1
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Shine R, Meiri S, Shine TG, Brown GP, Goiran C. The adaptive significance of large size at birth in marine snakes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:231429. [PMID: 38094277 PMCID: PMC10716650 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Evolutionary shifts from one habitat type to another can clarify selective forces that affect life-history attributes. Four lineages of snakes (acrochordids and three clades within the Elapidae) have invaded marine habitats, and all have larger offspring than do terrestrial snakes. Predation by fishes on small neonates offers a plausible selective mechanism for that shift, because ascending to breathe at the ocean surface exposes a marine snake to midwater predation whereas juvenile snakes in terrestrial habitats can remain hidden. Consistent with this hypothesis, snake-shaped models moving through a coral-reef habitat in New Caledonia attracted high rates of attack by predatory fishes, and small models (the size of neonatal terrestrial snakes) were attacked more frequently than were large models (the size of neonatal sea snakes). Vulnerability to predatory fishes may have imposed strong selection for increased offspring size in marine snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Shai Meiri
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Terri G. Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Gregory P. Brown
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Claire Goiran
- LabEx Corail & ISEA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, 98851 Nouméa cedex, New Caledonia
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2
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Martin SB, De Silva MLI, Pathirana E, Rajapakse RPVJ. Polyphyly of the Dinurinae Looss, 1907 (Digenea: Hemiuridae) and resurrection of the Mecoderinae Skrjabin & Guschanskaja, 1954 based on novel collection of Tubulovesicula laticaudi Parukhin, 1969 from marine elapid snakes in Sri Lanka. Parasitol Int 2023; 97:102776. [PMID: 37437775 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
With one exception, the only known hemiurid trematodes that do not use teleost fishes as definitive hosts instead occur in marine elapid snakes. These comprise six species across four genera and three subfamilies, and so presumably indicate at least three independent invasions of marine snakes from teleost fishes. Here, one of these taxa, Tubulovesicula laticaudi Parukhin, 1969 (= T. orientalis Chattopadhyaya, 1970 n. syn.) is reported from Sri Lanka, collected from Shaw's sea snake Hydrophis curtus (Shaw) (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae: Hydrophinii), the annulated sea snake H. cyanocinctus Daudin and the yellow sea snake H. spiralis (Shaw) off Nayaru in the Bay of Bengal, and from H. spiralis in Portugal Bay, Gulf of Mannar. Novel molecular data, for COI mtDNA and ITS2 and 28S rDNA, are the first for a species of Tubulovesicula Yamaguti, 1934. Nominally, Tubulovesicula belongs in the Dinurinae Looss, 1907, but in phylogenetic analyses based on 28S rDNA, our sequences for T. laticaudi resolved relatively distant from that for representatives of Dinurus Looss, 1907, the type-genus, rendering the subfamily polyphyletic. Tubulovesicula laticaudi resolved closest to data for the type-species of the Plerurinae Gibson & Bray, 1979, but that subfamily is also polyphyletic. These findings lead us to re-evaluate an alternative classification considered by Gibson & Bray (1979). We propose restricting the Dinurinae for forms with a permanent sinus-organ (Dinurus, Ectenurus Looss, 1907; Erilepturus Woolcock, 1935; Paradinurus Vigueras, 1958; Qadriana Bilqees, 1971) and resurrect the Mecoderinae Skrjabin & Guschanskaja, 1954 for forms with a temporary sinus-organ (Mecoderus Manter, 1940, Allostomachicola Yamaguti, 1958, Stomachicola Yamaguti, 1934 and Tubulovesicula).
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Affiliation(s)
- Storm Blas Martin
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
| | - M L I De Silva
- Divsion of Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Department of Aquatic Bioresources, Faculty of Urban and Aquatic Bioresources, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
| | - Erandi Pathirana
- Department of Aquatic Bioresources, Faculty of Urban and Aquatic Bioresources, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - R P V J Rajapakse
- Divsion of Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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3
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Paluh DJ, Dillard WA, Stanley EL, Fraser GJ, Blackburn DC. Re-evaluating the morphological evidence for the re-evolution of lost mandibular teeth in frogs. Evolution 2021; 75:3203-3213. [PMID: 34674263 PMCID: PMC9299036 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dollo's law of irreversibility states that once a complex structure is lost, it cannot be regained in the same form. Several putative exceptions to Dollo's law have been identified using phylogenetic comparative methods, but the anatomy and development of these traits are often poorly understood. Gastrotheca guentheri is renowned as the only frog with teeth on the lower jaw. Mandibular teeth were lost in the ancestor of frogs more than 200 million years ago and subsequently regained in G. guentheri. Little is known about the teeth in this species despite being a frequent example of trait “re‐evolution,” leaving open the possibility that it may have mandibular pseudoteeth. We assessed the dental anatomy of G. guentheri using micro‐computed tomography and histology and confirmed the longstanding assumption that true mandibular teeth are present. Remarkably, the mandibular teeth of G. guentheri are nearly identical in gross morphology and development to upper jaw teeth in closely related species. The developmental genetics of tooth formation are unknown in this possibly extinct species. Our results suggest that an ancestral odontogenic pathway has been conserved but suppressed in the lower jaw since the origin of frogs, providing a possible mechanism underlying the re‐evolution of lost mandibular teeth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Paluh
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
| | - Wesley A Dillard
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
| | - Gareth J Fraser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
| | - David C Blackburn
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611
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4
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Paluh DJ, Riddell K, Early CM, Hantak MM, Jongsma GFM, Keeffe RM, Magalhães Silva F, Nielsen SV, Vallejo-Pareja MC, Stanley EL, Blackburn DC. Rampant tooth loss across 200 million years of frog evolution. eLife 2021; 10:e66926. [PMID: 34060471 PMCID: PMC8169120 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Teeth are present in most clades of vertebrates but have been lost completely several times in actinopterygian fishes and amniotes. Using phenotypic data collected from over 500 genera via micro-computed tomography, we provide the first rigorous assessment of the evolutionary history of dentition across all major lineages of amphibians. We demonstrate that dentition is invariably present in caecilians and salamanders, but teeth have been lost completely more than 20 times in frogs, a much higher occurrence of edentulism than in any other vertebrate group. The repeated loss of teeth in anurans is associated with a specialized diet of small invertebrate prey as well as shortening of the lower jaw, but it is not correlated with a reduction in body size. Frogs provide an unparalleled opportunity for investigating the molecular and developmental mechanisms of convergent tooth loss on a large phylogenetic scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Paluh
