Ancient snakes have been discovered in Wyoming, revealing the continent’s slithering past. A new fossil species, Hibernophis breithaupti, has been found in a burrow with four well-preserved specimens intertwined. This 34-million-year-old species provides insight into the origins and diversification of boas and pythons.
Hibernophis breithaupti has unique features due to the articulated fossils, which are rare for snake fossils. Researchers believe it may be an early member of Booidea, a group including modern boas and pythons. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of small burrowing boas, known as rubber boas.
The finding suggests that northern and central parts of North America might have been crucial for their development. The snakes’ curled positions hint at potential evidence for hibernation in groups, a behavior familiar in modern garter snakes. This social behavior could date back 34 million years.
DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae073+
+Source: https://scitechdaily.com/34-million-year-old-snake-discovered-in-wyoming-changes-our-understanding-of-evolution/