The macroevolutionary singularity of snakes

2024/02/22 by Pascal O. Title, Sonal Singhal, Michael C. Gründler +17 · 1 voice · 117 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Biodiversity #Biology #Diversification (marketing strategy) #Ecology #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #Evolutionary biology #Macroevolution #Phylogenetics #Squamata #Trophic level #Vertebrate #Zoology

paper · doi:10.1126/science.adh2449

published in Science 383(6685), 918-923 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

openalex publication_date 2024/02/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

Snakes and lizards (Squamata) represent a third of terrestrial vertebrates and exhibit spectacular innovations in locomotion, feeding, and sensory processing. However, the evolutionary drivers of this radiation remain poorly known. We infer potential causes and ultimate consequences of squamate macroevolution by combining individual-based natural history observations (>60,000 animals) with a comprehensive time-calibrated phylogeny that we anchored with genomic data (5400 loci) from 1018 species. Due to shifts in the dynamics of speciation and phenotypic evolution, snakes have transformed the trophic structure of animal communities through the recurrent origin and diversification of specialized predatory strategies. Squamate biodiversity reflects a legacy of singular events that occurred during the early history of snakes and reveals the impact of historical contingency on vertebrate biodiversity.

Citations

• Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth
• Quartet Sampling distinguishes lack of support from conflicting support in the green plant tree of life
• TESTING FOR DIFFERENT RATES OF CONTINUOUS TRAIT EVOLUTION USING LIKELIHOOD

Cited by

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Discussions

• Very excited to share a huge project that's been a long time in the making. Interested in squamate macroevolution? Curious about how snakes fit into the broader ecological context of squamates? Lookin [bsky, 17 points, 2 comments]

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