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Fossil Snake Vertebra – PALAEOPHIS MAGHREBIANUS – Eocene, Morocco

Fossil Snake Vertebra – PALAEOPHIS MAGHREBIANUS – Eocene, Morocco

Original price was: £14.40.Current price is: £12.96.

This listing features a genuine fossil snake vertebra from the extinct marine snake species Palaeophis maghrebians, discovered in Eocene deposits of Morocco. This intriguing specimen represents a member of one of the largest snake genera known from the Paleogene, with marine adaptations akin to those of modern sea snakes.

Fossil Type & Species:

  • Type: Vertebra (Axial skeleton)
  • Genus: Palaeophis
  • Species: maghrebians
  • A marine-adapted snake with vertebrae optimized for lateral undulatory swimming in aquatic environments

Geological Context:

  • Era: Cenozoic
  • Period: Paleogene
  • Epoch: Eocene (~56 to 33.9 million years ago)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine and coastal settings indicating warm tropical conditions conducive to reptilian gigantism

Morphological Features:

  • Elongated, laterally compressed vertebra with a high neural spine
  • Well-preserved centrum and articulation facets
  • Indicative of a powerful, sinuous swimming motion used by aquatic snakes

Scientific Importance:

  • Palaeophis is part of the extinct family Palaeophiidae, known for some of the earliest fully aquatic snakes
  • These fossils help trace the evolutionary history and ecological diversity of early marine reptiles

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Order: Squamata
  • Superfamily: Palaeophioidea
  • Family: Palaeophiidae

Locality Information:

  • Morocco – Eocene marine sediments rich in vertebrate fossils, including early whales, rays, and reptiles like Palaeophis

Authenticity & Display:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The specimen pictured is the exact one you will receive.

Please refer to the photograph for full sizing details — the scale cube = 1cm.

This rare Palaeophis maghrebians fossil vertebra is an extraordinary addition to any collection focused on fossil reptiles, marine evolution, or Eocene paleontology.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: SF0254 Category:

Description

This listing features a genuine fossil snake vertebra from the extinct marine snake species Palaeophis maghrebians, discovered in Eocene deposits of Morocco. This intriguing specimen represents a member of one of the largest snake genera known from the Paleogene, with marine adaptations akin to those of modern sea snakes.

Fossil Type & Species:

  • Type: Vertebra (Axial skeleton)
  • Genus: Palaeophis
  • Species: maghrebians
  • A marine-adapted snake with vertebrae optimized for lateral undulatory swimming in aquatic environments

Geological Context:

  • Era: Cenozoic
  • Period: Paleogene
  • Epoch: Eocene (~56 to 33.9 million years ago)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine and coastal settings indicating warm tropical conditions conducive to reptilian gigantism

Morphological Features:

  • Elongated, laterally compressed vertebra with a high neural spine
  • Well-preserved centrum and articulation facets
  • Indicative of a powerful, sinuous swimming motion used by aquatic snakes

Scientific Importance:

  • Palaeophis is part of the extinct family Palaeophiidae, known for some of the earliest fully aquatic snakes
  • These fossils help trace the evolutionary history and ecological diversity of early marine reptiles

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Order: Squamata
  • Superfamily: Palaeophioidea
  • Family: Palaeophiidae

Locality Information:

  • Morocco – Eocene marine sediments rich in vertebrate fossils, including early whales, rays, and reptiles like Palaeophis

Authenticity & Display:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The specimen pictured is the exact one you will receive.

Please refer to the photograph for full sizing details — the scale cube = 1cm.

This rare Palaeophis maghrebians fossil vertebra is an extraordinary addition to any collection focused on fossil reptiles, marine evolution, or Eocene paleontology.

Additional information

Era

Eocene
Origin

Morocco

Eocene Information

The Eocene Period (56–33.9 million years ago) was a time of warm global temperatures and the rapid evolution of mammals following the extinction of the dinosaurs. The climate was hot and humid, with lush rainforests covering much of the planet, even near the poles. Mammals diversified into new ecological roles, with early primates, whales (like Basilosaurus), large herbivores, and carnivores emerging. Birds and reptiles also thrived, and the first grasses began spreading, setting the stage for later grassland ecosystems. By the late Eocene, the Earth’s climate cooled significantly, leading to the formation of the first Antarctic ice sheets and the eventual transition to the drier, cooler Oligocene Period.

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