Publication details
Intraspecific cranial osteology of the Grass Snake Natrix natrix with comments on the evolution of the species
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2001 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Biota |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Intracpecific osteology; Natrix natrix; evolution; Tertiary; Quaternary |
| Description | Detailed osteological comparison of six N. natrix subspecies with N. tessellata, N. maura, N. megalocephala, and Nerodia sipedon showed not only the possibility of mutual distinguishing of the western and eastern European subspecies but also differences in the structure of cranial elements within both east and west European subspecies. Living subspecies Natrix n. astraptophora and N. n. helvetica are closely related to the extinct N. longivertebrata (possibly N. n. longivertebrata), recent subspecies of Natrix natrix originated most probably as early as the early Pleistocene. |