Fossil skeleton of newly discovered snake species Hibernophis breithauptiiThe dinosaur that lived 38 million years ago in what is now western Wyoming gives insight into the evolution and social behavior of its modern descendants. Credit: Jasmine Crogan
Ancient snakes have been unearthed, shedding light on the continent’s past.
A newly discovered fossil snake species Digging up from a burrow in Wyoming is changing our understanding of snake evolution. This species was discovered as four well-preserved specimens joined together, named Hibernophis breithauptiiLived in North America 34 million years ago. This discovery provides valuable information about the origin and diversity of boas and pythons.
Hibernophis breithauptii It has unique anatomical features, partly because the specimens are articulated — meaning they were all found in one piece and the bones were still arranged in the proper order — which is unusual for fossil snakes. The researchers believe it may be an early member of Booidea, a group that includes modern boas and pythons. Modern boas are found widely in the Americas, but their early evolution is not well understood. These new and very complete fossils add important new information, in particular, on the evolution of the small, burrowing boa known as the rubber boa.
Behavioral Insights and Historical Significance
Traditionally, there has been much debate over the evolution of small burrowing boas. Hibernophis breithauptii This indicates that the northern and central parts of North America may have been an important center for their evolution. The discovery of these snakes huddled together also points to the oldest possible evidence of a behavior familiar to us today – hibernation in groups.
“Modern garter snakes are well-known for gathering by the thousands and hibernating together in dens and burrows,” says Michael Caldwell, a U of A paleontologist who led the research with his former graduate student Jasmine Crogan and colleagues from Australia and Brazil. “They do this to conserve heat through the effect created by the ball of hibernating animals. It’s fascinating to see possible evidence of such social behavior or hibernation from 34 million years ago.”
Reference: “Morphology and systematics of a new fossil snake from the early Rupelian (Oligocene) White River Formation, Wyoming” by Jasmine A. Croghan, Alessandro Palci, Silvio Onri, Michael SY Lee and Michael W. Caldwell, 19 June 2024, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,
DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae073
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