Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene
of Slovakia

J 2017

Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene of Slovakia

IVANOV, Martin and Andrej ČERŇANSKÝ

Basic information

Original name

Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene of Slovakia

Authors

IVANOV, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Andrej ČERŇANSKÝ (703 Slovakia)

Edition

Amphibia-Reptilia, LEIDEN, BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS, 2017, 0173-5373

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.105

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00096462

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003095

UT WoS

000405024000002

Keywords in English

Central Europe; Late Pleistocene; osteology; palaeoecology; Viperinae

Abstract

V originále

Completely preserved specimens of fossil snakes are extremely rare and ophidian palaeontologists are usually dependent only on disarticulated elements of a postcranial skeleton. Here we present an unusually well-preserved specimen of a small viperid snake from the Late Pleistocene firm travertine at the famous Gánovce-Hrádok Neanderthal mound in Slovakia. The complex study of both cranial and axial skeleton with well-preserved maxilla and basiparasphenoid confirms the presence of a viper from the Vipera berus species group, and recent distribution of V. berus species complex members supports identification of these preserved remains as belonging to the common adder, V. berus (Linnaeus, 1758). Associated faunal assemblages of the MFG-C and D mammalian fauna groups reported from the firm travertine indicate a humid climate in a predominantly woodland environment with typical forest species in the Gánovce-Hrádok vicinity throughout the Eemian optimum, and mixed forest and steppe environments in the late Eemian to early Weichselian stages. Occurrence of V. berus documents the presence of open or semi-open biotopes with low vegetation. Although V. berus occurs in the Quaternary glacial/interglacial cycle and throughout the entire warm part, it never dominated herpetofaunal assemblages during the climatic optimum. Therefore, the presence of V. berus most likely indicates late Eemian or early Weichselian (interstadial) climatic conditions.

Citovat

IVANOV, Martin and Andrej ČERŇANSKÝ. Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene of Slovakia. Amphibia-Reptilia. LEIDEN: BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS, 2017, vol. 38, No 2, p. 133-144. ISSN 0173-5373. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003095.

@article{1378095,
   author = {Ivanov, Martin and Čerňanský, Andrej},
   article_location = {LEIDEN},
   article_number = {2},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003095},
   keywords = {Central Europe; Late Pleistocene; osteology; palaeoecology; Viperinae},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0173-5373},
   journal = {Amphibia-Reptilia},
   title = {Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene of Slovakia},
   url = {http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15685381-00003095},
   volume = {38},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
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AU  - Ivanov, Martin - Čerňanský, Andrej
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JF  - Amphibia-Reptilia
VL  - 38
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EP  - 133-144
PB  - BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS
SN  - 01735373
KW  - Central Europe
KW  - Late Pleistocene
KW  - osteology
KW  - palaeoecology
KW  - Viperinae
UR  - http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15685381-00003095
L2  - http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15685381-00003095
N2  - Completely preserved specimens of fossil snakes are extremely rare and ophidian palaeontologists are usually dependent only on disarticulated elements of a postcranial skeleton. Here we present an unusually well-preserved specimen of a small viperid snake from the Late Pleistocene firm travertine at the famous Gánovce-Hrádok Neanderthal mound in Slovakia. The complex study of both cranial and axial skeleton with well-preserved maxilla and basiparasphenoid confirms the presence of a viper from the Vipera berus species group, and recent distribution of V. berus species complex members supports identification of these preserved remains as belonging to the common adder, V. berus (Linnaeus, 1758). Associated faunal assemblages of the MFG-C and D mammalian fauna groups reported from the firm travertine indicate a humid climate in a predominantly woodland environment with typical forest species in the Gánovce-Hrádok vicinity throughout the Eemian optimum, and mixed forest and steppe environments in the late Eemian to early Weichselian stages. Occurrence of V. berus documents the presence of open or semi-open biotopes with low vegetation. Although V. berus occurs in the Quaternary glacial/interglacial cycle and throughout the entire warm part, it never dominated herpetofaunal assemblages during the climatic optimum. Therefore, the presence of V. berus most likely indicates late Eemian or early Weichselian (interstadial) climatic conditions.
ER  -

IVANOV, Martin and Andrej ČERŇANSKÝ. Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) remains from the Late Pleistocene of Slovakia. \textit{Amphibia-Reptilia}. LEIDEN: BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS, 2017, vol.~38, No~2, p.~133-144. ISSN~0173-5373. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003095.

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