Fossils discovered on the southern coast of England A new species and genus of fossil snakes called Paradoxvideo RichardwineWho lived more than 37 million years ago. The discovery, based on vertebrae collected at Hordle Cliff, in Christchurch Bay, Hampshire, has expanded knowledge about Eocene biodiversity in Europe and provided information relevant to the evolution of Caenophidian snakes, the group that brings together the majority of current species.
According to Natural History Museumget to know Paradoxvideo Richardwine This meant progress in understanding the origins of modern snakes. Fossil material describing this species was collected in 1981 by Roy Gardner, but it remained without definitive classification for more than four decades.
Only recently, a team led by Dr. Georgios Georgalisfrom the Institute of Zoology and Evolution of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Mark JonesResearchers from the Natural History Museum in London analyzed the vertebrae in detail using computed tomography techniques. The results were published in the journal Comtes rendus pallivol.
location Hurdle Cliff It has gained fame for nearly two centuries due to its wealth of fossils of reptiles and mammals, especially snakes. The area corresponds to the Heddon Hill Formation and, in particular, to a layer called the Mammal Bed, which dates to the late Eocene, about 36.9 million years ago.
This period saw a much warmer climate than today. Dr Jones explained to the Natural History Museum: “About 37 million years ago, England It was much warmer than now. Although the sun was slightly less bright, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were much higher and the country remained closer to the equator.
study Paradoxvideo Richardwine It was based on the analysis of 31 vertebrae from different parts of the spine, all of which were small in size, with the length of the center of the vertebrae being about 2 mm. The researchers used CT scans to create 3D models of the fossils, allowing them to precisely examine their shape and share the data digitally with the scientific community.
according to Comtes rendus pallivolThis type offers a unique combination of spine characteristics: Prominent triangular hippophyses, dome-shaped neural arch, and thick, transversely extended zigantilateral roof.and Paradiapophyses that descend below the level of the cotyledon. These peculiarities distinguish Paradox Of all other known snakes, both fossil and extant.
Detailed anatomical analysis showed this, though Paradox They share certain features with the Rasuluvids, an enigmatic group of aquatic or semi-aquatic snakes from the Eocene, and there are notable differences.
For example, the new species has prominent hypapophyses in all trunk vertebrae, while in russellophiids these structures appear only in the anterior vertebrae. next to, Paradox It has a shorter and broader vertebral centrum, and a smaller overall size than that of previously described rosulophids from Europe and Asia.
Comparison with other fossil snakes from the Eocene England Continental Europe also allowed us to get rid of its belonging to types such as Cadorsirix, Paraplatispondelia, HordeLoves, totlandoffice, Victoface, Balyrex, Hedonophys, Ioanelius, Donovic, Sindelaria, Kadorkubwa, Valcircus“calamagrass”, Mysiloves, Repeloface, Anomalous, watersofficeet al. Paradoxophidion is distinguished from all of them by a combination of small size, morphology and position of neural spines, the presence of hypapophyses along the entire spine of the trunk and the structure of paradiapophyses.
One of the most notable aspects of the discovery is taxonomic convergence Paradoxvideo Richardwine. according to Comtes rendus pallivolThis species exhibits a mosaic of traits found in distant groups of snakes, making precise classification difficult. Many of its vertebral characteristics resemble it with Acrocordidae, a family of present-day aquatic snakes known as elephant trunk snakes, which today live only in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Paradox It shares with chordates the presence of colloidal ridges in all trunk vertebrae, downward-facing epithelial intrusions, and a large neural canal, among other features. This similarity suggests that it may be the oldest known member of the family Acrochordidae.which would greatly expand its temporal and geographical scope. The authors caution that its affiliation to another basal group of Kenovidia cannot be ruled out, given the lack of conclusive evidence.
The Natural History Museum quoted Dr. Georgalis about his enthusiasm for working with these fossils: “When I was a child I dreamed of being able to visit the Natural History Museum, let alone conduct research there… It was an amazing feeling.” Furthermore, he emphasized the evolutionary significance of the discovery: “The paradox brings us closer to understanding how advanced snakes emerged.”
discovery Paradoxvideo Richardwine It produced important implications for paleontology and the study of biodiversity in Eocene Europe. According to both sources, the presence of this species in England indicates that Caenophydian snakes had already achieved significant morphological and ecological diversification in the Eocene, Combining properties that exist today in different combinations. In addition, this discovery has reevaluated the role of museum collections and paleontological research in reconstructing the evolutionary history of reptiles.
Paradoxvideo Richardwine It has entered the fossil record as key evidence of the diversity and complexity of fauna in the Eocene EnglandIt helped define the evolution and adaptation of reptile societies throughout the Paleogene.
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