Snakes of terrestrial origin

2004/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

According to a genetic study, the snake lost its limbs on land and not in the sea, as many thought.

The study was conducted by several US biologists. Representatives of all lizard families took part and 17 of the 25 snake families, 64 species in total. Two genes were analyzed. And the conclusion was clear: the serpent's ancestor was a ground lizard. And the analysis has shown that at that time, 150 million years ago, the snake has little to do with the heir of the only lizard species that lived in the sea, the dragon of Komodo. A family tree of lizards and snakes has been developed through this study.