Biology:Laophis

From HandWiki
Short description: Genus of snakes

Laophis
Temporal range: Pliocene
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Laophis
Species:
L. crotaloides
Binomial name
Laophis crotaloides
(Owen, 1857)

Laophis (From Ancient Greek, stone snake)[1] is a genus of viperid snake currently containing one known species that lived during the Pliocene in Northern Greece.[2] Few fossil vertebrae of this species was found in Thessaloniki, Greece.[3] It reached a total length possibly exceeding 3 m (9.8 ft)[2] and a mass of up to 26 kg (57 lb), making this perhaps the largest viper discovered yet.[4][2] Originally described by Sir Richard Owen, the original fossils had been lost, until rediscovery of a single vertebra was discovered somewhere near Thessaloniki in 2014.[5][6]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q21292374 entry