Fig. 15

The high vaultness of the neural arch of Palaeopython helveticus sp. nov. in comparison with other “booid” snakes: a holotype trunk vertebra (PIMUZ A/III 634) of Palaeopython helveticus sp. nov.; b trunk vertebra (PIMUZ A/III 636) of a younger individual of Palaeopython helveticus sp. nov.; c syntype mid-trunk vertebrae (MNHN QU 16318) of Palaeopython cadurcensis from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy, France; d mid-trunk vertebra (MNHN QU 16319) of Palaeopython cadurcensis from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy, France; e posterior trunk vertebra (MNHN QU 16345) of Palaeopython cadurcensis from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy, France; f trunk vertebra (probably collections of BSPG, currently lost) of Palaeopython cadurcensis figured by Zittel (1887–1890:Fig. 559) from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy, France; g trunk vertebra (?collections of MNHN, currently lost) of Palaeopython cadurcensis figured by De Stefano (1905:pl. IV.12; originally referred to Paleryx rhombifer) from the late Eocene of the Phosphorites du Quercy, France; h holotype mid-trunk vertebra (GMH CeI-2978-1926) of Palaeopython ceciliensis from the middle Eocene of Geiseltal Quarry Cecilie I, Germany; i holotype posterior trunk vertebra (MNHN QU 16322) of Palaeopython filholii from the ?late Eocene of Phosphorites du Quercy, France; j mid-trunk vertebra (NHMW 2019/0033/0056) of Palaeopython filholii from the ?late Eocene of Phosphorites du Quercy, France; k holotype trunk vertebra (NHMUK 25259) of Paleryx rhombifer from the late Eocene of Hordle Cliff, England; l holotype posterior trunk vertebra (USTL ESP 601) of Bavarioboa bachensis Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Espeyrasse, France; m holotype mid-trunk vertebra (USTL MPF 1102) of Bavarioboa vaylatsae Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Mas-de-Pauffié, France; n holotype mid-trunk vertebra (USTL PDS 3102) of Bavarioboa crocheti Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Pech-Desse, France; o holotype mid-trunk vertebra (SMNS 58196-1) of Bavarioboa minuta Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Herrlingen 8, Germany; p holotype mid-trunk vertebra (SMNS 59441-3) of Bavarioboa herrlingensis Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Herrlingen 11, Germany; q holotype mid-trunk vertebra (BSPG 1976 XXII 5859) of Bavarioboa hermi from the early Miocene of Petersbuch 2, Germany; r holotype mid-trunk vertebra (SMNS 59091-3) of Bavarioboa ultima Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the middle Miocene of Rothenstein 13, Germany; s holotype mid-trunk vertebra (MNHN VCO 29) of Python europaeus from the early/middle Miocene of Vieux Collonges, France; t mid-trunk vertebra (MDHC 116) of an extant Python regius; u mid-trunk vertebra (NHMW 35675) of Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820; v mid-trunk vertebra (HNHM 2004.77.1) of an extant Boa constrictor (the dorsal part of the neural spine is not shown); w mid-trunk vertebra (NHMW 21520) of an extant Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus 1758); x trunk vertebra (USTL PDS 3119) of Platyspondylia lepta Rage 1974, from the late Oligocene of Pech-du-Fraysse, France; y holotype mid-trunk vertebra (SMNS 87146-2) of Platyspondylia germanica Szyndlar and Rage 2003, from the late Oligocene of Herrlingen 11, Germany. All specimens figured in posterior view. Images courtesy of PIMUZ (a, b), MNHN (c, d, e, i), GMH (h), NHMW (j, u, w), NHMUK (k), MDHC (t), and HNHM (v). Images l–s and x–y are reproduced with permission of Zbigniew Szyndlar, modified from Szyndlar and Rage (2003). All images are only at approximate scale