Origin and Early Evolutionary History of Snakes

Snakes comprise nearly 4,000 extant species found on all major continents except Antarctica. Morphologically and ecologically diverse, they include burrowing, arboreal, and marine forms, feeding on prey ranging from insects to large mammals. Snakes are strikingly different from their closest lizard relatives, and their origins and early diversification have long challenged and enthused evolutionary biologists. The origin and early evolution of snakes is a broad, interdisciplinary topic for which experts in palaeontology, ecology, physiology, embryology, phylogenetics, and molecular biology have made important contributions. The last 25 years has seen a surge of interest, resulting partly from new fossil material, but also from new techniques in molecular and systematic biology. This volume summarises and discusses the state of our knowledge, approaches, data, and ongoing debates. It provides reviews, syntheses, new data and perspectives on a wide range of topics relevant to students and researchers in evolutionary biology, neontology, and palaeontology.

Product details

• Authors: Gower Hussam Zaher David J. Gower, David J. Gower, David J. (Natural History Museum Gower
• Assisted by: David J Gower (Editor), David J. Gower (Editor), David J. (Natural History Museum Gower (Editor), Hussam Zaher (Editor), Hussam (Universidade de Sao Paulo) Zaher (Editor)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2022
• EAN: 9781108837347
• ISBN: 978-1-108-83734-7
• No. of pages: 488
• Dimensions: 208 mm x 261 mm x 28 mm
• Series: Systematics Association Specia; Systematics Association Special Volume Series
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / General, Evolution, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution, SCIENCE / Paleontology, Zoology & animal sciences, amphibians, Palaeontology, Zoology and animal sciences, Reptiles, Zoology: amphibians and reptiles (herpetology)