AI Article Synopsis
- Batesian mimicry involves harmless species (mimics) imitating harmful species (models) to avoid predators, illustrating natural selection's effects on evolution.
- Research on coral snake mimicry has been controversial, as past studies showed mismatches between theory and actual snake distributions and abundance.
- New findings reveal that nonvenomous snakes often change to mimic coral snake colors in a consistent pattern, challenging the understanding of mimicry as a fixed trait and suggesting dynamic evolutionary changes similar to those seen in insects.
Article Abstract
Batesian mimicry, in which harmless species (mimics) deter predators by deceitfully imitating the warning signals of noxious species (models), generates striking cases of phenotypic convergence that are classic examples of evolution by natural selection. However, mimicry of venomous coral snakes has remained controversial because of unresolved conflict between the predictions of mimicry theory and empirical patterns in the distribution and abundance of snakes. Here we integrate distributional, phenotypic and phylogenetic data across all New World snake species to demonstrate that shifts to mimetic coloration in nonvenomous snakes are highly correlated with coral snakes in both space and time, providing overwhelming support for Batesian mimicry. We also find that bidirectional transitions between mimetic and cryptic coloration are unexpectedly frequent over both long- and short-time scales, challenging traditional views of mimicry as a stable evolutionary 'end point' and suggesting that insect and snake mimicry may have different evolutionary dynamics.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4858746 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11484 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Epidemiology and characteristics of coral snake bites reported to the National Poison Data System (2006‒2022).
J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates North American coral snake envenomations using data from the National Poison Data System over a 17-year period (2006-2022), focusing on epidemiological trends and clinical outcomes associated with bites.
- - A total of 1,374 cases were analyzed, with the majority of bites occurring in adults from Florida and Texas, and no reported fatalities; about 30% of cases resulted in moderate to major clinical outcomes, with symptoms including pain, dermal irritation, and edema.
- - Male patients made up a significant portion of the cases (75% for both pediatric and adult categories), and antivenom was administered in 21% of cases, with 37% requiring critical care. *
Colubrid snake envenomation: Erythrolamprus bizona "false coral" snakebite - clinical aspects and importance of identifying mimics.
Am J Emerg Med
November 2024
Department of Pathology, Molecular, and Cell-based medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Colubrids are a large group of snakes, with over 300 genera, previously thought to be harmless, making up about two-thirds of all snake species.
- An 18-year-old male was bitten by Erythrolamprus bizona, a snake he mistakenly identified as a harmless species, resulting in localized swelling and pain, which later spread to his hand, with laboratory tests showing an increase in white blood cells and muscle enzymes.
- This incident emphasizes the need for accurate identification of snakes, especially those that resemble harmless species, and raises awareness about the potential dangers of bites from snakes historically considered low-risk.
Investigating heavy metal concentrations in sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) as an outcome of oil spill exposure.
Heliyon
August 2024
Breeding Centre of Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
This study reports the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of stranded sea snakes that died as a result of exposure to an oil spill on the eastern coast of Sharjah, UAE. Given the limited occurrence of stranded sea snakes observed along Sharjah's eastern coast outside this spill incident, we are using strandings collected from the nearby Arabian Gulf coast of Sharjah to compare the levels of heavy metals in sea snakes affected by the oil spill against their non-oiled counterparts. The sample comprised 14 Arabian Gulf Coral Reef Sea Snakes ), 6 Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes (), and 4 Yellow Sea Snakes ().
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel phylogenomic inference and 'Out of Asia' biogeography of cobras, coral snakes and their allies.
R Soc Open Sci
August 2024
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
Article Synopsis
- Estimating the evolutionary relationships among rapidly diversifying species, like elapoid snakes, is difficult, and incorrect phylogenetic data can obscure their historical geographical ranges.
- Research focused on elapoid snakes, which include both dangerous and non-dangerous species, aims to clarify their origins and distribution across continents.
- The study utilized advanced genomic resources and global sampling to challenge the traditional 'Out of Africa' hypothesis, proposing instead an 'Out of Asia' model involving multiple exchanges of fauna between various regions.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!