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Datta D, Bajpai S. Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8054. [PMID: 38637509 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58377-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Here we report the discovery of fossils representing partial vertebral column of a giant madtsoiid snake from an early Middle Eocene (Lutetian, ~ 47 Ma) lignite-bearing succession in Kutch, western India. The estimated body length of ~ 11-15 m makes this new taxon (Vasuki indicus gen et sp. nov.) the largest known madtsoiid snake, which thrived during a warm geological interval with average temperatures estimated at ~ 28 °C. Phylogenetically, Vasuki forms a distinct clade with the Indian Late Cretaceous taxon Madtsoia pisdurensis and the North African Late Eocene Gigantophis garstini. Biogeographic considerations, seen in conjunction with its inter-relationship with other Indian and North African madtsoiids, suggest that Vasuki represents a relic lineage that originated in India. Subsequent India-Asia collision at ~ 50 Ma led to intercontinental dispersal of this lineage from the subcontinent into North Africa through southern Eurasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debajit Datta
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
| | - Sunil Bajpai
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
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Oliveira LD, Grazziotin FG, Sánchez-Martínez PM, Sasa M, Flores-Villela O, Prudente ALDC, Zaher H. Phylogenetic and morphological evidence reveals the association between diet and the evolution of the venom delivery system in Neotropical goo-eating snakes. SYST BIODIVERS 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2022.2153944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo De Oliveira
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré, São Paulo, 04263-000, Brazil
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe Gobbi Grazziotin
- Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Museo de Zoología, Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Oscar Flores-Villela
- Museo de Zoologia ‘Alfonso L. Herrera’, Faculdad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | | | - Hussam Zaher
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré, São Paulo, 04263-000, Brazil
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LeBlanc ARH, Palci A, Anthwal N, Tucker AS, Araújo R, Pereira MFC, Caldwell MW. A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:742. [PMID: 36765054 PMCID: PMC9918488 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36422-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether snakes evolved their elongated, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R H LeBlanc
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. .,Centre for Oral, Clinical & Translational Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - A Palci
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - N Anthwal
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - A S Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - R Araújo
- Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M F C Pereira
- CERENA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M W Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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