Fig. 40 in New Taxa And Cryptic Species Of Neotropical Snakes (Xenodontinae), With Commentary On Hemipenes As Generic And Specific Characters

Fig. 40. Boaedon fuliginosus (Boie), sphenoid bone from AMNH R-11996, ×8.7. A. Ventral (external) side. B. Dorsal (intracranial) side. Abbreviations: aac, anterior orifice of abducens canal (opening into Vidian canal); aoVc, anterior orifice of Vidian canal for the conjoined VII palatine and V4 levator bulbi nerves; imc, intermuscular crest, between deep and superficial heads of the protractor pterygoideus; pac, posterior orifice of abducens canal; poVc, posterior orifice of Vidian canal, shared by carotid artery and VII palatine; pvc, pituitary vein canal, also for entry of V4 levator bulbi into the cavum epiptericum; sfs, feebly developed suborbital flange, which barely extends lateral to the sphenoid-parietal contact and is medial to the retractor vomeris; tr, pit for trabecular cartilage; Vc, Vidian canal, an unroofed grove containing the joined VII palatine and V4 levator bulbi (retractor pterygoideus or mammalian deep petrosal) nerves, which together form a Vidian nerve, sensu stricto.