Pachyophis

Pachyophis
Temporal range: 100.5–93.9 Ma Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
Fossil specimen of Pachyophis woodwardi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: †Simoliophiidae
Genus: †Pachyophis
Nopsca, 1923[1]
Type species
Pachyophis woodwardi
Nopsca, 1923[1]

Pachyophis is an extinct genus of Simoliophiidae snakes that were extant during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period. More specifically, it was found to be from the Cenomanian Age about 93.9-100.5 million years ago in the suburb area of Bileca, Herzegovina.[2]

Pachyophis belongs to the family Simoliophiidae (hind-limbed snakes) in the clade Ophidia.[3] The family is characterized by the presence of hindlimbs and pelvic girdles, as seen in Pachyrhachis (one of the first discovered hind-limbed snakes). Included in the most basal of snake relatives, Pachyophis in contrast does not have evidence of any form of limb preservation. Despite this, they are considered under Pachyophiidae due to their other morphological similarities along with the genera Mesophis and Simoliophis.[2][4][3]

Only one species has been discovered, which is known as Pachyophis woodwardi.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Nopsca was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Rage, Jean-Claude; Escuillie, Francois (2003). "The Cenomanian: stage of hindlimbed snakes". Carnets de Géologie. CG2003 (A01–en): 1–11.
  3. ^ a b Lee, Michael; Caldwell, Michael; Scanlon, John (1999). "A second primitive marine snake: Pachyophis woodwardi from the Cretaceous of Bosnia-Herzegovina". Journal of Zoology. 248 (4): 509–520. doi:10.1017/s0952836999008109.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bardet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).