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Boavus idelmani

Posted 17 September 2012 by Matt Young

Boavus idelmani -- extinct species of boa, middle Eocene, western South America, 48.6-37.2 million years ago. Denver Museum of Nature and Science; cast by American Museum of Natural History FR 3850.

19 Comments

apokryltaros · 17 September 2012

Aren't fossils of Boavus restricted to the Eocene Green River fauna of Wyoming?

https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 17 September 2012

Doesn't look a day over 30 million years old!

Glen Davidson

Henry J · 17 September 2012

Is that the guy what offered some fruit to Eve?

https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnFAay-zoqIoDy5LfsNDShmyX9u_xNgSt8 · 17 September 2012

It's not wearing Nike sneakers--evolution is fake!

DS · 17 September 2012

apokryltaros said: Aren't fossils of Boavus restricted to the Eocene Green River fauna of Wyoming?
Actually Boas are constricted. Besides, can't you see the well developed vocal cords? All the better to tempt you with an apple my dear.

fnxtr · 17 September 2012

Scale?

apokryltaros · 17 September 2012

fnxtr said: Scale?
When alive, it had several, but in death, they all fell off. Oh, wait, you meant size: according to Fossil Snakes of North America, one specimen of B. idelmani was about 37 and thirteen-sixteenths inches long stretched out in a straight line.

W. H. Heydt · 17 September 2012

fnxtr said: Scale?
As a working hypothesis...probably not...SAG isn't that old.

W. H. Heydt · 17 September 2012

apokryltaros said:
fnxtr said: Scale?
When alive, it had several, but in death, they all fell off. Oh, wait, you meant size: according to Fossil Snakes of North America, one specimen of B. idelmani was about 37 and thirteen-sixteenths inches long stretched out in a straight line.
Using a micrometer to get the measurement being approximated?

fnxtr · 17 September 2012

W. H. Heydt said:
fnxtr said: Scale?
As a working hypothesis...probably not...SAG isn't that old.
Serpentine Actors Guild?

Matt Young · 17 September 2012

Scale?

Sorry - should have recorded that! Even the Web is silent, but my recollection is that the plaque was no more than 30 or 40 cm across.

Aren’t fossils of Boavus restricted to the Eocene Green River fauna of Wyoming?

I haven't the foggiest idea; the text was taken from the display, which I photographed. However, the AMNH says Wyoming or near Wyoming and gives a cryptic reference to the Green River. Unfortunately, they do not show a photograph nor mention the size of the object. Eocene is apparently correct, however.

Marilyn · 18 September 2012

There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.

Dave Lovell · 18 September 2012

Marilyn said: There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.
Wow Marilyn, I didn't realise Pterodactyls flew so high! I make it that it took at least 15 million years for the dropped snake to hit the ground.

Kevin B · 18 September 2012

Marilyn said: There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.
Didn't somebody post a guide to the use of the apostrophe recently for the benefit of Mr Robert "Confirmation" Byers?

apokryltaros · 18 September 2012

Marilyn said: There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.
The primary problem with this hypothesis is that the strata Boavus found in have no trace of any pterosaur what so ever.

Marilyn · 18 September 2012

apokryltaros said:
Marilyn said: There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.
The primary problem with this hypothesis is that the strata Boavus found in have no trace of any pterosaur what so ever.
So then it's possible that the spine lays over the top of it's coiled body and the weight of the forming stone coursed the break, as in the other parts near the end of it's body.

Dragoness · 18 September 2012

What an excellent fossilized specimen!
Has anyone posted the fossilized mating turtles...?
http://www.livescience.com/21056-ancient-turtle-sex-fossils.html

apokryltaros · 18 September 2012

Marilyn said:
apokryltaros said:
Marilyn said: There is a break in it's bones I think that could be how it died. Picked up by a Pterodactyl then the snake bit it so it let go and the snake fell to the ground hitting a branch on the way down breaking it's bones.
The primary problem with this hypothesis is that the strata Boavus found in have no trace of any pterosaur what so ever.
So then it's possible that the spine lays over the top of it's coiled body and the weight of the forming stone coursed the break, as in the other parts near the end of it's body.
Yes, what with the pressure and weight of several hundred tons' worth of rock forming above it.

stevaroni · 18 September 2012

apokryltaros said: Yes, what with the pressure and weight of several hundred tons' worth of rock forming above it.
Nonsense - It's where the Ark settled on him.