Ophisaurus Gray 1825
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2021
Yazarlar: Georgalis, Georgios L., Čerňanský, Andrej, Serdar MAYDA
, Uluslararası, 2021
Özet
Ophisaurus sp. (Fig. 10) MATERIAL. — Turkey. Kavakdere: a presacral vertebra (EUNMH PV 14056). DESCRIPTION The vertebra EUNMH PV 14056 is incomplete, missing parts of the neural spine, right prezygapophysis and both postzygapophyses, while its synapophyses and condyle are eroded (Fig. 10). In anterior view (Fig. 10A), the prezygapophyses are dorsally inclined, with their dorsal edges reaching the dorsal floor of the neural canal. The neural canal is triangular and large, with a height larger than that of the cotyle. The cotyle is rather depressed and elongated. In posterior view (Fig. 10B), the neural arch is moderately vaulted. The condyle is rather eroded but it seems that it was originally relatively dorsoventrally depressed. In dorsal view (Fig. 10C), the base of the neural spine crosses most of the midline of the neural arch. The prezygapophyses are directed anterolaterally. The prezygapophyseal articular facets are massive and broad. The interzygapophyseal constriction is well developed. In ventral view (Fig.10D), the vertebra is longer than wide. The centrum is slightly anteriorly widened. Its ventral surface is almost flattened, though nevertheless, two rather large foramina pierce it at around its anterior level. The lateral margins (subcentral ridges) are slightly concave. There are no signs of precondylar constriction. In lateral view (Fig. 10E), the neural spine is broken and its full height cannot be evaluated; it seems though that it mostly augments in height towards the posterior half of the neural arch. The synapophyses seem to have been well developed but also they are eroded. COMMENTS The vertebra can be assigned to Ophisaurus on the basis of its concave lateral margins and the height of its neural canal being bigger than the respective one of the cotyle (Čerňanský et al. 2019). Osteoderm material from Kavakdere has been recently described as an indeterminate anguine (Čerňanský et al. 2017b). It seems probable that this too belongs to Ophisaurus, however, the diagnostic utility of osteoderms is far limited for any such generic referral with certainty and we cannot thus exclude the possibility that they pertain to another anguine taxon.