Difference between revisions of "Snake Taxonomy"

Revision as of 20:11, 19 April 2010

Introduction

Snakes are the most recently evolved group of reptiles and have numerous specialisations that distinguish them from other squamates (scaled reptiles). Their musculoskeletal system is adapted for creeping, burrowing, swimming and gliding. Chemo and thermoreceptors are a key feature in their methods of predation, in addition to extreme cranial kinesis and, in some species, deadly venoms.

Evolution and Taxonomy

Snakes are members of the class Reptilia and order Squamata (scaled reptiles). Squamata is made up of the suborders Serpentes (snakes) and Sauria (lizards). Snakes are the most recently evolved group of reptiles. Their fossil record is limited due to their fragile skeletons, however recent discoveries of early fossil snakes with posterior legs has generated debate about the origins of their evolution.


	Family		Genera
Primitive Snakes	Anomalepididae	Blind snakes	4
Infraorder	Typhlopidae	Blind worm snakes	3
Scolecophidia	Leptotyphlopidae	Slender blind snakes	2

Advanced Snakes
Infraorder	Acrochordidae	File snakes	1
Alethinophidia	Aniliidae	Coral pipe snakes	1
	Atractaspididae	Mole vipers	1
	Boidae	Boas and pythons	23
	Bolyeriidae	Round Island ‘boas’	2
	Colubridae	Advanced snakes	303
	Elapidae	Cobras, kraits and sea snakes	60
	Loxocemidae	Mexican burrowing pythons	1
	Uropeltidae	Short-tail snakes	10
	Viperidae	Vipers	28
	Xenopeltidae	Sunbeam snake	1

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{review}}
+{{unfinished}}
-[[Image:Lizard_taxa.JPG|thumb|right|400px|''Reptilia Taxonomy'' <br> Sean Bobbit, RVC]]
+[[Image:Lizard_taxa.JPG|thumb|right|400px]]
 ==Introduction==
-[[Snake|Snakes]] are the most recently evolved group of [[Reptiles|reptiles]] and have numerous specialisations that distinguish them from other squamates (scaled reptiles).  Their [[Snake Musculoskeletal System|musculoskeletal system]] is adapted for [[Snake Locomotion|creeping]], burrowing, swimming and gliding.  [[Snake Special Senses|Chemo and thermoreceptors]] are a key feature in their methods of predation, in addition to extreme cranial kinesis and, in some species, [[Snake Handling and Restraint|deadly venoms]].
+Snakes are the most recently evolved group of reptiles and have numerous specialisations that distinguish them from other squamates (scaled reptiles).  Their musculoskeletal system is adapted for creeping, burrowing, swimming and gliding.  Chemo and thermoreceptors are a key feature in their methods of predation, in addition to extreme cranial kinesis and, in some species, deadly venoms.
 ==Evolution and Taxonomy==
-Snakes are members of the class Reptilia and order Squamata (scaled reptiles).  Squamata is made up of the suborders Serpentes ([[Snake|snakes]]) and Sauria ([[Lizard|lizards]]).  Snakes are the most recently evolved group of [[Reptiles|reptiles]].  Their fossil record is limited due to their fragile [[Snake Musculoskeletal System|skeletons]], however recent discoveries of early fossil snakes with posterior legs has generated debate about the origins of their evolution.
+Snakes are members of the class Reptilia and order Squamata (scaled reptiles).  Squamata is made up of the suborders Serpentes (snakes) and Sauria (lizards).  Snakes are the most recently evolved group of reptiles.  Their fossil record is limited due to their fragile skeletons, however recent discoveries of early fossil snakes with posterior legs has generated debate about the origins of their evolution.
-[[Image:Royalpython.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Royal python, ''Python regius''''' Photo credit: Claire Porteous]]
-==Common Species==
-Snakes commonly presented in practice are non-venomous and come from two diverse families - [[Colubridae]] and [[Boidae]].
-[[Colubridae|Colubrids]] are the largest family of snakes.  Common examples include [[Milk snake|milk snakes]], [[Kingsnake|kingsnakes]], [[Rat snake|rat snakes]], [[Corn Snake|corn snakes]] and [[Garter Snake|garter snakes]].  All are rodent eaters in captivity and [[Oviparity|oviparous]] except for [[Garter Snake|garter snakes]] that eat fish and invertebrates and are [[Viviparity|viviparous]].
-* '''For more information on captive diets, see''' [[Snake Feeding and Digestion]] '''and''' [[Snake Diet]].
-[[Boidae|Boids]] include boas and pythons.  Boas are viviparous and have single, undivided subcaudal [[Snake Skin|scales]].  Pythons are oviparous and generally have divided subcaudal scales.  Common pets include [[Boa constrictor|boa constrictors]], [[Royal Python|royal pythons]] (known as ball pythons in North America) and [[Burmese Python|Burmese pythons]].
-==Identification of Common Species==
-Identification can be difficult, given the range of species.  However, these are the most common snakes you are likely to see in practice.
-*[[Kingsnake]]
-*[[Garter Snake|Garter snake]]
-*[[Corn Snake|Corn snake]]
-*[[Milk snake]]
-*[[Rat snake]]
-*[[Boa constrictor]]
-*[[Burmese Python|Burmese python]]
-*[[Royal Python|Royal python]]
 {| border="2" align="center" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" rules="all"; border-collapse:collapse;empty-cells:show"
@@ Line 35: / Line 14: @@
 |-
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| '''Primitive Snakes'''
-|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
-|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
-|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
-|-
-|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| Anomalepididae
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| Blind snakes
@@ Line 53: / Line 27: @@
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| Slender blind snakes
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| 2
+|-
+|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
+|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
+|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
+|bgcolor="#FFFFCC"|
 |-
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| '''Advanced Snakes'''
@@ Line 114: / Line 93: @@
 |bgcolor="#FFFFCC"| 1
 |-
-|}
+[[Category:Snake Taxonomy]]
-[[Category:Snake]]

Difference between revisions of "Snake Taxonomy"

Revision as of 20:11, 19 April 2010

Introduction

Evolution and Taxonomy

Navigation menu

Search