Crushed but not lost: a colubriform snake (Serpentes) from the Miocene Swiss Molasse, identified through the use of micro-CT scanning technology

Abstract An incomplete postcranial skeleton of a snake from the middle Miocene Swiss Molasse in Käpfnach mine, near Zurich, Switzerland, is described this paper. The rather crushed and resting on block coal, with only some articulated vertebrae partially discerned via visual microscopy. We conducted micro-CT scanning specimen we digitally reconstructed whole preserved vertebral column, allowing direct detailed observation its morphology. Due to flattened nature fossil specimen, several individual structures are deformed, not permitting thus secure precise taxonomic identification. Accordingly, refer as Colubriformes indet. Nevertheless, occurrence adds exceedingly rare record snakes which had so far been formally solely three other Eocene localities.