Early Eocene snakes from Kutch, Western India, with a review of the Palaeophiidae

摘要: The early Eocene of Panandhro Mine (northwestern India) has produced a rich snake fauna largely dominated by palaeophiids. Three families are present: Palaeophiidae, ?Madtsoiidae or Boidae, and an indeterminate family Colubroidea. Palaeophiidae include two species: Pterosphenus kutchensis n. sp., that shows peculiar features, Pt. biswasi sp. They the earliest representatives genus. Madtsoiidae Boidae represented only specimens do not permit distinction between these families. If fossils belong to then they might be in Asia. colubroid from this site ranks among Cenozoic group. possibility it belongs Colubridae cannot excluded; if is case, would known colubrid. Nearly all Lucas, 1899 was highly aquatic It lived shallow water, probably marine environment close coasts and/or freshwater.