A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)Wellman, John
Science
A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
Wellman, John
Conophis; Snakes -- Central America
_Cranium and associated elements._--The frontal is almost three times
as long as it is wide; it is flat above with an emarginate
dorsolateral margin that forms the upper limit of the optic capsule.
Ventrally the frontal is concave and forms the median limits of the
optic cavity. Farther ventrally the frontal joins with the
parasphenoid, which at this place forms the ventral extent of the
skull, and together with the basisphenoid forms the ventral part of
the posterior three-fourths of the skull. In ventral aspect, the
parasphenoid is a long, thin bone, slightly expanded anteriorly. It
forms the anterior floor of the optic foramen; whereas the frontal
forms the anterior roof of the same opening. The frontal and its
septo-maxillary process surround the olfactory fenestra. The
prefrontal articulates with the anterolateral process of the frontal.
The posterior surface of the prefrontal forms the anterior wall of the
orbit of the eye. The articulating surface upon which the median
process of the maxillary bone rests is situated ventrally. The
anterior dorsal surface of the prefrontal, together with the
anterolateral edge of the frontal, extends slightly over the nasal
cavity, affording some degree of protection for the contained organs
and forming the posterior border of the cavity. A small nasal process
also extends anteriorly from the ventrolateral surface of the
prefrontal. The orbital-nasalis foramen is located in the anterior
surface of the prefrontal. The parietals are fused into one large bone
that forms the roof and sides of the middle part of the cranial
cavity. From its suture with the frontal, the dorsal surface of the
parietal is relatively flat in the area bounded laterally by the
parietal crests, which extend posteromedially from the anterolateral
corners of the bone and converge medially at a point near its
posterior margin. A slight posterior extension of the parietal crests
forms the supratemporal crest, which is present on the posterior part
of the parietal and on the anterior part of the supraoccipital. The
postfrontals are attached to the anterolateral processes of the
parietal. Together the anterior surfaces of these two bones form the
posterior rim of the orbit of the eye. The postfrontal extends
laterally and ventrally and has a terminal extension that projects
anterolaterally. In an articulated skull the trans-palatine articulates
with the ventrolateral articulating surface of the postfrontal.
Anteromedially, the parietal forms the roof and posterior margin of
the optic foramen. The basisphenoid, which is fused with the
parasphenoid, also forms a small part of the posteroventral margin of
the optic foramen. The basisphenoid forms the floor of the middle part
of the cranial cavity and the ventromedial down-pouching that
contains the pituitary body. Posterolateral to the parietal and dorsal
to the posterior part of the basisphenoid is the prootic. Laterally
this bone is deeply emarginate; posteriorly it forms a large part of
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