Boavus

Boavus is an extinct genus of boa known primarily from Eocene-aged strata of North America. At least three species (B. occidentalis, B. idelmani, and possibly B. agilis) are known from the Middle Eocene Green River lagerstätte in Wyoming, two species from Eocene strata of Uinta County (B. occidentalis again, B. brevis), and at least one species is known from the middle to late Eocene-aged Sespe Formation of California (B. affinis).[1]

Boavus
Temporal range: Eocene - ?Miocene
B. idelmani
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: †Boavus
Marsh, 1871
Type species
Boavus occidentalis
Marsh, 1871
Species
  • ?B. agilis Marsh, 1871
  • B. brevis Marsh, 1871
  • B. occidentalis Marsh, 1871
  • B. idelmani Gilmore, 1938
  • B. affinis Brattstrom, 1955

Post-Eocene specimens

Three vertebrae very similar in form, if not identical to those of B. occidentalis were found in early Oligocene-aged strata of South Dakota.[1] Remains of what may be B. affinis are found in Late Miocene (Early Barstovian-aged) strata of Trinity River in Texas.[1]

References
  1. Holman, J. Alan (2000). Fossil Snakes of North America: Origin, Evolution, Distribution, Paleoecology. Indiana University Press. pp. 357 (pp40-49). ISBN 9780253337214.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.