Hierophis cf. hungaricus (Bolkay, 1913)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.4665621 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D08790-FFDC-FFF4-5452-A385FDD9501C |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Hierophis cf. hungaricus |
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Hierophis cf. hungaricus ( Fig. 15 View FIG )
MATERIAL EXAMINED. — One fragmentary compound bone ( ISER Tt-0500), 35 vertebrae ( ISER Tt-0501/1-35).
DESCRIPTION
Compound bone (surangular + prearticular + articular)
The only specimen preserves a small fragment from the posterior half of the bone ( Fig. 15A View FIG ). The medial flange projects dorsally and apparently had a considerable height. The mandibular fossa is relatively wide because the dorsal margin of the lateral flange is bent laterally; the latter has a deeply concave lateral surface; the supraangular
crest is well developed.
Late middle Miocene amphibians and reptiles from Taut,, Romania
Vertebrae
The available vertebrae belonged to medium-sized individuals. The neural arch is moderately vaulted and in few vertebrae the posterolateral margins of the neural lamina possess a small epizygapophyseal spine ( Fig. 15B View FIG , B’). In most vertebrae the neural spine is broken off, but its remnants in a few specimens indicate that it was longer than high and provided with an anterior overhang. The zygosphene was slightly crenate with an indistinct median lobe. The
prezygapophyseal articular facets are of elongated or oval shape; the prezygapophyseal processes are pointed distally and shorter than the diameter of the prezygapophyseal articular facets ( Fig. 15 View FIG B-D’). The paradiapophyses are clearly differentiated into diapophyseal and parapophyseal portions which are roughly of equal length. The centrum of the trunk vertebrae is moderately elongated. In 10 measured vertebrae the centrum length ranges between 4.05 and 5.9 mm, while the centrum width is between 2.84 and 4.63 mm. The centrum length/
centrum width ratio range is between 1.23-1.45
Venczel M. & Ştiucă E.
F
(mean = 1.33). The subcentral ridges are less evident in the middle trunk vertebrae, but are well-defined in those coming from the posterior trunk region. In the mid-trunk vertebrae the haemal keel is flattened and slightly broadened posteriorly but usually rounded and more prominent in the posterior trunk vertebrae ( Fig. 15D View FIG , D’).
REMARKS
The morphology of the fragmentary compound bone is reminiscent of that of Hierophis (= Coluber ) hungaricus (Bolkay, 1913) ( Venczel 1994, 1998) and also of Recent Hierophis gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768) and H. viridiflavus (Lacépède, 1789)
(pers. obs.). Variation observed in H. hungaricus ( Venczel 1994, 1998) (e.g., height of coronoid process, shape of lateral flange and width of mandibular fossa) seems to be dependent on ontogenetic age ( Venczel 1998). The morphology of the trunk vertebrae approaches that observed in H. hungaricus from the late Miocene (MN 9) of Rudabánya ( Szyndlar 2005) and from the late Miocene (MN 13) of Polgárdi 4 and 5 localities ( Venczel 1994, 1998). However, in the Tauţ specimens the centrum length/centrum width ratio (CL/CW) is somewhat lower than in those coming from Rudabánya (CL/CW = 1.3-1.5, mean = 1.4), Polgárdi 4 (CL/CW = 1.23-1.49, mean = 1.36), or Polgárdi 5 (CL/CW = 1.21-
1.61, mean = 1.37).
Subfamily NATRICINAE Bonaparte, 1838
| ISER |
Institutul Speologie Emil G. Racovita |
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