavieja, formation, town, mangos, part, known, fossil, fauna, venta, department, huila, colombia, middle, miocene, with, . Colombophis snake of Colombia in Greek is an extinct genus of snakes of the clade Alethinophidia a group of primitive snakes The genus was first recognized in the Villavieja Formation in the town of Los Mangos part of the known fossil fauna of La Venta in the department of Huila Colombia in the middle Miocene With the remains of a fossil snake was erected the species Colombophis portai in 1977 based on forty fragmentary vertebrae 1 These vertebrae are characterized by a low neural spine and subdivided paradiapophysis and thin zygosphene The vertebrae are medium to large so the snake would measure about 1 77 metres 5 ft 10 in long similar in size to the current Boa constrictor 2 ColombophisTemporal range Mid Late Miocene Friasian Huayquerian 15 97 7 25 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesInfraorder AlethinophidiaGenus ColombophisHoffstetter amp Rage 1977SpeciesC portai Hoffstetter amp Rage 1977 type C spinosus Hsiou et al 2010Taxonomy editRemains found in the Brazilian Solimoes Formation in the Purus River area Late Miocene with vertebrae shorter than wide thick zygosphene and high neural thorn were classified as a new species Colombophis spinosus 3 fossil remains found in Venezuela Urumaco area and Colombia La Venta also seem to belong to this new species rather than C portai 3 Traditionally Colombophis was taken as a representative of the family primitive Aniliidae fossorial and primitive snakes that still retained some traces of lizard as Anilius the false coral However retention of primitive traits that identify Colombophis and other members of the superfamily Anilioidea including features already found in the Cretaceous snake Dinilysia patagonica indicate that this group is paraphyletic and that for now Colombophis remains as an Alethinophidia of uncertain classification 3 Moreover their remains indicate that the ecosystems of South America from the mid Miocene were humid tropical environments as reinforces the finding of other reptile faunas of Urumaco La Venta and Solimoes as Paradracaena and Eunectes stirtoni Colombophis like Dinilysia must be adapted to move and feed in semi aquatic environments 3 Fossils were also found in the Socorro Formation of Venezuela References edit Hoffstetter R and Rage J C 1977 Le gisement de vertebres miocenes de La Venta Colombie et sa faune de serpents Annales de Paleontologie Vertebres 63 161 190 Hecht M K and LaDuke T C 1997 Limbless tetrapods In R F Kay R H Madden R L Cifelli and J J Flynn eds Vertebrate Paleontology in the Neotropics The Miocene Fauna of La Venta Colombia 95 99 Smithsonian Institution Press Washington a b c d Hsiou A S Albino A M and Ferigolo J 2010 Reappraisal of the South American Miocene snakes of the genus Colombophis with description of a new species Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 3 365 379External links editColombophis in Wikispecies Paleobiology Database Colombophis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colombophis amp oldid 1178036610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
