Vipera, Laurenti, 1768
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5252/geodiversitas2020v42a20 |
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publication LSID |
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8FF2A078-CE45-4BF1-A681-00136F57375E |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4447732 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C587C7-431C-FFFC-FC17-FEC44C59F9BE |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Vipera |
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Vipera sp. (‘European vipers’ group)
( Fig. 13 View FIG A-H)
Vipera sp. 2 (‘European vipers’) – Ivanov & Musil 2004: 230.
Vipera sp. (‘European vipers’ group) – Ivanov et al. 2006: 229, table 2.
MATERIAL. — MWQ, early Miocene, Burdigalian, Orleanian, MN 4: 2/2003 Reptile Joint: three trunk vertebrae (Pal. 2022-2024).
DESCRIPTION
Trunk vertebrae
The vertebrae are rather fragmentary with the neural spines broken-off close to their bases, and loss of the paradiapophyses and hypapophysis. In lateral view, the interzygapophyseal ridge of the best-preserved vertebra (Pal. 2022) is short. The lateral foramina are situated just below the interzygapophyseal ridges. The subcentral ridges are clearly bent dorsally. In dorsal view, the cranial margin of the zygosphene has developed small lateral lobes and a wide medial lobe. The right prezygapophyseal articular facet is subtriangular to oval in outline. The prezygapophyseal process is rather short. The epizygapophyseal spines are moderately developed. In ventral view, the subcentral grooves are deep, possibly indicating a more posterior position of the vertebra within the precloacal region. The hypapophysis is strongly built, extending anteriorly into a short triangular anterior keel. In cranial view, the neural arch is depressed dorsoventrally, and the neural canal is rounded with prominent lateral sinuses. The cranial margin of the zygosphene is vaulted dorsally. Large paracotylar foramina occur on either side of the rounded cotyle. The vertebral dimensions of the largest vertebra (Pal. 2023) are as follows: cl = 3.75 mm; naw = 2.85 mm; cl/naw = 1.32.
REMARKS
The vertebrae are typically viperine with a dorsoventrally depressed neural arch and prezygapophyses tilted up dorsally. The vertebrae are assigned to the ‘European vipers’. Because of their small dimensions we conclude that the vertebrae could probably belong to the ‘ Vipera aspis ’ complex. A more precise identification is not possible because of poor preservation.
| MN |
Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro |
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
