Publication details
The first European pit viper from the Miocene of Ukraine
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 1999 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Geology and mineralogy |
| Keywords | Snakes; Crotalinae; migrations; Miocene; Ukraine |
| Description | The first discoveries of European pit vipers (Crotalinae gen. et sp. indet. A and B) are reported from the Ukrainian Late Miocene (MN 9a)locality of Gritsev. Based on perfectly preserved maxillaries, two species closely related to pit vipers of the 'Agkistrodon' complex are represented at this site. It is suggested that European fossil representatives of the 'Agkistrodon' complex are Asiatic immigrants. Pit vipers probably never expanded into the broader areas of Europe during their geological history. |