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A snake with legs from the marine Cretaceous of the Middle East

Author

Listed:
  • Michael W. Caldwell

    (The Field Museum
    Biological Sciences Center, University of Alberta)

  • Michael S. Y. Lee

    (The University of Sydney)

Abstract

Although snakes are descended from limbed squamates ('lizards'), all known snakes lack well developed legs and their nearest lizard relatives have yet to be identified1–4. Here we provide compelling evidence that the Cretaceous squamate Pachyrhachis problematicus, previously interpreted as a varanoid lizard5–7, is actually a primitive snake with a well developed pelvis and hindlimbs. Pachyrhachis is the sister-taxon of all other snakes. The skull exhibits most derived features of modern snakes, and the body is slender and elongated. But unlike other snakes, Pachyrhachis retains a well developed sacrum, pelvis and hindlimb (femur, tibia, fibula, tarsals). Pachyrhachis was marine, and provides additional support for mosasauroid–snake affinities.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael W. Caldwell & Michael S. Y. Lee, 1997. "A snake with legs from the marine Cretaceous of the Middle East," Nature, Nature, vol. 386(6626), pages 705-709, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:386:y:1997:i:6626:d:10.1038_386705a0
    DOI: 10.1038/386705a0
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    Cited by:

    1. A. R. H. LeBlanc & A. Palci & N. Anthwal & A. S. Tucker & R. Araújo & M. F. C. Pereira & M. W. Caldwell, 2023. "A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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