A new peculiar early diverging caenophidian snake (Serpentes) from the late Eocene of Hordle Cliff, England

We here describe a new genus and species of snake, based on several trunk and caudal vertebrae, originating from the late Eocene (MP 17a) of Hordle Cliff, England. We investigated the fossil ­material via both visual microscopy and micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanning, focused on its intracolumnar variation, and extensively compared it with other Paleogene snake taxa from England and continental Europe. The new small taxon is characterized by an array of bizarre and distinctive vertebral features that can differentiate it from all other snakes. Its morphology is similar to that of russellophiids; however, some anatomical features differ drastically from those observed in the latter group and therefore, defy such family-level placement. In addition, the new English taxon bears some striking resemblance with extant acrochordids, particularly with the species Acrochordus granulatus (Schneider, 1799). Accordingly, we consider that the new taxon most likely represents an early diverging caenophidian, potentially being even a member of Acrochordidae Bonaparte, 1831, far outside the so far known stratigraphic and geographic distribution of the latter group. It further adds to the astonishing diversity of vertebral morphologies of European Paleogene snakes.