Published April 27, 2026 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Sneaking past the Grande Coupure: diversity of snakes across the Eocene-Oligocene transition (MP 19-22) from Dams (Quercy, southwestern France)

  • 1. Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Box 7500 Drumheller, Alberta, T0J 0Y0 (Canada) alfred.lemierre@gov.ab.ca (corresponding author)
  • 2. Department of Biology, George Washington University, 2029 G St NW, Washington, DC 20052 (United States of America) ivwilenzik@gwmail.gwu.edu
  • 3. Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Place E. Bataillon CC 064 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05 (France) maeva.orliac@umontpellier.fr

Description

Lemierre, Alfred, Wilenzik, Ian V., Orliac, Maëva J. (2026): Sneaking past the Grande Coupure: diversity of snakes across the Eocene-Oligocene transition (MP 19-22) from Dams (Quercy, southwestern France). Comptes Rendus Palevol 25 (8): 137-154, DOI: 10.5852/cr-palevol2026v25a8, URL: https://doi.org/10.5852/cr-palevol2026v25a8

Files

source.pdf

Files (8.7 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:e6d8f6e90a267f20aa40a181f5a7c0f2
8.7 MB Preview Download

Linked records

Additional details

Identifiers

URN
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BCFF9EFD-E613-4466-85D0-34F7EE3B8384
LSID
urn:lsid:plazi.org:pub:FFD8FFE90A267F20AA40FF81FFA7FFF2
URL
http://publication.plazi.org/id/FFD8FFE90A267F20AA40FF81FFA7FFF2

