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Boidae (boa)

Reptilia - Boidae

Synonyms
  • Scytalophis was named by de Rochebrune (1880).

    It was replaced with Rageophis by Wallach (1986).

    It was assigned to Aniliidae by de Rochebrune (1880).
  • Rageophis was named by Wallach (1986).

    It was considered a nomen dubium by Rage (1988).

    It was assigned to Boidae by Wallach (1986).
  • Rageophis lafonti was named by Wallach (1986). Its type specimen is MNHN QU 16342 (trunk fragment) and is a 3D body fossil.

    It was considered a nomen dubium by Rage (1988).
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1825Boidae Gray
1871Boidae Cope p. 238
1875Boidae Cope p. 22
1880Scytalophis de Rochebrune
1890Boaeidae Zittel p. 629
1898Boidae Gadow p. 28
1902Boidae Hay p. 479
1906Boidae Andrews p. 306
1928Boidae Perrier p. 3102
1930Boidae Hay p. 267
1946Boidae Kuhn p. 62
1959Boidae McGrew et al. p. 141
1966Boidae Kuhn p. 62
1970Boidae Estes and Berberian p. 6
1986Rageophis Wallach
1986Rageophis lafonti Wallach
1987Boidae Szyndlar p. 56
1988Boidae Carroll
1988Boidae Holman and Case p. 329
1996Boidae Frank and Ramus
2000Boidae Scanlon and Lee p. 417
2002Boidae Vidal and Hedges p. 983
2006Boidae Augé and Rage p. 247
2008Boidae Albino and Carlini
2008Boidae Rage et al. p. 394
2013Boidae Smith p. 161

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Squamata()
suborderOphidia(Latreille 1804)
Serpentes(Linnaeus 1758)
infraorderAlethinophidia
Macrostomata
superfamilyBooideaGray 1825
familyBoidaeGray 1825
familyBoidaeGray 1825

