Vipera 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 : 436-438

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/g2011n3a2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CA65878D-FFEC-FFBB-468E-FECAFDF0E941
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Vipera sp.
status

Treatment

Vipera sp. (“ Oriental vipers” group) or Daboia sp.

MATERIAL. — Griesbeckerzell 1b: 3 precaudal vertebrae ( BSPG 1997 XIII 646-648).

LOCALITY. — Griesbeckerzell 1b.

DESCRIPTION

Precaudal vertebrae ( Fig. 14A View FIG )

The low cl/naw and large dimensions characterize these vertebrae. The neural spine is broken off, and thus it cannot be determined if it originally was high or low. The short interzygapophyseal ridges are either blunt or sharp. The diapophysis is large and clearly separated from the somewhat smaller parapophysis. The single preserved right parapophyseal process is directed antero-ventrally. Subcentral ridges are blunt. Lateral foramina are large and occur in shallow depressions. The hypapophysis is massive and its postero-ventral tip is rounded. The condyle occurs on a very short neck.

In dorsal view, the cranial margin of the zygosphenal lip of one specimen (BSPG 1997 XIII 647) bears a small and pointed median lobe that is as large as the widely separated lateral lobes. The prezygapophyseal articular facets are roughly oval, and the distal tips of the prezygapophyseal processes are not preserved, but were probably small (i.e. approximately half of the prezygapophyseal facet length). Epizygapophyseal spines are absent.

In ventral view, the hypapophysis is massive; the anterior keel is triangularly widened. The largest vertebrae bear small but distinct subcotylar tubercles on the ventral margin of the cotylar rim. The parapophyseal process is large and wide, and has an obtuse distal tip. The subcentral ridges are blunt and subcentral grooves are wide and very shallow. The subcentral foramina are usually very small and situated at the base of the wide hypapophysis. Postzygapophyseal articular facets are laterally enlarged.

In cranial view, the neural arch is dorso-ventrally flattened. The neural canal is rounded with short and very narrow lateral sinuses. The cotyle is slightly depressed dorso-ventrally; in the largest vertebrae, the diameter of this structure reaches almost two times that of the neural canal. Prezygapophyses are tilted up dorsally.The distal tips of the parapophyseal processes are directed medio-ventrally. Paracotylar foramina occur in depressions on both sides of the cotyle, and are shifted somewhat dorsally from the middle horizontal line. Small subcotylar tubercles are directed ventro-laterally.

In caudal view, the neural arch is strongly depressed and the zygantral area is massive. The condyle is slightly depressed dorso-ventrally. No parazygantral foramina have been observed. Measurements of the two well-preserved vertebrae are as follows: cl = 8.34 mm; naw = 7.99 mm; cl/naw = 1.04 (BSPG 1997 XIII 646) and cl = 7.76 mm; naw = 6.89 mm; cl/naw = 1.13 (BSPG 1997 XIII 647).

DISCUSSION

Precaudal vertebrae of Vipera sp. (“Oriental vipers” group) or Daboia sp. are very large by viperid standards (see above) and massive, and characterized by the large diameter of the cotyle. Unfortunately, the neural spine is not preserved in any of the specimens, and thus cannot be compared to the relatively high neural spines seen in members of the genus Daboia Gray, 1842 or lower ones in Vipera Laurenti, 1768 ( Szyndlar & Rage 1999). The shape of the parapophyseal process is almost identical with that of the short parapophyseal processes recorded for Daboia maxima ( Szyndlar, 1988) from the Early Pliocene (late MN 15) of Layna, Spain ( Szyndlar 1988).