Publication details
New insight into the Early Miocene evolution of snake communities in Central Europe
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The Early Miocene replacement of European Palaeogene snakes, largely represented by Amerophidia and Booidea, with “modern” caenophidian groups is the last important event in the evolution of European snake communities. Although the Oligocene climate was relatively warm in Europe, with prevailing subtropical conditions at mid-latitudes, the decrease in temperatures around the Oligocene/Miocene transition strongly affected the distribution of Amerophidia and Booidea within this area. The Aquitanian to early Burdigalian increase in temperatures was reflected in snake diversity. Viperidae and Colubroidea are present in the earliest Miocene, as documented, e.g., by the recent descriptions of one of the oldest known viperids reported from Weißenburg 6 (MN1–MN2?). Although other known rare Aquitanian localities (Weisenau, MN1?–MN2; Amöneburg, MN2a) provided several post-Oligocene newcomers, the most diverse snake fauna comes from new research we present on material from Wintershof-West (MN3). The small-sized Bavarioboa (centrum length <4.5 mm) from Wintershof-West represents one of the earliest Miocene re-appearances of this genus in Europe. It differs from other Miocene species of Bavarioboa, but shares morphological affinities with trunk vertebrae of congenerics from the late Oligocene of France. The small dimensions of early Burdigalian Booidea agree with a subtropical climate, which preceded the Early Ottnangian Cooling event (18.1–17.8 Ma). Viperids are common in Wintershof-West, being among the earliest known occurrence of “Oriental vipers” in Europe. Colubroids, with one new species of Natrix, differ from those of the coeval Ahníkov I locality, Czech Republic, but this is most probably the result of different palaeoenvironmental conditions. |