Corrigendum

Abstract

Journal of Quaternary ScienceEarly View CorrigendumFree Access Corrigendum This article corrects the following: An African adder (Bitis arietans complex) at Qafzeh Cave, Israel, during the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5) Rebecca Biton, Salvador Bailon, Volume 37Issue 4Journal of Quaternary Science pages: 639-650 First Published online: December 14, 2021 First published: 27 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3515AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Correction to ‘An African adder (Bitis arietans complex) at Qafzeh Cave, Israel, during the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5)’. Biton, R. & Bailon, S. (2022). An African adder (Bitis arietans complex) at Qafzeh Cave, Israel, during the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5). Journal of Quaternary Science 37: 639–650. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3402 The authors would like to make a correction to the referenced article. We reported the presence of ‘Oriental viper’ vertebrae at Qafzeh Cave: four from the Mousterian occupations (Biton and Bailon, 2022, Fig. 2D) and a single one from the Upper Palaeolithic occupation (Biton and Bailon, 2022, Fig. 2E). The four vertebrae reported as ‘Oriental viper’ from the Mousterian layers were misidentified by one of us (R.B.) and are now identified as Naja sp. The Upper Palaeolithic vertebra identified as ‘Oriental viper’ is still valid. As a result of this correction, the abstract, Table 1 and Fig. 2 caption published in Biton and Bailon (2022), should be modified so that no ‘Oriental viper’ remains were retrieved at Qafzeh Cave from a Mousterian context. In the caption of Fig. 2D there was also a typographical error; the layer is XIX and not XI. The corrected Table 1 and updated caption for Fig. 2 appear below. Table 1. Number of identified specimens of Viperidae remains from Qafzeh Cave by layer. Layer Number of Bitis arietans remains Number of ‘Oriental viper’ remains Number of Viperidae indeterminable remains XXIV 1 XXII 3 XXI 20 19 XX 2 XIX 11 1 XVIII 3 XVII 8 2 XVII/XVI 1 XVIa 7 2 XVb 3 1 XVa 1 Collapse, no layer 3 1 Upper Palaeolithic 1 Total 62 1 27 Figure 2. Snake vertebrae from Qafzeh Cave, Israel. (A–E) Anterior, posterior, lateral, dorsal and ventral views. (A–C) Bitis arietans complex vertebrae; (D) Naja sp. vertebra; (E) ‘Oriental viper’ vertebra. (A–D) Vertebrae from lower terrace Mousterian deposits; (E) vertebra from Upper Palaeolithic deposits. (A) Qafzeh-40 B. arietans complex cervical vertebra from Layer XXI; (B) Qafzeh-82 B. arietans complex mid-trunk vertebra from layer XIX; (C) Qafzeh-22 B. arietans complex posterior-trunk vertebra from layer XXII; (D) Qafzeh-1 Naja sp. vertebra from layer XIX; (E) Qafzeh-72 ‘Oriental viper’ vertebra from an unknown layer with Upper Palaeolithic deposits. Abbreviations: CT, cotyle; CD, condyle; H, hypapophysis; IC, interzygapophyseal constriction; NA, neural arch; NS, neural spine; PP, parapophyseal process; POA, postzygapophyseal articular facet; PRA prezygapophyseal articular facet; ZY, zygosphene. Scale bars: 10 mm. All photographs by Assaf Uzan. Consequently, the statement in the last paragraph in the results section: ‘At Qafzeh Cave Bitis and “Oriental vipers” were stratigraphically and temporally associated, as expressed by their co-occurrence in three layers (Table 1; layers XXIV, XIX and XVIa).’ is incorrect; Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’ were probably not stratigraphically and temporally associated. Instead, Bitis co-existed with a Naja sp. at Qafzeh Cave in three layers (XXIV, XIX and XVIa) during MIS 5. Naja are not currently present in Israel but, like Bitis, are present in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Moreover, due to technical problems, many of the supporting information measurements were inaccurate. All vertebrae were remeasured, and a new version is now in place for the supporting information document. As a consequence of the corrected measurements, the centrum length/width ratio of the Bitis fossils (CL/centrum width [NAW] new Supporting Information Table S1) ranges from 0.83 to 1.44, depending on the position over the column. The mean CL/NAW for 30 trunk vertebrae that are not posterior is 0.96 (SD = 0.06), with a minimum of 0.85 and a maximum of 1.07. The justification for the new assignment of the four vertebrae as Naja sp., which is based on the better-preserved vertebra Qafzeh-1 layer XIX (Figs. 1 and 2 [this work] and Biton and Bailon, 2022, Fig. 2D) is as follows. The vertebra is