In 1976, four snake fossils were discovered huddled together in the White River Formation, Wyoming. These perfectly preserved 38 million-year-old fossils’ identity remained a mystery until scientists made use of newer technology to identify them as a new species, Hibernophis breithaupti. Its discovery gives insights into the social behavior of snakes and helps fill some gaps regarding the evolution of modern-day boas.
Fossilization
The four fossils found were complete, meaning that all of their bones were present and in the right order! An extremely rare occurrence when it comes to snake fossils, as they have hundreds of vertebrae that easily become scattered under normal conditions. It is believed that these ancient snakes were caught by a small flood trapping them in their winter den. Which was followed by quickly being covered in sandy mudstone creating a snapshot into the past.
Ancient
Recently, scientists used high-resolution CT scans to study the fossils in more detail. During this study, the team discovered that the fossils were related to the boa snakes we know today but that they aren’t one of the known species. That’s correct, these 38 million-year-old fossils are a brand new species called Hibernophis breithaupti.
The Name
Scientific names are usually derived from Latin and Greek, and this new snake species’ name is no different. The Latin word ‘hibernare’ meaning ‘to pass winter’ was combined with the Greek word ‘ophis’ which means ‘serpent’ to name these snakes Hibernophis breithaupti.
Huddled Together
The quick fossilization of the snakes not only preserved their skeletons perfectly but also captured the first clear evidence of reptile social behavior. This allows researchers insight into these ancient creatures’ lives, and their huddled position indicates that much like modern garter snakes, these snakes also hibernated together for warmth and safety.
Communal Hibernation
What makes this discovery about the Hibernophis breithaupti behavior interesting is that of the almost 15,000 reptile species alive today, none hibernate the way garter snakes do. These snakes gather in communal dens during winter, some traveling far distances, where they spend the icy winter months hibernating together. Their close proximity to each other helps them regulate their body temperatures as the winter weather sets in.
Cold-Blooded
Although garter snakes today gather in hundreds, or even thousands, in communal dens and this ancient finding only contained four snakes grouped together, it still hints towards a shared behavior. As we know, snakes are cold-blooded animals who cannot regulate their body temperatures and rely on external factors to keep warm. Making this annual gathering a clever way of conserving heat for survival during cold winter months.
Articulated Fossils
As mentioned earlier, the 38 million-year-old snake fossils were found in one piece with their bones still arranged in the correct order. So, researchers weren’t just able to learn more about their social behavior but it also gave a better understanding of the boidae snake family’s evolution in broad. Such as that it seems like snakes in this family started out with smaller bodies compared to what they have today.
Boidae Family
The Boidae snake family, commonly referred to as boas, consists of 54 non-venomous snake species. These snakes are found in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe, and include some of the world’s biggest snakes, like the green anaconda. Making the discovery that evolved from smaller snakes all the more interesting.
Growth
One of the fossilized snakes was about twice the size of the other three found, which allowed the researchers to study the species at different stages of development. A rare opportunity when it comes to ancient creatures! This led to the discovery, that just like humans, these snakes head-to-body ratio significantly changed throughout their lives.
Vertebrae
Another discovery made from the articulated fossils is that a snake’s vertebrae differ in shape and size depending on where it is located in the spine. This raises the question of whether previous bones were found and allocated to new species, where indeed new species and not just different vertebrae from the same species.
Last Thoughts
Discoveries and studies like this done on these ancient snake fossils allow us for a better understanding of what walked (or in this case, sailed) our planet before us. Who would have thought that a snake that lived 38 million years ago, could help us understand those who thrive on our planet today?
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