Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 47A(1-2) 2004

Issue:

VOL 47A(1-2) 2004

Keywords:

Trimeresurus (Reptilia, Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae) Early Miocene, Japan

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cf. Trimeresurus LACÉPÈDE (Reptilia: Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae) from the late Early Miocene of Japan

• J. Alan HOLMAN
• Masahiro TANIMOTO

Abstract:

A single middle trunk vertebra from the Sakurado Facies of the Yamanouchi Member of the Akeyo Formation (late Early Miocene), Mizunami City, central Japan, is identified as cf. Trimeresurus (a living crotaline genus) based on the very close morphological similarity of the fossil to the modern and Pleistocene species Trimeresurus flavoviridis (HALLOWELL, 1861) and on zoogeographic grounds. This is the oldest record of the Crotalinae from Asia. Additional fossil material of this crotaline is needed in order to make a more specific identification.