In a groundbreaking discovery, a fossilized group of four snakes dating back 38 million years has provided the first evidence of social behavior among reptiles. The discovery, made in western Wyoming, showcases a new species of snake named Hibernophis breithaupti. These findings shed light on the social behavior and evolutionary trajectory of the boa family (Boidae).

The fossilized snakes were found in a rare formation called a hibernaculum, a space where animals gather to seek shelter during colder months. Michael Caldwell, a professor at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Science, emphasizes the significance of this find: The position in which the specimens were found represents social behavior in snakes, something not often observed. This discovery marks the first clear evidence of social behavior in the reptilian fossil record.

The unique behavior of Hibernophis breithaupti sets it apart from other reptiles. Although many mammals hibernate during winter, only one species of snake, the garter snake, is known to do the same. Caldwell notes, This is really unusual for reptiles. Of the nearly 15,000 different species of reptiles alive today, none of them hibernate in the way garter snakes do.

The formation of a hibernaculum is not just a sign of social behavior; it’s an adaptation allowing snakes to survive in colder climates. Snakes cannot regulate their body temperature, so they need to find ways to conserve heat during winter. As Caldwell explains, They conserve as much heat as possible during the winter by forming these large masses.

While the ancient hibernaculum contained only four fossilized snakes, modern garter snakes can congregate in groups of hundreds or even thousands. This adaptation is well-known, with solitary snakes from other species, like rattlesnakes, sometimes seeking refuge among garter snakes to benefit from group protection.

Garter snakes today
Garter snakes today. Credit: Oregon State University / Wikimedia Commons / Flickr

One of the remarkable aspects of this discovery is the exceptional preservation of the snakes. The ancient specimens were found articulated, meaning they were preserved in one piece with bones still in the correct order—a rare occurrence. Caldwell remarks, Probably there are nearly a million disarticulated snake vertebrae in museum collections worldwide. They are easy to find. But finding the entire snake is rare.

These articulated specimens offer invaluable insights into the evolution of Boidae, a family of snakes with over 50 species, including burrowing boas like Hibernophis breithaupti. Notably, one of the snakes in the group is about twice the size of the others, allowing researchers to observe the same species at different developmental stages. We learn quite a bit more about the evolution of Boidae in a broad sense, Caldwell notes. It seems they likely started as relatively small-bodied snakes, which is interesting.

Snake skulls and vertebrae provide crucial information about growth and development. Just as human head-to-body proportions change from infancy to adulthood, snake skulls and body proportions evolve throughout their lives. However, snake skulls are delicate and rarely preserved well enough to trace this progression.

These new specimens reveal how snake vertebrae vary in shape and size depending on their location in the body. Even small snakes have between 200 and 400 vertebrae, which often separate and scatter before fossilization. Being able to observe the entire spinal column serves as a valuable reference point. Caldwell suggests that previously attributed new species might have been misidentified, as different vertebrae groups could have originated from distinct parts of the same snake species’ fossilized spine.

The preservation of these rare snake fossils over tens of millions of years is due to their unique geological location. Around 38 million years ago, when Hibernophis breithaupti lived, the Southern Basin and Range Volcanic System were highly active, emitting large quantities of volcanic ash. This ash settled and aided in preserving the creatures’ bodies, discovered in a matrix of fine sandy silt typical of the White River Formation. The researchers speculate that a minor flooding episode might have trapped the animals.

Caldwell emphasizes the importance of the preservation conditions: They were preserved in a very unusual circumstance, geologically speaking. Fossilization is a difficult process. You need just the right conditions to preserve something.

SOURCES

University of Alberta

Jasmine A Croghan, Alessandro Palci, et al., Morphology and systematics of a new fossil snake from the early Rupelian (Oligocene) White River Formation, Wyoming, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2024;, zlae073, doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae073

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