Bavarioboa sp.

Ivanov, Martin & Böhme, Madelaine, 2011, Snakes from Griesbeckerzell (Langhian, Early Badenian), North Alpine Foreland Basin (Germany), with comments on the evolution of snake faunas in Central Europe during the Miocene Climatic Optimum, Geodiversitas 33 (3), pp. 411-449 : 419

cf. Bavarioboa sp.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 5 trunk vertebrae ( BSPG 1997 XIII 502-506).

LOCALITY. — Griesbeckerzell 1a.

DESCRIPTION

Trunk vertebrae ( Fig. 5 )

Several fragmentary vertebrae can be assigned to the Boidae with confidence because they display a low cl/naw ratio. Deep subcentral grooves accompanied by distinct and sharp subcentral ridges indicate the presence of posterior trunk vertebrae in the available material.The weakly vaulted neural arch, the slightly dorsally inclined prezygapophyses located clearly above the floor of the neural canal, the absence of paracotylar foramina, and the small dimensions further support affinities with Bavarioboa (for the detailed diagnosis of Bavarioboa see Szyndlar & Rage 2003). A straight zygosphene, in which the cranial margin is characetrized by distinct lateral lobes, has also been observed in Bavarioboa hermi . Unfortunately, the vertebrae are fragmentarily preserved and the neural spines are missing, and thus a more precise determination remains impossible at present. Measurements of the best preserved vertebra are as follows: cl = 4.54 mm; naw = 5.44 mm; cl/naw = 0.83.

Figures

FIG. 5. — cf. Bavarioboa sp. from the Middle Miocene (MN 6, base) of Griesbeckerzell 1a. Anterior trunk vertebra (BSPG 1997 XIII 502) in lateral (l), dorsal (d), ventral (v), and cranial (cr) views. Abbreviations: see Figure 4. Scale bar: 2 mm.