Toxicofera
Toxicofera (Greek or Latin for "those who carry toxins"), is a hypothetical clade of living Squamata (lizards and snakes). It includes about 4600 living species. This is all venomous reptile species, plus related non-venomous species.[1]
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| Venomous snakes, such as the rattlesnake shown above, are the most well-known venomous squamates. | |
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| (unranked): | Toxicofera
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The clade was identified when research showed that the evolution of venom was very ancient, and that it might have occurred only once.[2][3][4]
Cladistics
The Toxicofera combines the following groups from traditional classification:[1]
- Suborder Serpentes (snakes)
- Suborder Iguania (iguanas, agamid lizards, chameleons, etc.)
- Infraorder Anguimorpha, consisting of:
- Family Varanidae (monitor lizards)
- Family Anguidae (alligator lizards, glass lizards, etc.)
- Family Helodermatidae (Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard)
Toxicofera Media
Python natalensis Smith 1840 white background
New reconstruction of Platecarpus tympaniticus, based on skeletal reconstruction of specimen LACM 128319, upper Santonian–lowermost Campanian, Kansas, USA. Skeletal drawing was published by Lindgren J, Caldwell MW, Konishi T, Chiappe LM (2010).
Zoology of Egypt (1898) (Varanus exanthematicus)
Obamadon gracilis known fossil material
Iguana delicatissima - 1800-1839 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - (Iguana delicatissima)
_(Varanus_exanthematicus).png)
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fry, Bryan G.. Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes. Nature 439 (7076) (February 2006). p. 584–588. doi:10.1038/nature04328. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ↑ Fry, B. G.. Molecular Evolution and Phylogeny of Elapid Snake Venom Three-Finger Toxins. Journal of Molecular Evolution 57 (1) (2003-07-01). p. 110–129. doi:10.1007/s00239-003-2461-2.
- ↑ Fry, B. et al. 2003. Isolation of a neurotoxin (α-colubritoxin) from a nonvenomous colubrid: evidence for early origin of venom in snakes. Journal of Molecular Evolution 57 (4) (2003). p. 446–452. doi:10.1007/s00239-003-2497-3.
- ↑ Fry, B. G.. Assembling an Arsenal: Origin and Evolution of the Snake Venom Proteome Inferred from Phylogenetic Analysis of Toxin Sequences (in en). Molecular Biology and Evolution 21 (5) (2004-01-22). p. 870–883. doi:10.1093/molbev/msh091. Retrieved 2022-04-25.