Pleistocene snakes of the Ozark Plateau. American Museum novitates ; no. 1882

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Date

1958

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History

DOI

DOI

Abstract

"Middorsal vertebrae of snakes from the Pleistocene Conard Fissure of the Ozark Plateau are here recognized as belonging to eight genera in two families. The forms identified are: Carpophis amoenus, Coluber constrictor, C. flagellum, Elaphe guttata, E. vulpina, Heterodon sp., Lampropeltis doliata, L. ?calligaster, L. getulus, Pituophis melanoleucus, Thamnophis sirtalis, and ?Crotalus sp. A predator selection of terrestrial diurnal species is suggested. The reptiles so far identified indicate a more arid climate, and perhaps typical prairie conditions, at the time of deposition. When the large number of extinct mammals previously reported from the deposit (Brown, 1908) is considered, the most surprising aspect of the snake fauna is its similarity to the present one. Only two of the recognized species are not known from the region now, and none is extinct"--P. 8.

Description

9 p. ; 24 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 8-9).

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