Simoliophis
Extinct genus of snakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simoliophis is a genus of extinct marine snake from the Cretaceous period. It is a member of the Simoliophiidae family. Fossils are known from Morocco, France and Spain.[2][3][4]
| Simoliophis Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | †Simoliophiidae |
| Genus: | †Simoliophis Sauvage, 1880 |
| Type species | |
| †Simoliophis rochebrunei Sauvage, 1880 | |
| Other species[1] | |
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
The type species, Simoliophis rochebrunei, is distinguished by a set of vertebral characteristics, including short and robust vertebrae with a small neural canal and a shallow interzygapophyseal constriction. The species exhibits pachyostosis, particularly in the mid-trunk region and the anterior portion of the posterior trunk. Ribs attributed to S. rochebrunei are pachyostotic at their proximal ends and decrease in thickness distally. Some specimens exhibit a slight curvature, while others are more robustly curved near the proximal end. The anatomical adaptations of Simoliophis suggest a highly pachyostotic, marine-affiliated snake adapted for slow swimming in shallow waters. Its morphology indicates a lifestyle of prolonged, shallow dives rather than active, fast swimming. A fragment of skull bone bearing three tooth sockets has been tentatively assigned to S. rochebrunei. While its attribution is not definitive, the fossil was recovered from a locality where Simoliophis is abundant, making its association plausible.[4]