relatively large with a centrum length (CL) of 8.45 mm and robust in appearance. In ventral view, the ratio of the centrum length (CL) to minimum centrum width (NAW) is 1.26 (CL/NAW) (sensu Szyndlar, 1984), slightly longer than wide. Figure 1Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Qafzeh-1; Naja sp. from Qafzeh Cave layer XIX, Israel. (A–E) Dorsal, ventral, lateral, anterior and posterior views. Scale bar: 10 mm. Photographs by Assaf Uzan. [color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] Figure 2Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Qafzeh-1; Naja sp. from Qafzeh Cave layer XIX, Israel. (A–E) Dorsal, ventral, lateral, anterior and posterior views. Scale bar: 10 mm. Drawings by Salvador Bailon. In dorsal view (Figs. 1A and 2A), the entire vertebra is slightly longer than wide, as expressed by the ratio of the width between the outer edges of prezygapophyseal articular surfaces (PR–PR) and the length from the anterior border of prezygapophyseal surface to the posterior edge of the postzygapophyseal articular surface (PR–PO; PR–PR/PR–PO = 1.22). The anterior margin of the zygosphene is trilobate, with a central lobe that is somewhat more extended anteriorly than the lateral lobes; the articular surfaces of the prezygapophyses are oval, anterolaterally directed, and relatively modest in size compared with the size of the vertebra; the prezygapophyseal processes are short, about a third of the total length of the prezygapophyses articular surfaces, and with a rounded distal end (although slightly broken); the interzygapophyseal constriction is moderate with a regularly concave interzygapophyseal ridge (lateral margin). Posteriorly, the neural wings are moderately extended laterally; the epizygapophyseal spines are lacking, and the central notch is about 110°. In ventral view (Figs. 1B and 2B), the centrum is triangular with a relatively flat ventral surface and with moderate subcentral ridges diverging anteriorly and concave; the centrum bears a hypapophyse broken posteriorly (although not a cervical vertebra) that is anteriorly prolonged by a relatively thin keel with fairly well-defined lateral margins. Two small subcotylar tubercles are present. In lateral view (Figs. 1C and 2C), the vertebra is more prolonged than high (hypapohysis excluded); the neural spine is long and appears to have been low, although its dorsal boundary is badly broken; the paradiapophyses are modest in size, and the parapophyseal process is short, robust in appearance and with a blunt tip. In anterior view (Figs. 1D and 2D), the zygosphene is well-developed, wider than the cotyle, and with a straight dorsal margin; the cotyle is sub-circular; the prezygapophysis–prezygapophyseal process area is robust to a moderate extent; the prezygapophyses are inclined dorsolaterally, forming an angle of about 15°. A paracotylar foramen is visible on each side of the cotyle. In posterior view (Figs. 1E and 2E), the neural arch is moderately vaulted, with convex dorsal borders; a parazygantral foramen is visible on either side of the neural arch; the neural spine has a slightly enlarged base and appears low; the condyle is sub-circular. This set of characteristics corresponds well to an Elapidae and, more specifically, to a representative of the genus Naja (see, for example, Hoffstetter, 1939; Bachmayer and Szyndlar, 1985; Szyndlar 1985; Ivanov and Böhme, 2011). The vertebrae of Walterinnesia aegyptia (Fig. 3), an Elapid currently present in Israel, have longer prezygapophyseal processes, and the interzygapophyseal constriction seems to be slightly more profound (Fig. 3A) than in the Qafzeh fossil. In ventral view (Fig. 3B), the hypapophysis extends anteriorly on the centrum by a broader keel, and the centrum appears to be transversally more convex. In the posterior view (Fig. 3E), the neural arch is more vaulted in Walterinnesia aegyptia, with a more pronounced convexity of the posterior borders of the neural arch above the zygantrum. Figure 3Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Walterinnesia aegyptia MNHN-Spot-15484 trunk vertebra. Echelle = 2 mm. (A–E) Dorsal, ventral, lateral, anterior and posterior views. Scale bar: 2 mm. Drawings by Salvador Bailon. A set of characteristics differentiate the vertebra from Viperid vertebrae present in Qafzeh and in Pleistocene localities in Israel: In the anterior view, the prezygapophysis–prezygapophyseal process area is more robust than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’ (Daboia – Macrovipera). In Bitis, the zygosphene is less extensive. In the posterior