References

  • AUGE M. & RAGE J.-C. 1995. - Le Garouillas et les sites contemporains (Oligocene, MP 25) des Phosphorites du Quercy (Lot, Tar-et-Garonne, France) et leurs faunes de vertebres 2. Amphibiens et Squamates. Palaeontographica Abteilung A 236 (1-6): 11-32.
  • BARNES B. 1927. - Eine eozane Wirbeltier-Fauna aus der Braunkohle des Geiseltals. Jahrbuch des Halleschen Verbandes fur die Erforschung der mitteldeutschen Bodenschatze, Neue Folge 6: 5-24.
  • CERNANSKY A., GEORGALIS G. L., ORLIAC M. & MARTIN J. E. 2026. - The reptiles from the Lavergne locality of Phosphorites du Quercy in France show a high taxonomic diversity at the end of the late middle Eocene (MP 16). Swiss Journal of Palaeontology 145: 343-401. https://doi.org/10.3897/sjp.145.178570
  • CROCHET J.-Y., HARTENBERGER J.-L., RAGE J.-C., REMY J. A. SIGE B., SUDRE J. & VIANEY-LIAUD M. 1981. - Les nouvelles faunes de vertebres anterieures a la "Grande Coupure" decouvertes dans les phosphorites du Quercy. Bulletin du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 3 (4): 245-266.
  • CYRIAC V. P. & KODAMDARAMAIAH U. 2018 - Digging their own macroevolutionary grave: fossoriality as an evolutionary dead end in snakes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31 (4): 587-598. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13248
  • DE STEFANO G. 1905. - Appunti sui Batraci e sui Rettili del Quercy appartenenti alla collezione Rossignol. Parte Terza. Coccodrilli -Serpenti -Tartarughe.Bolletino della Societa Geologica Italiana 24: 17-67.
  • ESCARGUEL G. & LEGENDRE S. 2006. - New methods for analysing deep-time meta-community dynamics and their application to the Paleogene mammals from the Quercy and Limage are (Massif Central, France). Strata 13: 245-273.
  • FILHOL H. 1877. - Recherches sur les Phosphorites du Quercy. Etude des fossiles qu'on y rencontre et specialement des mammiferes. Pt. II. Annales des Sciences geologiques 8: 1-340.
  • FITZINGER L. J. F. J. 1826. - Neue Classification der Reptilien nach ihren Naturlichen Verwandtschaften. Nebst einer Verwandtschafts-Tafel und einem Verzeichnisse der Reptilien-Sammlung des k. k. zoologischen Museums zu Wien. J. G. Huebner, Wien, viii + 66 p. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.4683
  • GEORGALIS G. L. 2025. - Revision of the enigmatic snake Plesiotortrix edwardsi Rochebrune, 1884 from the Phosphorites du Quercy, France, in GEORGALIS G. L., ZAHER H. & LAURIN M. (eds), Snakes from the Cenozoic of Europe - towards a macroevolutionary and palaeobiogeographic synthesis. Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (4): 61-66. https://doi.org/10.5852/cr-palevol2025v24a4
  • GEORGALIS G. L. & SCHEYER T. M. 2019. - A new species of Palaeopython (Serpentes) and other extinct squamates from the Eocene of Dielsdorf (Zurich, Switzerland). Swiss Journal of Geosciences 112 (2-3): 383-417. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00015-019-00341-6
  • GEORGALIS G. L. & SMITH K. T. 2020. - Constrictores Oppel, 1811 - the available name for the taxonomic group uniting boas and pythons. Vertebrate Zoology 70: 291-304. https://doi. org/10.26049/VZ70-3-2020-03
  • GEORGALIS G. L., RABI M. & SMITH K. T. 2021. - Taxonomic revision of the snakes of the genera Palaeopython and Paleryx (Serpentes, Constrictores) from the Paleogene of Europe.Swiss Journal of Palaeontology 140: 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-021-00224-0
  • GEORGALIS G. L., ZAHER H. & LAURIN M. 2025. - Introduction to: Snakes from the Cenozoic of Europe - towards a macroevolutionary and palaeobiographic synthesis, in GEORGALIS G. L., ZAHER H. & LAURIN M. (eds), Snakes from the Cenozoic of Europe - towards a macroevolutionary and palaeobiogeographic synthesis. Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (3): 45-49. https://doi. org/10.5852/cr-palevol2025v24a3
  • GRAY J. E. 1825. - A synopsis of the genera of Reptiles and Amphibia, with a description of some new species. Annals of Philosophy, Series 2 10: 193-217.
  • HOFFSTETTER R. 1939. - Contribution a l'etude des Elapidae actuels et fossiles et de l'osteologie des Ophidiens. Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle de Lyon 15: 1-78. https://doi.org/10.3406/ mhnly.1939.980
  • HOFFSTETTER R. & RAGE J.-C. 1972. - Les Erycinae fossiles de France (Serpentes, Boidae). Comprehension et histoire de la sousfamille. Annales de Paleontologie 58: 81-124.
  • IVANOV M. 2000. - Snakes of the lower/middle Miocene transition at Vieux Collonges (Rhone, France), with comments on the colonization of western Europe by colubroids. Geodiversitas 22 (4): 559-588.
  • IVANOV M. 2022. - Miocene Snakes of Eurasia: a review of the evolution of snake communities,in GOWER D. & ZAHER H. (eds) The Origin and Early Evolutionary History of Snakes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 85-110.
