Hi,
To Angelos Hadjikoumis question about estimation of snake length from vertebra size, and to anybody working with subfossil snake bones in Europe, please take a look at this paper:
Zbigniew Szyndlar, 1984, "Fossil snakes of Poland", Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia vol. XXVIII, nr 1, p. 1-156.
There you will find a key to vertebra of snakes and descriptions of variation in morphology of the vertebrae from first to ultimate vertebra. From the figures and tables you can make a good estimation of the size of snake even if this paper not was intended for size estimations. There are also good illustrations of major skeletal elements of european snake genera.
Leif Jonsson
Gothenburg Museum of Natural History
Dear colleagues,
What is the best/most reliable way to calculate a snake's total length based on the length of a vertebra (even a very approximate length would do)? Relevant articles in pdf (or just bibliographic references) are very much welcomed!
I would like to estimate an approximate length based on some remains of what I believe is Vipera lebetina. If anyone is a snake specialist I would appreciate a second opinion on the id as well.
Cheers,
Angelos
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