Szabó János szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 19. 2001. (Budapest, 2001)

recent V. ammodytes. The ascending process of the maxilla is relatively high and thick, its distal part being curved medially. There is a weakly defined bony ridge on its anteromedial side. The latter structure, in the members of Macrovipera, is always strongly developed (SZYNDLAR 1991b; VENCZEL 1998). The hypapophyses of the anterior presacral vertebrae are relatively long and straight, while those coming from the posterior region are short, but never hooking backward, as observed in V. berus (see below). In ten vertebrae from Osztramos 1/b, the centrum length ranges between 4.33—6 mm, while the centrum width between 3.1—4.4 mm. The centrum length/centrum width ratio is between 1.36— 1.59 (mean = 1.46). The oldest members of the 'V. aspis complex' were present in Europe since the beginning of the Miocene (SZYNDLAR & RAGE 1999). 1 mm Figure 8 — Vipera cf. ammodytes from Osztramos 1/b. — A: exoccipital, B: prootic, C: frontal, D: prefrontal, E, F: maxilla, G: ectopterygoid. — A, B: lateral views; C, G: dorsal views; D: posteroventrolateral view, E:posteromedial view, F: anterior view. Figure 9 — Vipera cf. ammodytes (A-C) and V. cf. berus (D-H) from Osztramos 1/b. — A: ectopterygoid, B, C: trunk vertebra, D: basiparasphenoid, E, F: maxilla, G, H: trunk vertebra.

— A, C, H; dorsal views; B, G: lateral views; D: ventral view; E: posteromedial view; F: anterior view. Vipera cf. berus (LINNAEUS, 1758) (Figure 9: D-H) Material — Osztramos 1/b: 1 basiparasphenoid, 1 maxilla, 11 presacral vertebrae (HNHM. No. V.99.40). Description and comments — Only a posterior part of the basiparasphenoid is preserved (Figure 9: D). Its basisphenoid crest is short and of low height, ending in a relatively wide projection. The cerebral foramen is distinctly separated off from the posterior orifice of the Vidian canal, and a crest does not covers them. The ascending process of the maxilla is high and slender, with its distal part curved medially. The neural arch of the presacral vertebrae is depressed, provided with a long neural spine of low height. The centrum is elongated; the hypapohysis is short and strongly hooked posteriorly (especially in the posterior presacral vertebrae). The zygosphene is crenate, and the prezygapophyseal processes are extremely short. All the above mentioned characters are consistent with those observed in recent Vipera berus. In seven vertebrae from Osztramos 1/b the centrum length ranges between 3.74—4.76 mm, while the centrum width between 2.19— 3.02 mm. The centrum length/centrum width ratio is between 1.57-1.83 (mean = 1.71). The members of the 'Vipera berus complex' appeared later in Europe than those of the 'Vipera aspis complex' (SZYNDLAR & RAGE 1999). Thus it is quit surprising that in Osztramos 1/b locality both members of the genus occurred sympatricaily.