Evolution of nuchal glands, unusual defensive organs of Asian natricine snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae), inferred from a molecular phylogeny

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 8; no. 20; pp. 10219 - 10232
• Main Authors: Takeuchi, Hirohiko, Savitzky, Alan H., Ding, Li, Silva, Anslem, Das, Indraneil, Nguyen, Tao Thien, Tsai, Tein‐Shun, Jono, Teppei, Zhu, Guang‐Xiang, Mahaulpatha, Dharshani, Tang, Yezhong, Mori, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2018; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Balanophis; Biological evolution; CMOS; Divergence; Evolution; Genera; Glands; Homology; Macropisthodon; molecular phylogenetics; Natricinae; nuchal glands; Organs; Original Research; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Prey; RAG1 protein; Rhabdophis; Rhabdophis tigrinus; Sequences; Skin; Snakes; Species; Toxins; Vietnam; United States > US; Sri Lanka; China; Japan; Taiwan; Malaysia; Thailand; Indonesia; nuchal glands; Balanophis; Rhabdophis; Natricinae; Macropisthodon; molecular phylogenetics
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4497

A large body of evidence indicates that evolutionary innovations of novel organs have facilitated the subsequent diversification of species. Investigation of the evolutionary history of such organs should provide important clues for understanding the basis for species diversification. An Asian natri...