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Erycinae (sand boa)

Reptilia - Boidae

Taxonomy
Erycinae was named by Bonaparte (1825) [also said to be 1831]. It is extant. Its type is Eryx. It was considered paraphyletic by Noonan and Chippindale (2006).

It was reranked as the family Erycidae by Zittel (1890) and Vidal and Hedges (2002); it was considered an invalid subgroup of Boidae by Noonan and Chippindale (2006).

It was assigned to Ophidia by Zittel (1890); to Henophidia by Vidal and Hedges (2002); to Macrostomata by Scanlon (2006) and Longrich et al. (2012); and to Boidae by Bonaparte (1825), Perrier (1928), Kuhn (1946), McGrew et al. (1959), Kuhn (1966), Rage (1984), Szyndlar (1987), Zerova (1989), Parmley and Holman (1995), Maddox and Wall (1998), McDiarmid et al. (1999), Parmley and Hunter (2010) and Cirilli et al. (2016).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1825Erycinae Bonaparte
1890Erycidae Zittel p. 630
1928Erycinae Perrier p. 3103
1946Erycinae Kuhn p. 62
1959Erycinae McGrew et al. p. 141
1966Erycinae Kuhn p. 63
1984Erycinae Rage p. 23
1987Erycinae Szyndlar p. 56
1989Erycinae Zerova p. 30
1995Erycinae Parmley and Holman p. 80
1998Erycinae Maddox and Wall p. 6
1999Erycinae McDiarmid et al.
2002Erycidae Vidal and Hedges p. 983
2006Erycinae Scanlon p. 839
2010Erycinae Parmley and Hunter p. 527
2012Erycinae Longrich et al.
2016Erycinae Cirilli et al. p. 22

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
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
subfamilyErycinaeBonaparte 1825
subfamilyErycinaeBonaparte 1825

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.

Subfm. Erycinae Bonaparte 1825 [sand boa]
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G. †Albaneryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
†Albaneryx depereti Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
†Albaneryx volynicus Zerova 1989
G. †Bransateryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
†Bransateryx vireti Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
G. †Cadurceryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
†Cadurceryx filholi Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
†Cadurceryx pearchi Holman et al. 2006
G. Charina Gray 1849
+
Charina bottae Blainville 1835 [northern rubber boa]
†Charina prebottae Brattstrom 1958
G. Eryx Daudin 1803 [true sand boa]
+
†Eryx linxiaensis Shi et al. 2023
†Eryx turcica Olivier 1801
G. †Gaimanophis Albino 1996
+
†Gaimanophis tenuis Albino 1996
G. †Geringophis Holman 1976
+
†Geringophis depressus Holman 1976
†Geringophis robustus Holman and Harrison 2001
†Geringophis vetus Holman 1982
†Geringophis yatkolae Holman 1977
†Geringophis yatkolai Holman 1977
G. Gongylophis Wagler 1830
G. †Huberophis Holman 1977
+
†Huberophis georgiensis Holman 1977
G. Lichanura Cope 1861
+
Invalid names: Paraepicrates Hecht 1959 [synonym]
G. †Pterygoboa Holman 1976
+
†Pterygoboa delawarensis Holman 1998
†Pterygoboa miocenica Holman 1976
G. †Tregophis Holman 1975
+
†Tregophis brevirachis Holman 1975
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. Perrier 1928Taille ne dépassant pas 1 mètre. Queue très courte, peu mobile, non préhensile. Tête sans cou distinct; écailles dorsales très petites; sous-caudales unisériées.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Body part: SVLsubf
Adult length: 100 to < 1000subf
Maximum body mass: 300 gsubf
Minimum body mass: 100 gsubf
Grouping: solitarysubf
Environment: terrestrialsubf
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: fossorialsubf
Diet: carnivoresubf
Reproduction: oviparoussubf
Created: 2005-09-10 09:20:11
Modified: 2005-09-10 11:20:11
Source: subf = subfamily, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Greene 1997, Behler and King 1979, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Maastrichtian to the top of the Rancholabrean or 70.60000 to 0.01200 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 66.0 Ma

