How Did Snakes Evolve 4,000 Different Species?

Snakes have continued their adaptations by developing different species since the time of the dinosaurs. Even though they are descendants of lizards 3 times faster than lizards They evolved.

From weighing a few grams to weighing 500 kg differentiated between species How did snakes diversify so much in the blink of an eye (according to the evolutionary calendar)?

The diversification of species and genera of snakes is like an evolutionary “Big Bang”.

Approximately 4,000 species, 520 genera The snakes that have it have become so diverse that some (anaconda) can be as heavy as a camel, while others (thread snake) can be as light as a butterfly.

thread snake

There are literally 25 lizard groups that evolved from lizards more than 100 million years ago. The only group to experience a “Big Bang” were snakes. So why was this so advanced only in snakes?

There is a leap in early adaptation of snakes, which account for one-eighth of terrestrial vertebrate diversity.

Snakes; “chemoreceptive” structures that help them locate their prey with great professionalism using smell and heat, flexible jaws that help them swallow large meals, and deadly poisons they developed.

Many of the adaptations, such as their elongated bodies and flexible skulls, failed to evolve in legless lizards. Probably with many lucky changes occurring in rapid succession Their diversity increased, and in this process snakes evolved 3 times faster than lizards.

Snakes were killed in the mass extinction event that occurred 66 million years ago and brought an end to several groups of reptiles, including non-avian dinosaurs. from ecological gap had the chance to benefit more. While lizards hunted insects, today’s snakes; He began to see rodents, birds, kangaroos and even crocodiles as prey.

Snakes diversified according to their prey and developed different characteristics.

Predation by snakes led to the diversification of species. Some developed digging skills to hunt sea creatures, while others developed skills to swallow bird eggs. Those who hide in burrows, those who can swim, those who climb trees… Whatever you are looking for is there. All the while, the lizards continued to target invertebrates small enough to fit into their mouths.

Snakes, which are adventurous enough to eat even harmful foods that other creatures would not dare to eat, can be eaten in the blink of an eye. diversified by geological standards and has survived to the present day with thousands of species. Moreover, the reproduction process of their species still continues.

According to experts, small and unforeseen changes led to large and unexpected consequences.

Big Bang Theory, Our universe emerged from a singularity, creating unexpected results. suggests. According to researchers, we can also adapt this to snakes in biology.

In evolutionary time order a series of instantaneous and tightly packed changes, It caused an unexpected and huge explosion in snake species.

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