A new species of ancient snake, Hibernophis breithaupti, has been discovered in western Wyoming. The fossilized snake, thought to have lived around 38 million years ago, was found nestled within a hibernaculum, a small space where animals cluster for warmth during the winter months. Many modern species of mammals hibernate in caves, burrows, and hollow trees, which serve as protection from predators and insulation from extreme temperatures.
Garter snakes are the only modern snake species to hibernate during the winter, making this species rare among reptiles. They also cluster in groups, numbering up to several hundreds of snakes, which helps them stay warm during the colder months. This behavior may also be what this ancient species was doing.
The reptiles were thought to have died in their den after a “small flood episode” and were fossilized in volcanic ash. Fossilization is an unusual process, and finding the whole snake is rare. This degree of completeness helps researchers learn more about the evolution of the boidae family of snakes, which includes modern species such as the Amazon tree boa and scrub python.
One of the snakes is about four times the size of the others, implying that it is older than the rest of them, allowing researchers to determine how this species grew and developed with age. The fossilized skeletons of the snakes reveal insights into the evolution and social behavior of its modern descendants.
In conclusion, the discovery of Hibernophis breithaupti in western Wyoming provides valuable insights into the social lives of long-extinct reptiles and their adaptations to survive in harsh environments.