Collections (115 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0USA (Montana) Erycinae indet. (13142)
Wasatchian55.8 - 50.3Canada (Northwest Territories) Erycinae indet. (15583)
Bridgerian50.3 - 46.2USA (Wyoming) Paraepicrates brevispondylus (16244)
Lutetian47.8 - 41.3Pakistan (North-West Frontier) Erycinae indet. (28978)
Lutetian47.8 - 41.3France (Gard) Erycinae sp. (59129)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0France (Quercy, Midi-Pyrenees Region) Cadurceryx filholi (12840)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0France (Picardie Region) Cadurceryx sp. (12847)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0France (Languedoc-Roussillon Region) Erycinae indet. (31736 183350)
Priabonian38.0 - 33.9France (Quercy, Midi-Pyrenees Region) Cadurceryx filholi (12841 12849 12852) Cadurceryx sp. (12842)
Priabonian38.0 - 33.9USA (Georgia) Huberophis georgiensis (27508)
Late/Upper Eocene37.2 - 33.9United Kingdom (England) Cadurceryx pearchi (39662) Erycinae indet. (38862)
Late/Upper Eocene37.2 - 33.9France (Quercy) Cadurceryx filholi (12850)
Orellan33.9 - 33.3USA (Colorado) Geringophis vetus (232908)
Orellan33.9 - 33.3USA (Nebraska) Geringophis vetus (75879)
MP 2233.9 - 28.4Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Bransateryx vireti (117977 118196)
MP 2533.9 - 23.03France Bransateryx vireti (60214)
Whitneyan33.3 - 30.8USA (Florida) Geringophis indet., Geringophis robustus (17341)
MP 2628.4 - 23.03France (Occitanie) Bransateryx sp. (183674)
MP 2728.4 - 23.03Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Bransateryx vireti (59124)
MP 2828.4 - 23.03Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Bransateryx vireti (59125)
MP 2828.4 - 23.03France (Quercy) Bransateryx vireti (36712)
MP 28 - MP 3028.4 - 23.03Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Bransateryx sp. (59126)
MP 3028.4 - 23.03Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Bransateryx vireti (66109)
Chattian28.1 - 23.03USA (Florida) Pterygoboa sp. (17860)
Chattian28.1 - 23.03France Bransateryx vireti (60281 60282)
Monroecreekian26.3 - 24.8USA (Wyoming) Geringophis depressus (75875)
Harrisonian24.8 - 18.5USA (Nebraska) Erycinae indet. (17792) Geringophis depressus (17802)
MN 123.03 - 22.4Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) Bransateryx vireti (69617)
Aquitanian23.03 - 20.44USA (Texas) Erycinae indet. (18663)
Aquitanian23.03 - 20.44France Bransateryx sp. (151407)
Aquitanian - Burdigalian23.03 - 15.97Kazakhstan Eryx sp. (64355)
Aquitanian - Burdigalian23.03 - 15.97Spain (Navarre) Eryx sp. (153745 153749 153751 153753 153758 153760 153761 174922)
Early/Lower Miocene23.03 - 15.97USA (Nebraska) Geringophis yatkolae (27510)
Early/Lower Miocene23.03 - 15.97Kazakhstan (East Kasakhstan) Eryx sp. (167805)
Early/Lower Miocene - Middle Miocene23.03 - 11.608Spain (Castile-La Mancha) Eryx sp. (136269)
Colhuehuapian21.0 - 17.5Argentina (Chubut) Erycinae indet., Gaimanophis tenuis (27311)
Burdigalian20.44 - 15.97USA (Delaware) Erycinae indet., Pterygoboa delawarensis (18579)
Early/Lower Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (Florida) Pterygoboa sp. (18562)
Early/Lower Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (Nebraska) Boidae indet. (17963)
Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (Colorado) Charina prebottae (17965)
Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (Wyoming) Charina prebottae (19074 19075 19077)
Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (South Dakota) Charina prebottae, Pterygoboa miocenica (17878)
Hemingfordian20.43 - 15.97USA (Florida) Pterygoboa sp. (18597)
