The taxonomic identification of Quaternary remains requires a comparison of fossil bones with the skeletons of existing taxa based on the morphological criteria. However, the osteology of most modern snake species has...The taxonomic identification of Quaternary remains requires a comparison of fossil bones with the skeletons of existing taxa based on the morphological criteria. However, the osteology of most modern snake species has not yet been studied. This work is aimed at finding differences in the bone morphology of Amur and Dione’s ratsnakes and the criteria for their identification. The variety of bone morphology depends on several parameters. First, these are species differences which determine the systematic position of the animal. Second, it is individual varia bility.Third, these are progressive changes in the vertebrae morphology along the vertebral column from the first vertebra to the last. Fourth, it is age-related variability. 20 skeletonised specimens: 12 specimens of Elaphe dione and 8 specimens of Elaphe schrenckii were used to define diagnostic osteological characters. The bones of the two studied species are very similar and their variability overlaps. However, differences and identification criteria were found for 13 skull bones:nasal, frontal, parietal, supraoccipital, maxilla, quadrate,palatine, pterygoid, ectopterygoid, basiparasphenoid,basioccipital, dentary and the compound bone. In addition, the variability and differences of the cervical,trunk, cloacal, and caudal vertebrae were examined.展开更多
Fossil remains of snakes in Quaternary localities are most often represented by vertebrae.Therefore,it is necessary to carry out a comparative study of the vertebrae of modern species in the areas of interest to ident...Fossil remains of snakes in Quaternary localities are most often represented by vertebrae.Therefore,it is necessary to carry out a comparative study of the vertebrae of modern species in the areas of interest to identify fossil materials.In this study,we examined 52 specimens of viperids(7 specimens of Gloydius intermedius,12 specimens of Gloydius ussuriensis,6 specimens of Gloydius halys,4 specimens of Vipera sakhalinensis,16 specimens of Vipera berus,and 7 specimens of Vipera renardi).The features of the trunk,cervical,cloacal and caudal vertebrae of 6 species from 2 genera are described.The vertebrae of the Viperidae are highly similar across species,with variation along the vertebral column.Nevertheless,they can be distinguished if their exact position within the vertebral column is known.The most important diagnostic feature is the shape of the hypapophysis,especially when identifying the cervical vertebrae.Among other morphological features,it is important to consider the shape of the ventral surface of the vertebra,prezygapophyseal and parapophyseal processes,neurapophysis,and zygapophysis.For the epistropheus,the position of the anterior edge of the neurapophysis in relation to the anterior edge of the neural arch is also significant.The caudal vertebrae bear the greatest resemblance.There is a significant overlap between the ratios of different measurements(indices)in different species.However,if an index is out of the overlapping zone,it is possible to identify a vertebra more or less accurately,especially when considering it in conjunction with other indices and morphological characteristics.展开更多
文摘The taxonomic identification of Quaternary remains requires a comparison of fossil bones with the skeletons of existing taxa based on the morphological criteria. However, the osteology of most modern snake species has not yet been studied. This work is aimed at finding differences in the bone morphology of Amur and Dione’s ratsnakes and the criteria for their identification. The variety of bone morphology depends on several parameters. First, these are species differences which determine the systematic position of the animal. Second, it is individual varia bility.Third, these are progressive changes in the vertebrae morphology along the vertebral column from the first vertebra to the last. Fourth, it is age-related variability. 20 skeletonised specimens: 12 specimens of Elaphe dione and 8 specimens of Elaphe schrenckii were used to define diagnostic osteological characters. The bones of the two studied species are very similar and their variability overlaps. However, differences and identification criteria were found for 13 skull bones:nasal, frontal, parietal, supraoccipital, maxilla, quadrate,palatine, pterygoid, ectopterygoid, basiparasphenoid,basioccipital, dentary and the compound bone. In addition, the variability and differences of the cervical,trunk, cloacal, and caudal vertebrae were examined.
文摘Fossil remains of snakes in Quaternary localities are most often represented by vertebrae.Therefore,it is necessary to carry out a comparative study of the vertebrae of modern species in the areas of interest to identify fossil materials.In this study,we examined 52 specimens of viperids(7 specimens of Gloydius intermedius,12 specimens of Gloydius ussuriensis,6 specimens of Gloydius halys,4 specimens of Vipera sakhalinensis,16 specimens of Vipera berus,and 7 specimens of Vipera renardi).The features of the trunk,cervical,cloacal and caudal vertebrae of 6 species from 2 genera are described.The vertebrae of the Viperidae are highly similar across species,with variation along the vertebral column.Nevertheless,they can be distinguished if their exact position within the vertebral column is known.The most important diagnostic feature is the shape of the hypapophysis,especially when identifying the cervical vertebrae.Among other morphological features,it is important to consider the shape of the ventral surface of the vertebra,prezygapophyseal and parapophyseal processes,neurapophysis,and zygapophysis.For the epistropheus,the position of the anterior edge of the neurapophysis in relation to the anterior edge of the neural arch is also significant.The caudal vertebrae bear the greatest resemblance.There is a significant overlap between the ratios of different measurements(indices)in different species.However,if an index is out of the overlapping zone,it is possible to identify a vertebra more or less accurately,especially when considering it in conjunction with other indices and morphological characteristics.