  • LEMIERRE A. & ORLIAC M. J. 2025. - Lissamphibians from Dams (Quercy, SW France): taxonomic identification and evolution across the Eocene-Oligocene transition,Palaeovertebrata 48 (1): e3. https://doi.org/10.18563/pv.48.1.e3
  • LI P. & WIENS J. 2021. - What drives diversification? Range expansion tops climate, life history, habitat and size in lizards and snakes.Journal of Biogeography 49 (2): 237-247.https://doi. org/10.1111/jbi.14304
  • LINNAEUS C. 1758. - Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 824 p. https://doi. org/10.5962/bhl.title.542
  • NOPCSA F. 1923. - Eidolosaurus und Pachyophis. Zwei neue Neocom-Reptilien.Palaeontographica 65: 99-154.
  • OPPEL M. 1811. - Suite du 1er. memoire sur la classification des reptiles. Ord. II. Squammata mihi. Sect. II. Ophidii. Ord. III. Ophidii, Brongniart. Annales du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 16: 376-393.
  • PALCI A., ONARY S., LEE M. S. Y., SMITH K. T., WINGS O., RABI M. & GEORGALIS. G. L.2024. - A new booid snake from the Eocene (Lutetian) Konservat-Lagerstatte of Geiseltal, Germany, and a new phylogenetic analysis of Booidea. Z oological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (2): zlad179. https://doi.org/10.1093/ zoolinnean/zlad179
  • PELISSIE T., ORLIAC M. J., ANTOINE P. O., BIOT V. & ESCARGUEL G. 2021. - Beyond Eocene and Oligocene epochs: the causses du Quercy Geopark and the Grande Coupure. Geoconservation Research 4 (2): 573-585. https://doi.org/10.30486/ gcr.2021.1913051.1050
  • PICTET F. J., GAUDIN C. T. & DE LA HARPE P. 1855-1857. - Memoire sur les Animaux vertebres trouves dans le terrain Siderolithique du Canton de Vaud et appartenant a la faune Eocene. Materiaux pour la Paleontologie Suisse 1. J. Kessmann, Geneve: 1-120. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.61027
  • PYRON A. R., REYNOLDS G. R. & BURBRINK F. T. 2014. - A taxonomic revision of Boas (Serpentes: Boidae). Zootaxa 3846 (2): 249-260.
  • RAGE J.-C. 1974. - Les serpents des Phosphorites du Quercy. Palaeovertebrata 6: 274-303.
  • RAGE J.-C. 1978. - La poche a Phosphate de Ste-Neboule (Lot) et sa faune de vertebres du Ludien Superieur 5. Squamates. Palaeovertebrata 8: 201-215.
  • RAGE J.-C. 1984. - Serpentes, in WELLNHOFER P. (ed.) Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie, Part 11. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart:1-80.
  • RAGE J.-C. 1988. - Le gisement du Bretou (Phosphorites du Quercy, Tar-et-Garonne, France) et sa faune de vertebres de l'Eocene Superieur I. Amphibiens et Reptiles.Palaeontographica Abteilung A 205: 3-27.
  • RAGE J.-C. 2006. - The lower vertebrates from the Eocene and Oligocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy (France): an overview. Strata 1: 161-173.
  • RAGE J.-C. 2012. - Amphibians and squamates in the Eocene of Europe: what do they tell us?Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments 92: 445-457.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-012-0087-3
  • RAGE J.-C. 2013. - Mesozoic and Cenozoic squamates of Europe. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments 93: 517-534.
  • RAGE J.-C. & AUGE M. 2010. - Squamate reptiles from the middle Eocene of Lissieu (France). A landmark in the middle Eocene of Europe. Geobios 43 (2): 253-268.
  • RAGE J.-C. & AUGE M. 2015. - Valbro: A new site of vertebrates from the early Oligocene (MP 22) of France (Quercy). III - Amphibians and squamates. Annales de Paleontologie 101 (1): 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annpal.2014.10.002
  • RAGE J.-C. & SZYNDLAR Z. 2005. - Latest Oligocene -Early Miocene in Europe: Dark Period for booid snakes. Comptes Rendus Palevol 4 (5): 428-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2005.04.001
  • RAGE J.-C. & VERGNAUD-GRAZZINI C. 1978. - La poche a Phosphate de Ste-Neboule (Lot) et sa faune de vertebres du Ludien Superieur 2. Amphibiens. Etude Preliminaire. Palaeovertebrata 8 (2-4): 175-179.
  • ROCHEBRUNE A. T. DE. 1880. - Revision des ophidiens fossiles du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle.Nouvelles Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, 2eme Serie 3: 271-296.
  • ROCHEBRUNE A. T. DE. 1884. - Faune ophilogique des Phosphorites du Quercy. Memoires de la Societe des Sciences naturelles de Saone-et-Loire 5: 149-164.
  • SCANFERLA A. & SMITH K. T. 2020. - Exquisitely preserved fossil snakes of Messel: insight into the evolution, biogeography, habitat preferences and sensory ecology of early boas. Diversity 12: 100.
  • SMITH K. T. & GEORGALIS G. L. 2022. - The diversity and distribution of Palaeogene snakes - A review, with comments on vertebral sufficiency, in GOWER D. J. & ZAHER H. (eds), The Origin and Early Evolutionary History of Snakes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 55-84.