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. Boidae Gray 1825 [boa]
show all | hide all
Subfm. Boinae Gray 1825
+
G. Acrantophis Jan 1860 [boa]
G. †Bavarioboa Szyndlar and Schleich 1993
+
Bavarioboa bachensis Szyndlar and Rage 2003
Bavarioboa crocheti Szyndlar and Rage 2003
Bavarioboa hermi Szyndlar and Schleich 1993
Bavarioboa herrlingensis Szyndlar and Rage 2003
Bavarioboa minuta Szyndlar and Rage 2003
Bavarioboa ultima Szyndlar and Rage 2003
Bavarioboa vaylatsae Szyndlar and Rage 2003
G. Boa Linnaeus 1758
+
Boa blanchardensis Bochaton and Bailon 2018
Boa constrictor Linnaeus 1758
+
Invalid names: Pseudoepicrates stanolseni Vanzolini 1952 [synonym]
Invalid names: Pseudoepicrates Auffenberg 1963 [synonym]
G. †Cheilophis Gilmore 1938
+
Cheilophis huerfanoensis Gilmore 1938
G. †Chubutophis Albino 1993
+
Chubutophis grandis Albino 1993
G. Corallus Daudin 1803
+
Corallus priscus Rage 2001
G. Epicrates Wagler 1830 [rainbow boa]
G. †Hordleophis Holman 1996
+
Hordleophis balconae Holman 1996
G. †Rukwanyoka McCartney et al. 2014
+
Rukwanyoka holmani McCartney et al. 2014
G. †Sanjuanophis Sullivan and Lucas 1988
+
Sanjuanophis froehlichi Sullivan and Lucas 1988
G. †Tallahattaophis Holman and Case 1988
+
Tallahattaophis dunni Holman and Case 1988
G. †Titanoboa Head et al. 2009
+
Titanoboa cerrejonensis Head et al. 2009
G. †Waincophis Albino 1987
+
Waincophis australis Albino 1987
Waincophis cameratus Rage 2001
Waincophis pressulus Rage 2001
G. †Cadurcoboa Rage 1978
+
Cadurcoboa insolita Rage 1978
G. Candoia Gray 1842
G. Charina Gray 1849
+
Charina bottae Blainville 1835 [northern rubber boa]
Charina prebottae Brattstrom 1958
G. Chilabothrus Duméril and Bibron 1844
+
Chilabothrus exsul Netting and Goin 1944
G. †Daunophis Swinton 1926
G. †Dawsonophis Holman 1979
Subfm. Erycinae Bonaparte 1825 [sand boa]
+
G. †Albaneryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
Albaneryx volynicus Zerova 1989
G. †Bransateryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
Bransateryx vireti Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
G. †Cadurceryx Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
+
Cadurceryx filholi Hoffstetter and Rage 1972
Cadurceryx pearchi Holman et al. 2006
G. Eryx Daudin 1803 [true sand boa]
+
Eryx linxiaensis Shi et al. 2023
G. †Gaimanophis Albino 1996
+
Gaimanophis tenuis Albino 1996
G. †Geringophis Holman 1976
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Geringophis depressus Holman 1976
Geringophis robustus Holman and Harrison 2001
Geringophis vetus Holman 1982
Geringophis yatkolae Holman 1977
Geringophis yatkolai Holman 1977
G. Gongylophis Wagler 1830
G. †Huberophis Holman 1977
+
Huberophis georgiensis Holman 1977
G. Lichanura Cope 1861
+
Invalid names: Paraepicrates Hecht 1959 [synonym]
G. †Pterygoboa Holman 1976
+
Pterygoboa delawarensis Holman 1998
Pterygoboa miocenica Holman 1976
G. †Tregophis Holman 1975
+
Tregophis brevirachis Holman 1975
G. Eunectes Wagler 1830 [anaconda]
+
Eunectes stirtoni Hoffstetter and Rage 1977
G. †Hechtophis Rage 2001
+
Hechtophis austrinus Rage 2001
G. †Lithophis Marsh 1871
+
Lithophis sargenti Marsh 1871
G. †Messelophis Baszio 2004
+
Messelophis variatus Baszio 2004
G. †Neurodromicus Cope 1873
+
G. †Palaeopython Rochebrune 1880
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Palaeopython cadurcensis Filhol 1877
Palaeopython filholi de Rochebrune 1880
Palaeopython helveticus Georgalis and Scheyer 2019
Palaeopython neglectus de Rochebrune 1884
Invalid names: Palaeopython sardus Portis 1901 [nomen dubium]
G. †Paleryx Owen 1850
+
Paleryx cayluxi De Stefano 1905
Paleryx depressus Owen 1849
Paleryx rhombifer Owen 1849
G. †Paraplatyspondylia Holman et al. 2006
+
Paraplatyspondylia batesi Holman and Harrison 1998
G. †Plesiotortrix Rochebrune 1884
+
Plesiotortrix edwardsi de Rochebrune 1884
G. Python Daudin 1803
+
Python cadurcensis Filhol 1877
Python euboicus Roemer 1870
Python maurus Rage 1976
Python regius Shaw 1802 [Ball python]
Python sebae Gmelin 1789 [rock python]
G. †Rieppelophis Scanferla et al. 2016 [snake]
+
Rieppelophis ermannorum Schaal and Baszio 2004
G. †Totlandophis Holman and Harrison 1998
+
Totlandophis americanus Holman and Harrison 2001
Totlandophis thomasae Holman and Harrison 1998
Subfm. Tropidophiinae Cope 1894
+
G. †Falseryx Szyndlar and Rage 2003
+
Falseryx neervelpensis Szyndlar et al. 2008
Falseryx petersbuchi Szyndlar and Rage 2003
+
Invalid names: Bransateryx septentrionalis Szyndlar 1987 [replaced]
G. †Rottophis Szyndlar and Böhme 1996
+
Rottophis atavus von Meyer 1855
+
Invalid names: Coluber papyraceus Fischer 1857 [objective synonym], Morelia papyracea Troschel 1858 [synonym]
G. Tropidophis Bibron 1843
+
Tropidophis caymanensis Battersby 1938
Subfm. Ungaliophiinae McDowell 1987 [dwarf boa]
+
G. †Calamagras Cope 1873
+
Calamagras angulatus Cope 1873
Calamagras floridanus Auffenberg 1963
Calamagras gallicus Rage 1977
Calamagras murivorus Cope 1873
+
Invalid names: Calamagras truxalis Cope 1873 [synonym]
Calamagras platyspondyla Holman 1976
Calamagras primus Hecht 1959
Calamagras talpivorus Cope 1873
Calamagras turkestanicus Danilov and Averianov 1999
Calamagras weigeli Holman 1972
Invalid names: Aphelophis Cope 1873 [synonym]
G. Exiliboa Bogert 1968
+
Exiliboa placata Bogert 1968
G. †Paraungaliophis Rage 2008
+
G. Ungaliophis Müller 1882
+
Invalid names: Rageophis Wallach 1986 [nomen dubium]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. Perrier 1928Serpents de très grande taille. Tête allongée, présentant un cou plus ou moins marqué, recouverte tantôt d'écailles, tantôt d'écussons; écailles dorsales petites, hexagonales, écailles ventrales en forme de lames transverses, toujours unisériées sur le corps bisériées ou unisériées sur la queue; queue courte, des rudiments de membres faisant saillie au dehors sous forme d'éperons cornés de part et d'autre de l'anus. Des dents sur les deux mâchoires, sur les ptérygoïdiens et les palatins. Un os coronoïde terminant une saillie fie l'articulaire de la mandibule. Squamosal grand, se projetant en arrière et donnant insertion au carré.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Maximum body mass: 300 gsubf
Minimum body mass: 100 gsubf
Grouping: solitarysuperf
Environment: freshwater, terrestrialf
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Diet: carnivoref
Created: 2005-09-05 19:47:29
Modified: 2005-09-23 14:53:48
Source: subf = subfamily, f = family, superf = superfamily, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Greene 1997, Behler and King 1979, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Maastrichtian to the top of the Holocene or 72.10000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 70.6 Ma

