A Cretaceous terrestrial snake with robust hindlimbs and a sacrum
@article{Apestegua2006ACT, title={A Cretaceous terrestrial snake with robust hindlimbs and a sacrum}, author={Sebasti{\'a}n Apestegu{\'i}a and Hussam Zaher}, journal={Nature}, year={2006}, volume={440}, pages={1037-1040} }
It has commonly been thought that snakes underwent progressive loss of their limbs by gradual diminution of their use. However, recent developmental and palaeontological discoveries suggest a more complex scenario of limb reduction, still poorly documented in the fossil record. Here we report a fossil snake with a sacrum supporting a pelvic girdle and robust, functional legs outside the ribcage. The new fossil, from the Upper Cretaceous period of Patagonia, fills an important gap in the…
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