The oldest Brazilian snakes from the Cenomanian (early Late Cretaceous)

Author(s)

Hsiou, Annie S. ^[1] ; Albino, Adriana M. ^[2] ; Medeiros, Manuel A. ^[3] ; Santos, Ronny A. B. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, FFCLRP, Dept Biol, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Nacl Mar del Plata, Dept Biol, CONICET, RA-7600 Mar Del Plata - Argentina

^[3] Univ Fed Maranhao UFMA, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Dept Biol, BR-65085580 Sao Luis, MA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACTA PALAEONTOLOGICA POLONICA; v. 59, n. 3, p. 635-642, SEP 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 13

Abstract

South American Mesozoic snake diversity is mostly represented by genera from the Cenomanian (Najash), Santonian-Campanian (Dinilysia), and Campanian-Maastrichtian (Alamitophis, Patagoniophis, Rionegrophis, and Australophis) of Patagonia, Argentina. In this paper, we describe a new snake genus and species, Seismophis septentrionalis, from the Cenomanian (early Late Cretaceous) of the Alcantara Formation, Maranhao, northeastern Brazil. The new snake comprises a posteriormost trunk vertebra and possibly a poorly preserved midtrunk vertebra. Both vertebrae share small size, zygosphene moderately thick with a rectilinear roof, absence of paracotylar foramina, presence of parazygantral foramina, and strongly marked parasagittal ridges of the neural arch. The new snake is here considered of uncertain systematic affinities, but probably close to the limbed snake Najash rionegrina. Although the material is very fragmentary and the systematic assignment is still unresolved, this snake represents the oldest, as well as probably the most primitive snake from Brazil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/14080-0 - Cretaceous and Tertiary (Paleogene/Neogene) Squamates (Reptilia, Lepidosauria) from the Bauru, Aiuruoca and Acre basins: systematics, evolution and palaeoenvironments
• Grantee: Annie Schmaltz Hsiou
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants