A NEW SNAKE FROM THE EOCENE OF ALABAMA. 



By F. A. Lucas, 



Curator, Dirisiun of Comparatiie Anatomy. 



The name Ptcrosiihenns schucherti is proposed for a large snake, indi- 

 cated by about forty vertebne from the anterior portion of the body, 

 found associated with remains of Zeuglodon in the Eocene of Cocoa, 

 Alabama. 



Type.— 'So. 4047, U.S.N.M. 



The most striking feature of the vertebrre, and the one on which the 

 generic name is based, is the prolongation of the metapophysis upward 

 and outward into a wing-like process. This character distinguishes the 

 genus from all others. The species is named in honor of Mr. Charles 

 Schuchert, by whom it was obtained. 



The bodies of the vertebne are slightly shorter than in Palwophis and 

 the spinous processes, as shown by the only i)erfect example (Plate 

 XLV, figs. 1-3), are very high and their bases coextensive with the 

 neural arch. 



The height of the spinous process, however, is but little more than 

 in Boa or Ancistrodon, although it lools higher from the shortness of 

 the centrum. 



Jlypapophyses are present or indicated on all the vertebrae. On 

 the foremost, which from its size must be very close to the skull, the 

 hyi)apophysis, arises as usual from the posterior portion of the verte- 

 bra and is directed as usual backward. The next complete hypapo- 

 physis, ten or fifteen vertebra', back of the foremost, extends direc^tly 

 downward. All succeeding hypapophyses are directed downward or 

 incline slightly forward, a totally different arrangement from that found 

 in other serpents. 



About twenty or twenty-five vertebra' behind the foremost the hypa- 

 pophyses are doubled in number— one, (luite low and pointing forward, 

 arising from the anterior part of the centrum, the second, or principal 

 hypapophysis, being on the posterior part of the centrum. The two 

 processes are connected by a low ridge. The facets for the ribs are 

 pedunculate, as in Palwophis, and, as in that genus, a ridge extends 

 from the anterior zygapophysis to the costal facet. 



The sockets are as wide as or in some cases slightly wider than, 

 high. The balls are slightly triangular in outline, although in most 

 cases this is exaggerated by the abrasion of their edges. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No. 1 164. 



637 



