Pachyophis
Pachyophis is an extinct genus of Simoliophiidae snakes that were extant during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period. More specifically, it was found to be from the Cenomanian Age about 93.9-100.5 million years ago in the suburb area of Bileca, Herzegovina.
| Pachyophis Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | |
|---|---|
| Fossil specimen of Pachyophis woodwardi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | †Simoliophiidae |
| Genus: | †Pachyophis Nopsca, 1923 |
| Type species | |
| Pachyophis woodwardi Nopsca, 1923 | |
Pachyophis belongs to the family Simoliophiidae (hind-limbed snakes) in the clade Ophidia. The family is characterized by the presence of hindlimbs and pelvic girdles, as seen in Pachyrhachis (one of the first discovered hind-limbed snakes). Included in the most basal of snake relatives, Pachyophis in contrast does not have evidence of any form of limb preservation. Despite this, they are considered under Pachyophiidae due to their other morphological similarities along with the genera Mesophis and Simoliophis.
Only one species has been discovered, which is known as Pachyophis woodwardi.