The macroevolutionary singularity of snakes. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386744/)

These scientists studied snakes and lizards, which are a type of reptile, to learn more about how they have evolved and diversified over time. They wanted to understand why there are so many different types of snakes and lizards, and how their unique characteristics have developed.

To do this, the scientists looked at information about over 60,000 individual snakes and lizards in their natural habitats. They also created a family tree of these animals, called a phylogeny, using genetic data from over 1,000 different species.

What they discovered was that snakes have evolved in a way that has changed the way animals interact with each other in their environments. By developing specialized ways of hunting and eating, snakes have had a big impact on the food chain in their ecosystems.

Overall, this study showed that the diversity of snakes and lizards we see today is a result of specific events that happened in their evolutionary history. It also highlights how the past can influence the present and future of animal biodiversity.

Title PO., Singhal S., Grundler MC., Costa GC., Pyron RA., Colston TJ., Grundler MR., Prates I., Stepanova N., Jones MEH., Cavalcanti LBQ., Colli GR., Di-Poi N., Donnellan SC., Moritz C., Mesquita DO., Pianka ER., Smith SA., Vitt LJ., Rabosky DL. The macroevolutionary singularity of snakes. Science. 2024 Feb 23;383(6685):918-923. doi: 10.1126/science.adh2449. Epub 2024 Feb 22.