Date: June 14, 2016
Source: Australian National
University
A new study into pythons and boas
has for the first time found the two groups of snakes evolved independently to
share similar traits, shedding new light on how the reptiles evolved.
Pythons and boas are two families
that include the largest snakes in the world, like the reticulated python and
the anaconda boa, which have been known to grow close to eight meters in
length.
The Australian National
University (ANU) study found that by living in the same habitat, pythons and
boas evolved independently to look similar. This happened at least five times
in different habitats. Aquatic pythons look like aquatic boas, burrowing
pythons look like borrowing boas and tree-dwelling pythons look like
tree-dwelling boas.
Lead researcher Damien Esquerre
said the study found pythons and boas were an important example of convergent
evolution in reptiles. Convergent evolution is where species adapt to the same
conditions and evolve similar traits.
"The finding of such a
strong case of convergent evolution demonstrates the power of natural selection
and adaptation in living organisms," said Mr Esquerre from the ANU
Research School of Biology.
"If we see that different
groups evolve the same things independently when they face the same challenges,
we can find predictability in evolution."
Other famous examples of
convergent evolution are sharks and dolphins, which are not related but have
evolved similar body plans. Similarly, the extinct Tasmanian Tiger, a marsupial
mammal, and the wolf, a placental mammal, evolved similar body plans.
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