University
of Queensland researchers discover that the Australian and Asian beaked sea
snakes are two unrelated species despite their identical appearance.
Deadly
sea snake has a doppelganger
November
2012. Scientists have discovered that the lethal beaked sea snake is actually
two species with separate evolutions, which resulted in identical snakes. The
University of Queensland's Associate Professor Bryan Fry said the Australian
and Asian beaked sea snakes were originally thought to be from the same
species, however, in comparing their DNA, the research team had found these two
snakes were unrelated.
Could
have been a fatal mistake
"This mixup could have been medically catastrophic, since the CSL sea snake antivenom is made using the venom from the Asian snake based on the assumption that it was the same species," Associate Professor Fry said.
"This mixup could have been medically catastrophic, since the CSL sea snake antivenom is made using the venom from the Asian snake based on the assumption that it was the same species," Associate Professor Fry said.
"Luckily,
the antivenom is not only very effective against the Australian new species but
actually against all sea snakes since they all share a very stream-lined
fish-specific venom."
Convergent
phenotypic evolution phenomenon
Associate Professor Fry said the finding was an example of a situation where two species evolved separately but ended up looking similar, known as the convergent phenotypic evolution phenomenon.
Associate Professor Fry said the finding was an example of a situation where two species evolved separately but ended up looking similar, known as the convergent phenotypic evolution phenomenon.
Associate
Professor Fry said that the ‘beaked' morphology of the species could be
associated with the extremely specialised niche the snakes occupy, even though
both species evolved from different ancestors and were not even close
relatives. He added that the two species occupy the same specialised habitat of
silt-filled shallows of tropical estuaries throughout the Asian and Australian
regions.
Responsible
for many deaths
These snakes are responsible for the majority of deaths and injuries to fishermen handling nets in these habitats.
These snakes are responsible for the majority of deaths and injuries to fishermen handling nets in these habitats.
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