view, the neural arch is more vaulted than in ‘Oriental viper’ and especially Bitis; the lateral end of the prezygapophyses and postzygapophyses is less extended than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’; the base of the neural spine and the hypapophysis are narrower than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’. The articular surfaces of prezygapophyses and postzygapophyses are oval, as opposed to the rectangular articular surfaces of Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’ and are also less developed. In dorsal view, the posterior neural wings are less expanded laterally than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’. In lateral view, the neural spine is lower and the neural arch less posteromedially elevated than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’; the parapophyseal processes are shorter and more robust than in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’. In the dorsal view, Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’ have a more concave or straight zygosphene with lateral lobes more developed than the central lobe. The interzygapophyseal constriction in Bitis and ‘Oriental viper’ is stronger (deeper), and with a straighter interzygapophyseal ridge (lateral margin). The prezygapophyseal processes are shorter than in Bitis, and have a more rounded end than ‘Oriental viper’, which has pointed tips. We apologize for this error and affirm that the Upper Palaeolithic vertebra from Qafzeh Cave identified as ‘Oriental viper’ (Biton and Bailon, 2022, Fig. 2E) is still valid, as are the numerous vertebrae from other palaeolithic sites studied by R.B. and reported in the results section (Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Oumm Qatafa, Kebara Cave, Geula Cave, Hayonim Cave, Eynan). However, after this correction the only viper identified at Qafzeh Cave in the MIS 5 levels is Bitis. There is no evidence of the co-occurrence of an ‘Oriental viper’ alongside a Bitis as originally reported. Supporting Information Filename Description jqs3515-sup-0001-Supporting_information_Biton_and_Bailon.pdf514.4 KB Figure S1: Measurement of snake vertebrae following Szyndlar (1984). Table S1: Measurements of Bitis vertebrae from Qafzeh Cave stored at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (NNHC-HUJ); following Szyndlar (1984), in mm. irr. = non-measurable. Table S2: Measurements of Bitis arietans vertebrae, comparative specimen MNHN-ZA-AC-1885-246, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris; following Szyndlar (1984), in mm. Table S3: Measurements of Daboia palaestinae vertebrae, comparative specimens, National Natural History Collections at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (NNHC-HUJ); following Szyndlar (1984) in mm. Table S4: Measurements of: a. ‘Oriental viper’ vertebra from Upper Paleolithic Qafzeh Cave; b. Naja sp. vertebrae from Mousterian context, all stored at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (NNHC-HUJ); following Szyndlar (1984), in mm. Table S5: Measurements of Viperidae indeterminable vertebrae from Qafzeh Cave stored at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (NNHC-HUJ); following Szyndlar (1984), in mm. irr. = non-measurable. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. References Bachmayer, F. & Szyndlar, Z. (1985) Ophidians (Reptilia: Serpentes) from the Kohfidisch fissures of Burgenland, Austria. Annalen des naturhistorischen Museums in Wien Serie A, 87, 79– 100. Biton, R. & Bailon, S. (2022) An African adder (Bitis arietans complex) at Qafzeh Cave, Israel, during the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5). Journal of Quaternary Science, 37, 639– 650. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3402 Hoffstetter, R. (1939) Contribution à l'étude des Elapidae actuels et fossils et de l'ostéologie des ophidiens. Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Lyon, 15, 1– 78. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3406/mhnly.1939.980 Ivanov, M. & Böhme, M. (2011) Snakes from Griesbeckerzell (Langhian, Early Badenian), North Alpine Foreland Basin (Germany), with comments on the evolution of snake faunas in Central Europe during the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Geodiversitas, 33, 411– 449. Szyndlar, Z. (1984) Fossil snakes from Poland. Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 28(1). Szyndlar Z. (1985) Ophidian fauna (Reptilia, Serpentes) from the uppermost Miocene of Algora (Spain). Estudios Geológicos 41, 447– 465. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation