Fossil Snakes of North America: Origin, Evolution, Distribution, Paleoecology

The heart of this book consists of detailed systematic accounts of the known fossil snakes of North America and the localities where they occur. Extinct fossil taxa are discussed and illustrated and many are re-described on the basis of new information. Illustrations of diagnostic vertebrae and criteria for the identification of presently living fossil snake taxa are given as well as the modern characteristics and ranges of these species. Introductory material includes a brief history of the study of fossil snakes in North America, a discussion of the major specialisations of snakes, a consideration of the origin of snakes, and a detailed account of the snake skeleton. There follows a description of the criteria used to date, identify, and classify fossil snakes. The book closes with an epoch by epoch discussion of the zoogeographic, paleoecologic, and evolutionary patterns in Mesozoic, Tertiary, and Quaternary North American fossil snakes. An important part of this discussion is a detailed account of the extraordinary evolutionary explosion of snakes in the Miocene. The discussion of Pleistocene fossil snakes reflects upon population adjustments to glacial advances and retreats and the remarkable evolutionary stasis of the group during the epoch. An epilogue dwells on the future of snakes in the modern world.