[Fwd: Re: snake evolution]

[Colin McHenry <cmchenry@westserv.net.au>]

I'm re-sending this because it didn't seem to go through before

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: snake evolution
Date:   Tue, 04 May 2004 12:45:31 +1000
From:   Colin McHenry <cmchenry@westserv.net.au>
To:     dinosaur@usc.edu;
References:     <BAY7-F8Jh3lrGS1Dknv000075d5@hotmail.com>



Phil,  this was discussed in early Feb (look in the archives for Feb 5 
-6, under the thread "Genetic study shows snake evolution")

>From what I recall, the list didn't find the study all that 
convincing...it seemed to leave quite a few holes.  One of the basic 
problems was that they only sampled one taxon from each of the major 
lizard familes, even though they used multiple taxa from each of the 
snake families.  Not suprisingly, the topology they got didn't resolve 
the question of which lizrds are the sister group of snakes.  
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if a more thorough analysis ended up 
putting the varanids back as snake sisters again.

The paper was available online - am attaching the PDF in a copy of this 
email to you.

Cheers
Colin

Phil Hore wrote:

>  
>
> I've just read an article in the usatodau website about snake 
> evolution dated 8/4/04 (or if your american 4/8/04...never unbderstood 
> why you guys put the month before the day. its not so much putting the 
> cart before the horse, but having the horse, then the carrots you feed 
> it...then the cart..:)  )
>
> The article is all about how they have done DNA tests on all lizard 
> species and then compared them to snakes to find out which group they 
> are related to. The article goes on and on about how they were thought 
> to be mosasaurs, and that the tests show snakes are not closely 
> related to mosasaurs (or at least their close relatives, the monitors).
>
> I have no problem with this as such, as I'm on the fence when it comes 
> to snake ancestory, Ive read or heard nothing that swings me either 
> way. My problem is they never mention what they are closely related 
> too. They just say they haven't worked that out yet. But then how can 
> they know that monitors aern't the closest relative? I mean if they 
> found even one species of lizard that is closer, why didn't they say 
> it? Something like "even though we havent finished our tests to find 
> the absolute, closets relative of the sanke, we do know that the 
> .......... lizard is even clioser then the monitors, showing that they 
> are indeed of land based origin etc etc.."
>
> But they didn't...not even a one! So what happens when they do test 
> every species and they find out that , though not close, the monitors 
> are the nearest relative to snakes today. I think this article is one 
> of those...initial findings have us all excited and we'll get our 
> names in the news kind'a things. We can always apologise later when it 
> turns out we didn't have all the info to hand.
>
> To my point :). Has anyone actually read the papaer from these people, 
> not just an article? Im always worried that the media has blown up or 
> mis quoated something these guys has said and are claiming it as fact. 
> Something the media is reknowned for. Maybe they did mention a more 
> closely related species and it just wasn't mentioned in the article.
>
> If so could you let me know were I can see it? Thanks
>
> Phil Hore
>
> National Dinosaur Museum
>
> Canberra, Australia
>
> ph (02) 62302655
>
> A child was brought into this world. A child of light and innocence. A 
> beautiful child of with talent, grace and integrity. A child to lead 
> us into a glorious future....his name...John Wayne.
>
> I've seen all his movies!
>
>
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--
*****************
Colin McHenry
School of Environmental and Life Sciences (Geology)
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308
Tel: +61 2 4921 5404
Fax: + 61 2 4921 6925

******************
Colin McHenry & Sarah Johnston
14 Summer Place
Merewether Heights  NSW 2291
+61 2 4963 2340
mob: 0423 081683

cmchenry@westserv.net.au
Colin.Mchenry@newcastle.edu.au


--
*****************
Colin McHenry
School of Environmental and Life Sciences (Geology)
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308
Tel: +61 2 4921 5404
Fax: + 61 2 4921 6925

******************
Colin McHenry & Sarah Johnston
14 Summer Place
Merewether Heights  NSW 2291
+61 2 4963 2340
mob: 0423 081683

cmchenry@westserv.net.au
Colin.Mchenry@newcastle.edu.au