Thread: My Pets and evolution

Hi guys, i keep and breed a wide range of snakes, mainly small and medium sized pythons and thought it interesting that many pythons have rear spurs near their cloaca at the point where the body stops and tail starts, and under x-ray show the reminence of hips and these spurs are the stumps of legs from previous generations of snakes

Surely good proof of evolution in action as python and boas are old world snakes and more primitive than many other species(well the heat sensing pits, dont seem that primitive :wink: )

just thought it was an interesting thing to point out(though its a very old point :wink: )

spurs

We all know snakes are the devil's work.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

We all know snakes are the devil's work.

mine dont speak though :wink:

Well that is living proof that snakes used to crawl on little legs. Now why did they decide to start sliding?

Originally Posted by The P-manator

Well that is living proof that snakes used to crawl on little legs. Now why did they decide to start sliding?

to suit the enviroment, legs get in the way in certain terrain, going through bramble etc

dont forget there are legless lizards also, like ths slow worm in the uk

What is the differnece between a legless lizard and a snake?

Originally Posted by The P-manator

What is the differnece between a legless lizard and a snake?

I don't think they evolved from a common ancestor, but maybe that's bullshit

That is they all evolved from reptilian ancestors but via different routes...

Originally Posted by The P-manator

What is the differnece between a legless lizard and a snake?

the first thing is all snakes have no eyelids, most lizards(except some geckos)do, the lizards can also "drop" the last part(about 5th)of their tale which is usually about the same length as their bodys(where snakes are proportionally shorter), also they have broad fleshy tongue, external ear holes

Also snakes have elastic ligaments to their jaws, the lizards dont, and the majority of snakes eat mammals,birds and other reptiles(except smooth and rough green snakes and maybe a couple of rarer one which eat insects)

Theres also minor scale differences like two rows of belly scales, rather than the snakes one


But the quick way is the eyelids, if it aint got legs and eyelids its a legless lizard(except earthworms and blindsnakes which are subterrestrial and look more like earthworms)

Thats the basics simple differences, but evolution has throw up some weird crossovers of characteristics

Originally Posted by billco

Originally Posted by The P-manator

What is the differnece between a legless lizard and a snake?

I don't think they evolved from a common ancestor, but maybe that's bullshit

That is they all evolved from reptilian ancestors but via different routes...

yeah from what i can remember the snakes split off(while still legged) from the lizards but ive read all mammals evolved from one type of reptile too

And you can probably trace it all right back to some foul smelling puddle...

"How can you claim the Gods are merciless when they robbed the snake of its limbs to give the other creatures a sporting chance?"

--- Hawkim, Loreweaver (character from Magic The Gathering)

Sorry I don't really know who came up with that quote. Thought you might like it anyways.