Dinilysia
Dinilysia Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 85 Ma | |
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Illustration of the skull and vertebral column | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Clade: | Ophidia |
Family: | †Dinilysiidae |
Genus: | †Dinilysia Woodward, 1901 |
Type species | |
Dinilysia patagonica Woodward, 1901 |
Dinilysia (meaning "terrible ilysia") is an extinct genus of snake from the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) of South America. The snake reached a length of 6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters) and preyed on smaller animals. The shape of the animal's skull does not support the suggestion that snakes were burrowers during their ancestry; it is clear that Dinilysia was terrestrial.
![](../I/m/Dinilysia_NT.jpg)
Restoration
References
- Caldwell, M.W. & Albino, A.A., 2002. Exceptionally preserved skeletons of the Cretaceous snake Dinilysia patagonica, Woodward, 1901. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22: 861-866.
- Fossils (Smithsonian Handbooks) by David Ward
- Dinosaurus: The Complete Guide to Dinosaurs by Steve Parker. Pg. 99
- Fossil Snakes of North America: Origin, Evolution, Distribution, Paleoecology (Life of the Past) by J. Alan Holman
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