Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Squamata > Snakes (5)
Snakes (from Old English snaca, and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European base snag- or sneg-, "to crawl"), also known as ophidians, are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. There are also several species of legless lizard which superficially resemble snakes, but are not otherwise related to them. A love of snakes is called ophiophilia, a fear of snakes is called ophidiophobia. A specialist in snakes is an ophiologist.
An old synonym for snake is serpent (which comes from Old French, and ultimately from *serp-, "to creep"); in modern usage this usually refers to a mythic or symbolic snake, and information about such creatures will be found under serpent (symbolism). This article deals with the biology of snakes.
Evolution
The phylogeny of snakes is poorly known due to the fact that snake skeletons are typically small and fragile, making fossilization unlikely. It has however been generally agreed, on the basis of morphology, that snakes descended from lizard-like ancestors. Recent research based on genetics and biochemistry confirms this; snakes form a venom clade with several extant lizard families.
Recent fossil evidence suggests that snakes directly evolved from burrowing lizards, either varanids or some other group. An early fossil snake, Najash rionegrina, was a two-legged burrowing animal with a sacrum, fully terrestrial. One extant analog of these putative ancestors is the earless monitor Lanthanotus of Borneo, although it also is semi-aquatic. As these ancestors became more subterranean, they lost their limbs and became more streamlined for burrowing. Features such as the transparent, fused eyelids and loss of external ears, according to this hypothesis, evolved to combat subterranean conditions (scratched corneas, dirt in the ears). According to this hypothesis, snakes re-emerged onto the surface of the land much as they are today. Other primitive snakes are known to have possessed hindlimbs but lacked a direct connection of the pelvic bones to the vertebrae, including Haasiophis, Pachyrhachis and Eupodophis) which are slightly older than Najash.
More on [ Snake ]
Snakes :: Reptiles
Snakes :: Reptiles and Amphibians
Pire que "Snakes on a plane" : "Jeunes Populaires in a train" (ok j'arrête).
a___k (ak) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:06:13 -0000
Pire que "Snakes on a plane" : "Jeunes Populaires in a train" (ok j'arrête).
New download:: Elegant Snakes Free Screensaver 1.0.1 http://download-heaven.info/2009/12/12/elegant-snakes-free-screensaver-1-0-1/
downloadheaven (download heaven) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:00:03 -0000
New download:: Elegant Snakes Free Screensaver 1.0.1 http://download-heaven.info/2009/12/12/elegant-snakes-free-screensaver-1-0-1/
When you see that honking antelope, the secret dance of snakes the tales of it all!
NunchuckBaloo (Nunchuck) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:56:30 -0000
When you see that honking antelope, the secret dance of snakes the tales of it all!
Download: Elegant Snakes Free Screensaver 1.0.1 http://download-pile.info/2009/12/12/elegant-snakes-free-screensaver-1-0-1/
downloadpile (Download Pile) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:55:28 -0000
Download: Elegant Snakes Free Screensaver 1.0.1 http://download-pile.info/2009/12/12/elegant-snakes-free-screensaver-1-0-1/
@Dready10 can u dedicate a quote to fake ass snakes I mite have a personal tiger woods moment real soon lmao
kissmygizmo (KissMyGizmo) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:47:26 -0000
@Dready10 can u dedicate a quote to fake ass snakes I mite have a personal tiger woods moment real soon lmao
Frog embryos sense snakes http://icio.us/jhznhf
PatrickRAndrews (Patrick Andrews) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:38:42 -0000
Frog embryos sense snakes http://icio.us/jhznhf
Azsnakeman's Snake Site - Snakes of Arizona. Snake photographs, links to other snake sites and other Herp photographs.
Meta Description: [ Snakes of Arizona. Photograph's of Snakes in the wild. Links to other Snake sites. Other Herp photograph's. ]
Backyard Snakes - Introduction to snake life in an average North American backyard. Sections on classification, snake adaptations, identification tips, and venomous species.
Meta Description: [ Basic facts about backyard snakes ]
Florida Backyard Snakes - Images and brief descriptions of a variety of venomous and non-venomous species.
Meta Description: [ A web database of venomous and non-venomous snakes found in Florida, USA, with descriptions and photographs. ]
Florida Snake Identification Photos - Photo gallery and identification guide to the snakes of south Florida by Tom Spinker.
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Key to the Snakes of Colorado - A key to the native snakes of Colorado, with images, descriptions, and range maps.
Online Guide to the Snakes of Florida - Descriptions and photographs, information on ecology and behavior, and identification of all 45 species.
Meta Description: [ An online layman's guide to all the snakes of Florida, with descriptions and photographs and information on their ecology and behavior; how to identify them; how to get along with them; how to maintain habitats for them around your house; how to safely remove problems snakes from your property. ]
Queensland Snakes - Guide to the snakes of Queensland, Australia, with detailed information, range maps, and photos for the 20 dangerous species. Sections on identification, behavior, snake bites, taipans (possibly the world's most dangerous snakes). Full list of the 31 species of the Brisbane area, with images.
Meta Description: [ This is the front page of the Queensland Museum website. A virtual visit to Queensland's Museum of natural environment and cultural heritage., This is the front page of the Queensland Museum website. A virtual visit to Queensland's Museum of natural environment and cultural heritage. ]
Snakes of Arkansas - Information and photos of snakes, other reptiles, and amphibians of Arkansas, USA. Includes forum, lists, classification, trip reports, venemous snake information, and laws.
Meta Description: [ The mission of this website is to distribute and share knowledge regarding the naturally occurring snakes--and other reptiles and amphibians--of Arkansas. ]
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas - An online field guide with pictures to the snakes of Hudpseth County Texas in the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas. Provides collecting tips for those wishing to collect.
Meta Description: [ Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas ]
Snakes of Massachusetts - Illustrated guide to 14 species, with identification key and information on snakes in general.
Meta Description: [ Guide to Massachusetts Snakes ]
Snakes of North America - Complete list of species, with images and family descriptions.
Snakes of Western Kentucky - Photos, information, and forums.
Suborder Serpentes - Taxonomic classification of snakes, with photos and species accounts.
What's That Snake? - Guide to the snakes of Ohio, with images and range maps.
Zoltan Takacs - Snakes - Image gallery of snakes from around the world.
Meta Description: [ Dr. Zoltan Takacs: snake, venomous animal & nature photos, expeditions, scientific resources & contact. ]
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