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Morelia riversleighensis
Taxonomy
Montypythonoides riversleighensis was named by Smith and Plane (1985). Its type specimen is QMF 12926, a maxilla (partial right maxilla with 9 teeth), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Henk's Hollow Locality, which is in a Langhian/Serravallian terrestrial limestone in Australia.
It was synonymized subjectively with Morelia spilota by Kluge (1993); it was recombined as Morelia riversleighensis by Scanlon (2001).
It was synonymized subjectively with Morelia spilota by Kluge (1993); it was recombined as Morelia riversleighensis by Scanlon (2001).
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Montypythonoides riversleighensis Smith and Plane p. 191 figs. 2A-G |
| 1985 | Morelia antiquus Smith and Plane p. 192 figs. 2H, J |
| 1992 | Morelia antiqua Scanlon p. 49 |
| 2001 | Morelia riversleighensis Scanlon pp. 6-21 figs. 2-4, 6, 8-10 |
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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.
†Morelia riversleighensis Smith and Plane 1985
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Invalid names: Morelia antiqua Smith and Plane 1985 [synonym]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| J. D. Scanlon 2001 | (Repeats the apomorphies of Genus Morelia or more inclusive groups and also includes probable plesiomorphies relative to other species of
Morelia. The combination of character states is unique, but no definite autapomorphies of M. riversleighensis are known.) Moderately large Morelia with at least 15 (probably 17- 18) alveoli on the maxilla, 17- 18 on the dentary, 6 on the palatine, 2 on each side of the premaxilla. Anterior maxillary and dentary teeth moderately long (distinctly longer than posterior teeth), curved basally but nearly straight for most of their length; marginal teeth with prominent lateral cutting ridges for most of their length, medial cutting ridges also present distally. Anterior maxillary foramen on lateral face of maxilla small; lateral bulge present on the suborbital portion of the maxilla, projecting laterally to a moderate extent; palatine process of maxilla nearly as wide as long, adjacent to alveoli 7-9 which are relatively widely spaced, followed by a convex medial expansion of maxilla adjacent to alveoli 110-l3 (the two expansions separated by a smooth concavity in smaller specimens, an angular notch in larger ones where the palatine process overlaps the other dorsally), Anterior palatine teeth distinctly thicker and more erect, and probably longer, than posterior ones; choanal process of palatine about as wide as long, anterior and posterior margins slightly concave and directed anteromedially and dorsally from shaft of palatine; maxillary process narrow; medial pterygoid process moderate in length. Median space between premaxillary alveoli equivalent to one alveolus, anterior margin of premaxilla concave; small premaxillary channels piercing bone posteromedial to alveoli, no median anterior fenestra; medial margins of choanal processes of premaxilla project strongly ventrad; premaxilla only slightly angular laterally, without dorsolateral projections, and with lateral margins sloping posteriorly. Mental foramen on lateral face of dentary relatively small, shallow dorsoventrally, forming acute angle posteriorly. Compound mandibular bone with distinct ventrolateral crest; surangular foramen shallow; coronoid eminence of surangular relatively distinct, steep anteriorly and posteriorly; prearticular lamina relatively long, low and straight, extending to coronoid facet; relatively long and narrow horizontal lamina between prearticular and surangular laminae anterior and dorsal to mandibular fossa; coronoid and angular in longitudinal contact, meeting posteriorly at about 45°. Maximum total length estimated at 4-6 m. Hypapophyses continue relatively long in anterior trunk before reducing sharply at transition to mid-trunk region; zygapophyses angled at less than 10° above horizontal; zygosphene with anterior median prominence (trilobate in dorsal view); neural spine ‘hatchet-shaped’ in lateral view, with right or acute angle anteriorly and acute angle posteriorly; usually one pair of subcentral foramina per vertebra in adults. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: subf = subfamily, c = class, subp = subphylum | |||||
| References: Hendy et al. 2009, Greene 1997, Carroll 1988 | |||||
Age range: base of the Chattian to the top of the Serravallian or 28.10000 to 11.62000 Ma
Collections (10 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattian | Australia (Queensland) | Montypythonoides riversleighensis (143470) | |
| Aquitanian - Burdigalian | Australia (Queensland) | Montypythonoides riversleighensis (183096) Morelia riversleighensis (106497) | |
| Early/Lower Miocene | Australia (Queensland) | Morelia riversleighensis (134948) | |
| Burdigalian | Australia (Queensland) | Morelia riversleighensis (135708) | |
| Langhian - Serravallian | Australia (Queensland) | Montypythonoides riversleighensis, Morelia riversleighensis (28420 type locality: 137790) | |
| Middle Miocene | Australia (Queensland) | Morelia riversleighensis (151091 154234) | |
| Middle Miocene | Australia (Northern Territory) | Morelia antiquus, Morelia riversleighensis (137618) |