Eoconstrictor fischeri (Schaal 2004)

Taxonomy

Constrictor

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia Laurenti 1768
Order: Squamata Oppel 1811
Family: Boidae Gray 1825
Genus: Eoconstrictor
Species: Eoconstrictor fischeri
Author Citation (Schaal 2004)

Geological Time Scale

Eon: Phanerozoic
Era: Cenozoic
Period: Paleogene
Sub Period: None
Epoch: Eocene
International Age: Lutetian, Geiseltalian (early)

Stratigraphy

Messel Formation

Biostratigraphy

Mammal Paleogene Zone MP11

Provenance

Acquired by: Purchase/Trade

Dimensions

Diameter: 20 cm

Location

Messel Pit
Darmstadt - Dieburg (District)
Hessen
Germany

• boidae
• eoconstructor
• lutetian
• messel
• mp11
• palaeopython
• tff-oilshale-ch1106

Comments

Originally described by Schaal 2004 as Eopython fischeri, the snake was transferred to the newly created genus Eoconstrictor by Scanferla and Smith 2020.

Taxonomy from Fossilworks.org

Emended diagnosis from Scanferla & Smith 2020: "Medium-sized boid snakes, over 2 m in total length, differing from all other snakes in having the following combination of derived features: edentulous premaxilla with bifid vomerine processes; maxilla bearing four labial foramina and 15–18 maxillary teeth; palatine with five teeth and a long maxillary process; 11 pterygoid teeth; dentary with 18–19 teeth; sharp sagittal keel along the basioccipital; the vertebral column with up to 369 vertebrae, of which up to 72 are postcloacal vertebrae.

 

References:
Schaal, S. (2004) Palaeopython fischeri n. sp. (Serpentes: Boidae), eine Riesenschlange aus dem Eozän (MP 11) von Messel. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 252, 35–45.
Smith, K.T. & Scanferla, A. (2016) Fossil snake preserving three trophic levels and evidence for an ontogenetic dietary shift. Palaeobiodiv. Palaeoenv. 96, 589–599.
Scanferla, A. & Smith, K.T. (2020) "Exquisitely Preserved Fossil Snakes of Messel: Insight into the Evolution, Biogeography, Habitat Preferences and Sensory Ecology of Early Boas". Diversity. 12 (3): 100. doi:10.3390/d12030100