Simoliophis

Simoliophis is a genus of extinct marine snake from the Cretaceous period. It is a member of the Simoliophiidae family. Fossils are known from Morocco, France and Spain.^[2][3][4]

Simoliophis Temporal range: 99.6–93.9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	†Simoliophiidae
Genus:	†Simoliophis Sauvage, 1880
Type species
†Simoliophis rochebrunei Sauvage, 1880
Other species[1]
†Simoliophis libycu Nessov et al., 1998
Synonyms[1]
Symoliophis Rochebrune, 1880 Symoliophis Sauvage, 1880

Description

The type species, Simoliophis rochebrunei, is distinguished by a set of vertebral characteristics, including short and robust vertebrae with a small neural canal and a shallow interzygapophyseal constriction. The species exhibits pachyostosis, particularly in the mid-trunk region and the anterior portion of the posterior trunk. Ribs attributed to S. rochebrunei are pachyostotic at their proximal ends and decrease in thickness distally. Some specimens exhibit a slight curvature, while others are more robustly curved near the proximal end. The anatomical adaptations of Simoliophis suggest a highly pachyostotic, marine-affiliated snake adapted for slow swimming in shallow waters. Its morphology indicates a lifestyle of prolonged, shallow dives rather than active, fast swimming. A fragment of skull bone bearing three tooth sockets has been tentatively assigned to S. rochebrunei. While its attribution is not definitive, the fossil was recovered from a locality where Simoliophis is abundant, making its association plausible.^[4]