Collections (331 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Middle Campanian - Late/Upper Campanian83.5 - 70.6France (Languedoc-Roussillon) Boidae indet. (74660)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0Argentina (Mendoza) Boidae indet. (185024)
Maastrichtian72.1 - 66.0Madagascar (Mahajanga) Boidae indet. (199757)
Lancian70.6 - 66.0USA (Wyoming) Boidae indet. (14505)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0USA (Montana) Erycinae indet. (13142)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian70.6 - 66.0India (Maharashtra) Boidae indet., Serpentes indet. (58102)
Danian66.0 - 61.6Bolivia (Mizque) Boidae sp. 1, Boidae sp. 2, Boidae sp. 3 (13501) Boidae unnamed taxon 1, Boidae unnamed taxon 2 (49076)
Danian66.0 - 61.6Bolivia Boidae indet. (49077)
Middle Paleocene - Late/Upper Paleocene61.7 - 55.8Colombia (Guajira) Titanoboa cerrejonensis (106271)
Selandian61.6 - 59.2Germany (Saxony-Anhalt) Boidae indet. (74643)
Thanetian59.2 - 56.0Morocco (Meknès-Tafilalet) Boidae indet. (88301)
Thanetian59.2 - 56.0USA (New Jersey) Cheilophis huerfanoensis (3113 124965)
Thanetian59.2 - 56.0Togo (Maritime) Aphelopsis sp. (167948)
Late/Upper Paleocene58.7 - 55.8France (Oise) Boidae indet. (166598)
Late/Upper Paleocene - Early/Lower Eocene58.7 - 48.6Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) Boidae indet., Boinae sp. A , Boinae sp. B , Waincophis sp., Hechtophis sp., Hechtophis austrinus, Corallus sp., Corallus priscus, Waincophis pressulus, Waincophis cameratus, Paraungaliophis pricei (48091)
Ypresian56.0 - 47.8France (Aude) Boidae Forme A, Boidae Forme B (182641)
Ypresian56.0 - 47.8India (Gujarat) Boidae indet. (55494 180565)
Ypresian56.0 - 47.8France (Champagne-Ardenne) Calamagras gallicus (28546)
Ypresian56.0 - 47.8Kyrgyzstan (Osh) Boidae indet., Calamagras turkestanicus (28490)
Ypresian56.0 - 47.8France (Oise) Boidae indet. (68174)