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Researchers have discovered a fossil of a 'winged serpent' that lived 5 million years ago.

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The new species, discovered in an ancient sink hole in eastern Tennessee, had wing-shaped projections on the sides of its vertebrae which were likely attachment sites for its back muscles.

The snake, named Zilantophis schuberti, lived during a time of environmental change and climate shift, and further research at the same discovery site could help researchers predict how animals will respond to environmental changes in the future.

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Paleontologists identified the new species by unique characteristics of its vertebrae. The arrow notes the location of wing-like projections that gave the species its name

The snake was about as large as the index finger and likely lived in leaf litter, either eating small fish or insects.

The wing-like structures inspired the name of a new group of snakes called Zilantophis, derived from Zilant, a winged serpent figure in Tatar mythology.

The fossil was found near East Tennessee State University at The Gray fossil Site - one of the richest fossil sites in the United States , particularly from the Neogene period, 23 to 2.58 million years ago.

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The study, published in the Journal of Herpetology, required examining hundreds of dark, mineral-stained snake fossils.

The authors of the research, based at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and East Tennessee State University, said that the biggest surprise was the discovery of vertebrae that don't match any known species of snake – living or extinct.

'Snakes don't have arms or legs, but they have high numbers of vertebrae,' said Steven Jasinski, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in Penn's Department of Earth and Environmental Science.

'These are often the bones that paleontologists use to identify fossil snakes.'

Zilantophis schuberti is a newly identified snake species found in eastern Tennessee. This small creature lived roughly 5 million years ago, was about as large as the index finger, and likely lived in leaf litter, either eating small fish or insects

The species was named Zilantophis schuberti in honor of Dr Blaine Schubert, executive director of East Tenneessee State University's Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology and advisor to both authors during their master's studies there.

The name roughly translates to 'Schubert's Winged Snake' or 'Schubert's Winged Serpent.'

Zilantophis schuberti was a small snake just 12 to 16 inches long.

'This animal was probably living in leaf litter, maybe doing a bit of digging and either eating small fish or more likely insects, said Jasinksi.

'It was too small to be eating a normal-sized rodent.'

'These snake vertebrae are tiny,' said study co-author David Moscato, a researcher at East Tennessee State University.

THE GRAY FOSSIL SITE

The 'winged serpent' fossil was found at The Gray fossil Site near East Tennessee State University.

It's one of the richest fossil sites in the United States, particularly from the Neogene period, 23 to 2.58 million years ago, making it an important site for studying a poorly known part of prehistory.

At the time that Zilantophis dwelled there, the site was a sinkhole surrounded by forest, attracting a variety of animals.

The Gray

The local fauna included ancient representatives of familiar North American creatures such as bears, beavers and salamanders.

Others were more exotic, including unique species of rhinoceros, alligator and the site's famous red panda.

'This is a time when the world was moving in the direction of a modern climate and modern fauna,' said Steven Jasinski, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in Penn's Department of Earth and Environmental Science.

'Before we can study them, they have to be meticulously separated from the sediment and other bones.

'This work is done by dedicated museum workers, students and volunteers.'

Based on features of its vertebrae, this new species is thought to be most closely related to rat snakes (Pantherophis) and kingsnakes (Lampropeltis), both of which are relatively common in North America today.

The Gray Fossil Site where the fossil was discovered is one of the richest fossil localities in the US and an important site for studying a poorly known part of prehistory.

At the time that Zilantophis lived there, the site was a sinkhole surrounded by forest, attracting a variety of animals.

Local animal-life included ancient forms of North American creatures such as bears, beavers and salamanders.

The Zilantophis snake shared habitat with a diverse set of animals, including many close relatives of modern species. This tapir skull is one example, discovered at the Gray Fossil Site

Others included unique species of rhinoceros, alligator and the site's famous red panda.

'This is a time when the world was moving in the direction of a modern climate and modern fauna,' Jasinski said.

The snakes at the time, too, were a mixture of familiar and strange.

The researchers also found ancient species of garter snake, water snake, rat snake, pine snake and whip snake.

In total, the researchers identified seven different snake groups at the site, many of which are still found in east Tennessee today.

'Back in its day, the Gray Fossil Site was a great environment for living animals to thrive and for dead animals to fossilize,' Moscato said.

'This makes for a paleontology goldmine, positively packed with bones.'

'Snakes don't have arms or legs, but they have high numbers of vertebrae,' said Steven Jasinski (pictured), the lead author of the new study and a doctoral student in Penn's Department of Earth and Environmental Science. 'These are often the bones that paleontologists use to identify fossil snakes'

According to the researchers, this is the first survey of snakes at this fossil site, and it focused specifically on identifying snakes of the family Colubridae, the largest snake family, which includes about two-thirds of all known living snake species.

'The Miocene was a time when the snake fauna of North America was undergoing significant changes,' Jasinski said.

In earlier times, boas, a group known for their robust vertebrae, were widespread and common across northern ecosystems, but as time went on the boas gradually retreated while colubrids, typically smaller than boas, took over.

This shift coincided with continent-wide environmental change, including the replacement of forests with grasslands and the spread of small mammals, which may have provided a food supply that fueled the expansion of colubrids.

'Zilantophis is part of this period of change,' Jasinski said.

'It helps show that colubrids were diversifying at this time, including forms that did not make it to the present day.'

According to the researchers, this is the first survey of snakes at this fossil site, and it focused specifically on identifying snakes of the family Colubridae, the largest snake family, which includes about two-thirds of all known living snake species. Pictured is a grass snake, a member of the Colubridae snake family

This new research and continued investigations at the Gray site will help fill in details about the rich biodiversity of an ancient ecosystem as it underwent a shift in climate, which can help inform our understanding of the future too.

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'Snakes are important parts of their ecosystems, both today and in the past,' Jasinski said.

'Every fossil helps tell a story, and all those pieces of evidence give scientists a clearer picture of the past, as well as tools to predict how living communities may respond to changes in the future.'