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Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes

Author

Listed:
  • Bryan G. Fry

    (School of Medicine, University of Melbourne
    Museum Victoria)

  • Nicolas Vidal

    (Pennsylvania State University
    Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle)

  • Janette A. Norman

    (Museum Victoria)

  • Freek J. Vonk

    (Leiden University)

  • Holger Scheib

    (University of Geneva and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Centre Médical Universitaire
    SBC Lab AG)

  • S. F. Ryan Ramjan

    (School of Medicine, University of Melbourne)

  • Sanjaya Kuruppu

    (Monash University)

  • Kim Fung

    (Molecular and Health Technologies, CSIRO)

  • S. Blair Hedges

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Michael K. Richardson

    (Leiden University)

  • Wayne. C. Hodgson

    (Monash University)

  • Vera Ignjatovic

    (University of Melbourne
    Royal Children's Hospital)

  • Robyn Summerhayes

    (University of Melbourne
    Royal Children's Hospital)

  • Elazar Kochva

    (Tel Aviv University)

Abstract

A sting in the tale Conventional wisdom has it that among reptiles, venom delivery systems have evolved in only two lineages, advanced snakes and the helodermatid lizards, the latter represented by the Gila monster and beaded lizard, sole survivors of an ancient group of predators called the Monstersauria. A new study reveals that two additional major lineages of lizards — the varanids and iguanians — also produce venom toxins, and that iguanian lizards even have the signs of venom glands. This suggests that snakes and lizards are much more closely related than was thought, the snakes evolving from relatively advanced lizards, rather than as a separate evolutionary radiation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan G. Fry & Nicolas Vidal & Janette A. Norman & Freek J. Vonk & Holger Scheib & S. F. Ryan Ramjan & Sanjaya Kuruppu & Kim Fung & S. Blair Hedges & Michael K. Richardson & Wayne. C. Hodgson & Vera I, 2006. "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7076), pages 584-588, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7076:d:10.1038_nature04328
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04328
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    Cited by:

    1. Eva Landová & Šárka Peléšková & Kristýna Sedláčková & Markéta Janovcová & Jakub Polák & Silvie Rádlová & Barbora Vobrubová & Daniel Frynta, 2020. "Venomous snakes elicit stronger fear than nonvenomous ones: Psychophysiological response to snake images," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-31, August.

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