  • SMITH K. T. & SCANFERLA A. 2021. - A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany). Geodiversitas 43 (1): 1-24. https://doi.org/10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1
  • SMITH K. T. & SCANFERLA A. 2022. - More than one large constrictor lurked around paleolake Messel. Palaeontolographica, Abteilung A: Palaeozoology - Stratigraphy 323 (1-3): 75-103. https://doi.org/10.1127/pala/2021/0119
  • STEHLIN H. G. 1909. - Remarques sur les faunules de mammiferes des couches eocenes et oligocenes du Bassin de Paris. Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France 19: 488-520.
  • SYROMYATNIKOVA E., GEORGALIS G. L., MAYDA S., KAYA T. & SARAC G. 2019. - A new early Miocene herpetofauna from Kilcak, Turkey. Russian Journal of Herpetology 26: 205-224.
  • SZYNDLAR Z. 1994. - Oligocene snakes of southern Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 14 (1): 24-37. https://www. jstor.org/stable/4523543
  • SZYNDLAR Z. & GEORGALIS G. L. 2023. - An illustrated atlas of the vertebral morphology of extant non-caenophidian snakes, with special emphasis on the cloacal and caudal portions of the column. Vertebrate Zoology 73: 717-886.https://doi.org/10.3897/ vz.73.e101372
  • SZYNDLAR Z. & GEORGALIS G. L. 2025. - When snake vertebrae go to an extreme - revision, vertebral morphology, and intracolumnar variation of the enigmatic snake Cadurceryx Hoffstetter & Rage, 1972, from the Eocene of Europe, in GEORGALIS G. L., ZAHER H. & LAURIN M. (eds), Snakes from the Cenozoic of Europe - owards a macroevolutionary and palaeobiogeographic synthesis. Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (29): 587-620. https://doi. org/10.5852/cr-palevol2025v24a29
  • SZYNDLAR Z. & HOSGOR I. 2012. - Boine snake Bavarioboa from the Oligocene/Miocene of eastern Turkey with comments on connections between European and Asiatic snake fauns. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (3): 667-671.
  • SZYNDLAR Z. & RAGE J.-C. 2003. - Non-erycine Booidea from the Oligocene and Miocene of Europe. Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, 109 p.
  • SZYNDLAR Z. & SCHLEICH H. H. 1993. - Description of the Miocene snakes rom the Petersbuch 2 with comments on the lower and middle Miocene ophidian faunas of southern Germany. Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde, Serie B 192: 1-47.
  • SZYNDLAR Z., SMITH R. & RAGE J.-C. 2008. - A new dwarf boa (Serpentes, Booidea, 'Tropidophiidae') from the Early Oligocene of Belgium: a case of the isolation of Western European snake faunas. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152 (2): 393-406. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00357.x
  • VASILYAN D. 2018. - Eocene western European endemic genus Thaumastosaurus: new insights into the question "Are the Ranidae known prior to the Oligocene?".PeerJ 6: e5511.https://doi. org/10.7717/peerj.5511
  • VENCZEL M., CODREA V. A., SOLOMON A. A., FARCAS C. & BORDEIANU M. 2025. - Late Eocene-early Oligocene snakes from the Transylvanian Basin (Romania), in GEORGALIS G. L., ZAHER H. & LAURIN M. (eds), Snakes from the Cenozoic of Europe - owards a macroevolutionary and palaeobiogeographic synthesis. Comptes Rendus Palevol 24 (13): 229-240. https://doi.org/10.5852/cr-palevol2025v24a13
  • WALLACH V., WILLIAMS K. L. & BOUNDY J. 2014. - Snakes of the world: A catalogue of living and extinct species. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1237 p. https://doi.org/10.1201/b16901
  • WEPPE R., BLONDE C., VIANEY-LIAUD M., ESCARGUEL G., PELISSIE T., ANTOINE P.-O. & ORLIAC M. J. 2020. - Cainotheriidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from Dams (Quercy, SW France): Phylogenetic relationships and evolution around the EoceneOligocene transition (MP19-MP21). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 18 (7): 541-572. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772 019.2019.1645754
  • WEPPE R., CONDAMINE F. L., GUINOT G., MAUGOUST J. & ORLIAC M. 2023. - Drivers of the artiodactyl turnover in insular western Europe at the Eocene -Oligocene Transition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (52): e2309945120. https:// pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309945120
  • ZAHER H., MURPHY R. W., ARREDONDO J. C., GRABOSKI R., MACHADO-FILHO P. R., MAHLOW K., MONTINGELLI G. G., BOTTALLO QUADROS A., ORLOV N. L., WILKINSON M., ZHANG Y.-P. & GRAZZIOTIN F. G. 2019. - Large-scale molecular phylogeny, morphology, divergence-time estimation, and the fossil record of advanced caenophidian snakes (Squamata: Serpentes). PLoS ONE 14 (5): e0216148.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216148
  • ZAHER H. & SMITH K. T. 2020. - Pythons in the Eocene of Europe reveal a much older divergence of the group in sympatry with boas. Biology Letters 16 (12): 20200735. https://doi. org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0735