Study of snakes and reptiles

5 reptile names

Ophidia (also known as Pan-Serpentes) is a clade of squamate reptiles that includes modern snakes and all squamates more closely related to snakes than to other groups of lizard life.[1] There is fossil evidence to suggest that snakes may have evolved from burrowing lizards, such as varanids (or a similar group) during the Cretaceous Period.

There is fossil evidence to suggest that snakes may have evolved from burrowing lizards, such as varanids (or a similar group) during the Cretaceous Period.[12] One of the earliest fossil snakes, Najash rionegrina, was a two-legged burrowing animal with a sacrum, and was entirely terrestrial. [13] An extant analogue of these putative ancestors is the earless monitor Lanthanotus from Borneo (although it is also semi-aquatic). [14] Subterranean species evolved streamlined bodies for burrowing and eventually lost their limbs.[14] According to this hypothesis, features such as transparent, fused eyelids and the loss of external ears evolved to cope with difficulties of fossorial animals, such as shaved corneas and ear dirt.[12][14] Some primitive snakes are known to have possessed hind limbs, but their pelvic bones lacked a direct connection to the vertebrae. These include fossil species such as Haasiophis, Pachyrhachis, and Eupodophis, which are slightly older than Najash.[11] The fossil species are also known to be fossilized.

Reptiles drawings

The bites of the 700 venomous snakes that exist create puncture wounds from fangs and poisoning. In general, all these reptiles react in self-defense when they feel in danger, but did venom really evolve as a defense mechanism? This is the question asked by a team of researchers, led by Bangor University in the UK.

In their work, published in the journal Toxins, the researchers reveal that if venom really evolved as a defense, it should be painful enough to deter the predator and allow the snake to escape, as is the case with bee stings.

The study thus shows that only 14.55% of the respondents suffered a bothersome pain within five minutes of experiencing the bite, 30.82% did so after five minutes. Surprisingly, 54.62% reported that they never experienced pain severe enough to cause them to stop working or doing other activities.

The turtle is a reptile

Mexico is home to approximately 393 species of snakes, 210 of which are endemic. These reptiles offer ecosystem services that provide benefits to humanity, such as pest control. Despite the fact that our ancestors venerated them, they are currently repudiated due to lack of knowledge and false information. Through an exhaustive bibliographic review, we present data on the importance of snakes and their diversity in our country, the lack of knowledge, the myths and the conflict with humans. In addition, we emphasize the causes that threaten their existence, as well as the importance of environmental education for their conservation. It is our responsibility to disseminate reliable information that generates correct perceptions so that these reptiles can be preserved.

Cano-Contreras, E. and Vargas-Clavijo, M. (2015). Culebra guardacaminos. why do you want to sting me: cultural representations around snakebite among Colombians and Mexicans. Ouricuri,

Characteristics of reptiles

The herpetological collection (LJAMM-CNP) mainly comprises specimens and tissues from the research work developed by the Patagonian Herpetology Group. It includes more than 16,000 reference specimens preserved mainly in alcohol and their respective tissues stored in triplicate at -20°C for genetic studies.

It is one of the largest collections in the world regarding the genera Liolaemus, Phymaturus, Homonota, Leiosaurus and Diplolaemus, mainly lizards and snakes from the arid and semi-arid zones of Western and Southern Argentina, mainly from the biogeographic regions of the Patagonian Steppe, Monte and Puna.