Titre du document / Document title

Colubroid systematics: Evidence for an early appearance of the venom apparatus followed by extensive evolutionary tinkering

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

VIDAL Nicolas ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Service de Systématique Moléculaire, Institut de Systématique (CNRS FR 1541), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris, FRANCE

Résumé / Abstract

Colubroids or advanced snakes form a monophyletic group comprising four families: Atractaspididae (11 genera, 70 species), Colubridae (300 genera, 1850 species), Elapidae (65 genera, 270 species) and Viperidae (33 genera, 240 species). A preliminary classification of colubroids based both on morphological and molecular data is presented and all extant genera of Colubridae are listed accordingly. The front-fanged venom system (displayed by some Atractaspididae, all Elapidae and all Viperidae) evolved several times independently and appeared early within colubroids. The rear-fanged venom system (displayed by some Atractaspididae and many Colubridae) has been studied less than the front-fanged system, although it is clear that opisthoglyph Colubridae constitute a polyphyletic group. The other components of the venom apparatus, the glands and the secretions, also show great variability, rendering the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the venom apparatus difficult. Nevertheless, the presence of serous secretory cells in the supralabial region and of a differentiated maxillary dentition within the most basal extant lineages of advanced snakes strongly suggest that the venom apparatus is a synapomorphy of the Colubroidea and that its absence in a few Colubridae results from secondary losses.

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of toxicology. Toxin reviews   ISSN 0731-3837   CODEN JTTRD9 

Source / Source

2002, vol. 21, n^o 1-2 (212 p.)  (110 ref.), pp. 21-41

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Dekker, Monticello, NY, ETATS-UNIS  (1982-2004) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Vertebrata ; Reptilia ; Ophidia ; Viperidae ; Colubridae ; Dentition ; Venom gland ; Biological evolution ; Phylogeny ; Taxonomy ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Vertebrata ; Reptilia ; Ophidia ; Viperidae ; Elapidae ; Colubridae ; Dentition ; Glande à venin ; Evolution biologique ; Phylogenèse ; Systématique ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Vertebrata ; Reptilia ; Ophidia ; Viperidae ; Colubridae ; Dentición ; Glándula de veneno ; Evolución biológica ; Filogénesis ; Sistemática ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 14107 C, 35400010117449.0020