Re: Genetic Study Shows Snake Evolution

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

David Marjanovic (david.marjanovic@gmx.at) wrote:

<+--turtle
 `--+--tuatara
    `--Squamata
         |--Dibamidae
         `--+--Gekkonidae
            `--+--+--Cordylidae
               |  `--+--Xantusiidae
               |     `--Scincidae
               `--+--+--+--Teiidae
                  |  |  `--Gymnophthalmidae
                  |  `--+--+--Lacertidae
                  |     |  `--Rhineuridae
                  |     `--+--Bipedidae
                  |       `--+--Amphisbaenidae
                  |          `--Trogonophidae
                  `--+--Anguimorpha
                     |    |--+--Xenosauridae
                     |    |  `--Varanidae
                     |    `--+--Helodermatidae
                     |       `--Anguidae
                     `--+--Iguania
                        |    |--Iguanidae
                        |    `--+--Chamaeleonidae
                        |       `--Agamidae
                        `--Serpentes
                             |--Scolecophidia
                             `--Alethinophidia>

  ...

<The basal 3 nodes within Squamata have very low values. In short... don't
trust that tree. :-)>

  Well, that and the anguimorph tree is different, rather than the typical
morphological reconstruction of Anguimorpha = (Anguidae (Xenosauridae
(Helodermatidae + Varanidae))), or where Xeno and Angui are unresolved
relative to Helo + Varan. Placement of amphisbaenians has always favored
snakes, so this may end up being a case of some valid placements relative
to other trees, and perhaps some attractive basal, unchanged codings, as
in the anguimorphs. Yeah, I don't like this tree either, but would love to
see the same data set include more genes -- TWO sequences is funny in this
day and age.

=====
Jaime A. Headden

  Little steps are often the hardest to take.  We are too used to making leaps 
in the face of adversity, that a simple skip is so hard to do.  We should all 
learn to walk soft, walk small, see the world around us rather than zoom by it.

"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth." --- P.B. Medawar (1969)

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