Undetermined undetermined Oppel 1811

Colubridae indet. Fig. 6 A, B Material. Two caudal vertebrae (ASIZF 0101046 –1047). Description. In anterior view, the cotyle is rounded. Paracotylar foramina are present, located on the lateral margins of the cotyle. The prezygapophyseal accessory processes and pleurapophyses are developed and pointed in specimen ASIZF 0101046, but they are broken laterally in specimen ASIZF 0101047. The zygosphene roof is dorsally convex and about the same width as the cotyle, with articular facets inclined dorsally. The neural canal is tunnel-like. In posterior view, the condyle is circular, with height similar to width. The neural arch is depressed (vaulting ratio = 0.23). The zygantral area is deep and the paired endozygantral foramina are present. In ventral view, the centrum is distinctly longer than wide. Well-developed haemapophyses are partially present in specimen ASIZF 0101046, almost reaching the condyle. Subcentral foramina are visible. Postzygapophyseal articular facets are oval in ASIZF 0101046. In dorsal view, the posterior median notch is distinctly deep in specimen ASIZF 0101046. Prezygapophyseal articular facets are oval. In lateral view, the height of the neural spine is indeterminate in ASIZF 0101047 due to poor preservation, whereas it is high in ASIZF 0101046. Both interzygapophyseal and subcentral ridges, and lateral foramina are distinct in ASIZF 0101046. Remarks. The caudal vertebrae closely resemble those of Elaphe as described by Ratnikov (2022), particularly in terms of their elongated morphology from anterior to posterior, and well-developed haemapophyses and pleurapophyses. However, colubrid caudal vertebrae are often not suitable for genus-level determination.