{"title":"Digging adaptations evolved independently in two lineages of Psammophiid snake: evidence from cranial morphology","authors":"Nick Sekits, Walter Tunnell-Wilson, Kate Jackson","doi":"10.1080/21564574.2022.2062459","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Beaked Snakes (Rhamphiophis) are semi-fossorial snakes with reinforced snouts adapted for digging. The Skaapstekers (Psammophylax) are generalist terrestrial snakes. Both belong to the family, Psammophiidae. The Striped Beaked Snake (Kladirostratus acutus) was originally assigned to the genus Rhamphiophis, because of its beak-like snout. However, molecular evidence indicates that K. acutus is more closely related to Psammophylax. Thus, the “beak” of K. acutus must have evolved independently of that seen in Rhamphiophis. We studied the cranial morphology of K. acutus and representatives of Psammophylax and Rhamphiophis to identify possible traits that may reflect independent derivation of a beak-shaped snout relative to Rhamphiophis. We found that K. acutus retains four main cranial features in common with the Psammophylax: (1) an open fenestra between the premaxilla, nasals and septomaxilla, (2) a lack of fusion between the septomaxilla and the vertical lamina of the nasal, (3) the conchal processes of the septomaxilla extend beyond the dorsal margin of the septomaxilla and (4) a lack of contact between the prefrontals and the dorsal laminae of the nasals. Simultaneously, K. acutus displays traits associated with adaptation to semi-fossorial life in snakes such as a shortening of the maxilla, modification of the premaxilla, elongation of the nasal region, and a narrowing of the braincase.","PeriodicalId":49247,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Herpetology","volume":"71 1","pages":"160 - 180"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2022-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"African Journal of Herpetology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2022.2062459","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ZOOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Beaked Snakes (Rhamphiophis) are semi-fossorial snakes with reinforced snouts adapted for digging. The Skaapstekers (Psammophylax) are generalist terrestrial snakes. Both belong to the family, Psammophiidae. The Striped Beaked Snake (Kladirostratus acutus) was originally assigned to the genus Rhamphiophis, because of its beak-like snout. However, molecular evidence indicates that K. acutus is more closely related to Psammophylax. Thus, the “beak” of K. acutus must have evolved independently of that seen in Rhamphiophis. We studied the cranial morphology of K. acutus and representatives of Psammophylax and Rhamphiophis to identify possible traits that may reflect independent derivation of a beak-shaped snout relative to Rhamphiophis. We found that K. acutus retains four main cranial features in common with the Psammophylax: (1) an open fenestra between the premaxilla, nasals and septomaxilla, (2) a lack of fusion between the septomaxilla and the vertical lamina of the nasal, (3) the conchal processes of the septomaxilla extend beyond the dorsal margin of the septomaxilla and (4) a lack of contact between the prefrontals and the dorsal laminae of the nasals. Simultaneously, K. acutus displays traits associated with adaptation to semi-fossorial life in snakes such as a shortening of the maxilla, modification of the premaxilla, elongation of the nasal region, and a narrowing of the braincase.
期刊介绍:
African Journal of Herpetology (AJH) serves as an outlet for original research on the biology of African amphibians and reptiles. AJH is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes original articles and reviews from diverse fields and disciplines, such as conservation, phylogenetics, evolution, systematics, performance, physiology, ecology, behavioural ecology, ethology, and morphology.
The Journal publishes two issues a year. There are no page charges .