MN 320.0 - 16.9Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Eryx sp. (69179)
Orleanian20.0 - 15.97Spain (Castile-La Mancha) Eryx sp. (60283)
Orleanian - Middle Miocene20.0 - 11.608France (Rhône-Alpes) Eryx sp. (26723)
Barstovian16.3 - 12.5USA (Nebraska) Charina prebottae (18141) Charina prebottae, Geringophis depressus (18284) Geringophis depressus (27507) Geringophis depressus, Pterygoboa miocenica (18275) Pterygoboa miocenica (27481)
Barstovian16.3 - 12.5USA (South Dakota) Charina prebottae (18303 18397)
Barstovian16.3 - 12.5Canada (Saskatchewan) Charina prebottae (18759)
Langhian15.97 - 13.82Spain (Catalonia) Erycinae indet. (180192)
Langhian - Serravallian15.97 - 11.62France (Midi-Pyrenees) Albaneryx depereti (32191)
Astaracian15.97 - 11.608Morocco (Tadla-Azilal) Erycinae indet. (48630)
Middle Miocene15.97 - 11.608USA (Wyoming) Charina prebottae (26758 26759)
MN 7 + 812.75 - 11.1France (Rhône-Alpes) Erycinae indet. (79360)
Clarendonian12.5 - 9.4USA (Kansas) Tregophis brevirachis (18450)
Late/Upper Clarendonian12.5 - 9.4USA (Nebraska) Erycinae indet., Tregophis brevirachis (18327)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Italy (Tuscany) Erycinae indet. (190848)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Germany (Bavaria) Erycinae indet. (206345)
Vallesian11.608 - 8.7Iraq Erycinae indet. (41735)
Vallesian11.608 - 8.7Ukraine (Khmel'nitsk'yi) Bransateryx sp., Eryx sp., Albaneryx volynicus, Bransateryx sp. (48446)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Spain (Granada) Eryx jaculus (26752)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Greece (Attica) Erycinae indet. (182754)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Mongolia (Övörkhangai) Eryx sp. 1, Eryx sp. 2 (75600)
MN 911.1 - 9.7Hungary (Heves) Albaneryx volynicus (168187)
Hemphillian10.3 - 4.9USA (Texas) Charina prebottae (18198)
Hemphillian10.3 - 4.9USA (Nebraska) Charina prebottae, Lichanura sp. (18225)
MN 118.7 - 7.75Ukraine (Odessa) Eryx sp. (167806)
Turolian8.7 - 5.333Kazakhstan Eryx sp. (34436)
Turolian8.7 - 5.333Italy (Ravenna) Erycinae indet. (202035)
MN 127.75 - 7.246Ukraine (Odessa) Erycinae sp. (167833) Eryx sp. (48175 167995)
MN 12 - MN 137.75 - 4.9China (Gansu) Eryx linxiaensis (96188)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Italy (Ravenna) Eryx jaculus (144566)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Italy (Piedmont) Eryx sp. (172910)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6Hungary (North Hungary) Eryx sp. (136068)
Ruscinian5.333 - 3.2Greece Eryx sp. (31907)
Ruscinian5.333 - 3.2Turkey (Ankara) Eryx sp. (34370)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.588Armenia Eryx sp. (56729)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Washington) Charina bottae (20062)
MN 154.2 - 3.2Moldova Eryx sp. (50941)
MN 154.2 - 3.2Ukraine (Odessa) Erycinae indet. (168015)
MN 154.2 - 3.2Russian Federation (Rostov) Eryx sp. (168018)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.588France Erycinae indet. (49096)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.588Italy (Sardinia) Eryx jaculus (230767)
MN 163.2 - 2.588Ukraine (Odessa) Erycinae indet. (168020)
Middle Pleistocene0.774 - 0.129Greece (Chios) Eryx jaculus (204077)
Middle Pleistocene0.774 - 0.129Israel Eryx sp. (192424 192425)
Rancholabrean0.3 - 0.012USA (California) Charina bottae (225558)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Greece (Peloponnesus) Eryx jaculus (184245)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (California) Charina bottae (225559)