Laophis
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| Laophis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | †Laophis |
| Species: | †L. crotaloides |
| Binomial name | |
| †Laophis crotaloides (Owen, 1857) | |
Laophis (From Ancient Greek, stone snake)[1] is a genus of viperid snake currently containing one known species that lived during the Pliocene in Northern Greece.[2] Few fossil vertebrae of this species was found in Thessaloniki, Greece.[3] It reached a total length possibly exceeding 3 m (9.8 ft)[2] and a mass of up to 26 kg (57 lb), making this perhaps the largest viper discovered yet.[4][2] Originally described by Sir Richard Owen, the original fossils had been lost, until a single vertebra was discovered somewhere near Thessaloniki in 2014.[5][6]
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