Upper Pliocene Snakes from Idaho
Holman JA. 1968. Upper Pliocene Snakes from Idaho. Copeia. 1968(1):152-158
Fossil snakes from the upper Pliocene of the Hagerman area of Twin Falls County, Idaho represent at least six colubrid species. All five genera are living today, but two of the three species discussed are extinct. Natrix hibbardi n. sp. is most similar to Recent N. sipedon; Thamnophis indet. sp. shows similarities to Recent T. radix, T. elegans, and T. cyrtopsis; Coluber indet. sp. is of unknown specific affinities; Elaphe pliocenica n. sp. appears to be a dead-end form; Elaphe vulpina is indistinguishable from its living counterpart and possibly evolved from E. nebraskensis during the middle Pliocene; and Lampropeltis indet. sp. shows similarities to Recent L. triangulum, L. pyromelana, and L. zonata. The fossil snake fauna is taxonomically similar to one that could be found in the grassland-deciduous forest contact zone in the eastern prairie states today.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Holman, J
- Units
- HAFO
- Keywords
- Fossils, Paleontology, Pliocene, Snakes (Serpentes)