Fossil snakes (Squamata Serpentes) from the tar pits of Venezuela: taxonomic palaeoenvironmental and palaeobiogeographical implications for the North of South America during the Cenozoic/Quaternary boundary

摘要

BackgroundTar seep deposits in South America historically are well-known for their rich record of fossil mammals, contrasting with only a few formal reports of reptile remains. Here we report a new snake fauna recovered from two tar pits from Venezuela. The fossil remains come from two localities: (a) El Breal de Orocual, which comprises an inactive tar seep estimated to be Plio/Pleistocene in age; and (b) Mene de Inciarte, an active surface asphalt deposit with an absolute age dating to the late Pleistocene.