The Youngest record of the Cretaceous snake genus Dinilysia (Squamata, Serpentes)

SCANFERLA, CARLOS AGUSTÍN; CANALE, JUAN IGNACIO

South American Journal of Herpetology

Brazilian Society of Herpetology

Año: 2007 vol. 2 p. 76 - 81

1808-9798

Abstract  We report the youngest record of the Cretaceous snake Dinilysia, from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) Anacleto Formation (Campanian) of Neuquén province, Argentina. The specimen consists on twenty four articulated mid-posterior trunk vertebrae with the base of their respective ribs. The specimen is refered to Dinilysia on the basis of several morphological features, including a triangular shape of the vertebral body, straight posterior border of the neural arch, large craniocaudal extension of the neural spine, absence of parazygantral foramen, and arqual ridges. This represents the youngest record of the genus Dinilysia, thus extending its biochron up to the Campanian age.