The first specimen of a Blind snake from the Middle Miocene of Western Serbia

Abstract

This article describes the first find of blind snake remains from the Middle Miocene sediments in the Vračević locality (Western Serbia). The numerous snake remains were isolated from the fossil material of the Vračević site. Among the many fragmented vertebrae, only one has been identified as belonging to a ‘scolecophidian’. This vertebra is characterized by the neural arches depressed dorsoventrally; the vestigial neural spine limited to the most posterior part of a neural arch; posterodorsal lamina of neural arch slightly concave; paradiapophyses developed above the ventral margin of cotylar rim; indistinct haemal keel visible only on the anterior part of vertebra centrum.

Keywords

• blind snakes
• scolecophidia
• middle miocene
• vračević