Naja romani (Hoffstetter, 1939) (Serpentes: Elapidae) from the late Miocene of the Northern Caucasus: the last East European large cobra

A new record of the genus Naja Laurenti, 1768 is described from latest Miocene Solnechnodolsk locality in Russia. It assigned to N. romani (Hoffstetter, 1939), largest European cobra, which disappeared Europe before end Miocene. The first evidence survival cobras Eastern Europe, points existence a Caucasian refugium during late large size vertebra cobra indicates that it belonged one specimens this taxon. represents Russia and Northern Black Sea area, contributing knowledge ancient biodiversity region suggesting wider range for genus. was thermophilous snake subtropical character fauna.