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Hordleophis balconae

Reptilia - Boidae

Taxonomy
Hordleophis balconae was named by Holman (1996). Its type specimen is MSUVP 1361, a set of vertebrae (trunk vertebra), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Hordle Cliff Rodent Bed, Hampshire, which is in an Eocene marine marl/claystone in the Headon Beds Formation of the United Kingdom. It is the type species of Hordleophis.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1996Hordleophis balconae Holman

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Eugnathostomata
—Teleostomi(Bonaparte 1836)
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Squamata()
suborderOphidia(Latreille 1804)
—Serpentes(Linnaeus 1758)
infraorderAlethinophidia
—Macrostomata
superfamilyBooideaGray 1825
familyBoidaeGray 1825
subfamilyBoinaeGray 1825
genusHordleophis
speciesbalconae

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Hordleophis balconae Holman 1996
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. A. Holman 1996"A diminutive snake whose vertebrate are wider than long, with a simple, moderately vaulted neural arch and a high, anteriorly and posteriorly rounded, dorsally unswollen neural spine. Very weak prezygapophyseal accessory processes present. Prezygapophyses oriented anterolaterally. Synapophyses undivided. Paracotylar depressions deep but lacking paracotylar foramina. Subcentral foramina lacking. Haemal keel wide and robust with deep grooves between keel and subcentral ridges (pg. 11)"
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Grouping: solitarysuperf
Environment: freshwater, terrestrialsubf
Locomotion: actively mobilep
Life habit: scansorialsubf
Diet: carnivoresubf
Created: 2005-09-23 12:54:43
Modified: 2005-09-23 14:54:43
Source: subf = subfamily, superf = superfamily, subp = subphylum, p = phylum
References: Kiessling 2004, Head 2005, Behler and King 1979, Carroll 1988, Greene 1997

Age range: Late/Upper Eocene or 37.71000 to 33.90000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Eocene37.71 - 33.9United Kingdom (England) Hordleophis balconae (type locality: 39662)