Pterosphenus

Pterosphenus is an extinct genus of marine snake of the Eocene period.[1][2]

Pterosphenus
Temporal range: Paleocene–Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: †Palaeopheidae
Genus: †Pterosphenus
Lucas, 1898

Classification

Pterosphenus belong to the Palaeophiid snakes, a clade which includes all snakes outside of blind and thread snakes. Its closest relative is Palaeophis, of which both belong to the subfamily Palaeopheinae.

Description

While only known from partial remains, enough has been found of Pterosphenus to suggest it was a large reptile over 4 metres. It body was laterally compressed as an adaptation to pelagic life.

Palaeoenvironment and Palaeoecology

A marine ocean dweller, Pterosphenus lived in the shallow seas of the future eastern US, such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, up north to New Jersey. Pterosphenus was a top predator of the ecosystem, likely preying on fish and molluscs found in the same area.

It is certain that Pterosphenus would have encountered basal cetaceans of the time like Zygorhiza, Dorudon, and Basilosaurus, though its likely a mixed of niche partitioning and living in different areas in the case of Basilosaurus (which lived in estuary ecosystems according to recent finds) would prevent competition between the species.

gollark: 5 seconds or so but please just include appropriate yields.
gollark: Why the ping?
gollark: Hello!
gollark: Initiating orbital anti-lawn strike.
gollark: It's *slightly* horrible abuse of that but oh well

References
  1. Case, Dennis; Parmley, Gerard (September 23, 1988). "New records of Eocene sea snakes (Pterosphenus) from Louisiana". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 8: 334–339. JSTOR 4523211.
  2. Westgate, Jim F.; Ward, James. W. (1981). "The giant aquatic snake Pterosphenus schucherti (Palaeophidae) in Arkansas and Mississippi". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: 161–164. doi:10.1080/02724634.1981.10011887.


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