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Karina Riddell
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Catherine M Early
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- Biology Department, Science Museum of MinnesotaSaint PaulUnited States
| | - Maggie M Hantak
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Gregory FM Jongsma
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Rachel M Keeffe
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Fernanda Magalhães Silva
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Museu Paraense Emilio GoeldiBelémBrazil
| | - Stuart V Nielsen
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - María Camila Vallejo-Pareja
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - David C Blackburn
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
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5
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Seiko T, Kishida T, Toyama M, Hariyama T, Okitsu T, Wada A, Toda M, Satta Y, Terai Y. Visual adaptation of opsin genes to the aquatic environment in sea snakes. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:158. [PMID: 33243140 PMCID: PMC7690139 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01725-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evolutionary transitions from terrestrial to aquatic life history cause drastic changes in sensory systems. Indeed, the drastic changes in vision have been reported in many aquatic amniotes, convergently. Recently, the opsin genes of the full-aquatic sea snakes have been reported. However, those of the amphibious sea snakes have not been examined in detail. RESULTS Here, we investigated opsin genes and visual pigments of sea snakes. We determined the sequences of SWS1, LWS, and RH1 genes from one terrestrial, three amphibious and four fully-aquatic elapids. Amino acid replacements at four and one spectra-tuning positions were found in LWS and RH1, respectively. We measured or predicted absorption of LWS and RH1 pigments with A1-derived retinal. During their evolution, blue shifts of LWS pigments have occurred stepwise in amphibious sea snakes and convergently in both amphibious and fully-aquatic species. CONCLUSIONS Blue shifted LWS pigments may have adapted to deep water or open water environments dominated by blue light. The evolution of opsins differs between marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) and sea snakes in two fundamental ways: (1) pseudogenization of opsins in marine mammals; and (2) large blue shifts of LWS pigments in sea snakes. It may be possible to explain these two differences at the level of photoreceptor cell composition given that cone and rod cells both exist in mammals whereas only cone cells exist in fully-aquatic sea snakes. We hypothesize that the differences in photoreceptor cell compositions may have differentially affected the evolution of opsins in divergent amniote lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Seiko
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
| | - Takushi Kishida
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka Sekiden-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8203 Japan
| | - Mina Toyama
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handayama, Hamamatsu Japan
| | - Takahiko Hariyama
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handayama, Hamamatsu Japan
| | - Takashi Okitsu
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry for Life Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8558 Japan
| | - Akimori Wada
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry for Life Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1, Motoyamakita, Higashinada, Kobe, 658-8558 Japan
| | - Mamoru Toda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213 Japan
| | - Yoko Satta
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
| | - Yohey Terai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193 Japan
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6
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Mizsei E, Boros Z, Lovas‐Kiss Á, Szepesváry C, Szabolcs M, Rák G, Ujszegi J, Gál Z, Lengyel S, Puskás G. A trait‐based framework for understanding predator–prey relationships: Trait matching between a specialist snake and its insect prey. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edvárd Mizsei
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | | | - Ádám Lovas‐Kiss
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
| | - Csaba Szepesváry
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Márton Szabolcs
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Gergő Rák
- Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
| | - János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute Gödöllő Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- Department of Tisza River Research Danube Research Institute Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Debrecen Hungary
- GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group Centre for Ecological Research Hungarian Academy of Sciences Tihany Hungary
| | - Gellért Puskás
- Department of Zoology Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest Hungary
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7
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Crowe-Riddell JM, Williams R, Chapuis L, Sanders KL. Ultrastructural evidence of a mechanosensory function of scale organs (sensilla) in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:182022. [PMID: 31183131 PMCID: PMC6502359 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.182022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of epidermal scales was a major innovation in lepidosaurs, providing a barrier to dehydration and physical stress, while functioning as a sensitive interface for detecting mechanical stimuli in the environment. In snakes, mechanoreception involves tiny scale organs (sensilla) that are concentrated on the surface of the head. The fully marine sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) are closely related to terrestrial hydrophiine snakes but have substantially more protruding (dome-shaped) scale organs that often cover a larger portion of the scale surface. Various divergent selection pressures in the marine environment could account for this morphological variation relating to detection of mechanical stimuli from direct contact with stimuli and/or indirect contact via water motion (i.e. 'hydrodynamic reception'), or co-option for alternate sensory or non-sensory functions. We addressed these hypotheses using immunohistochemistry, and light and electron microscopy, to describe the cells and nerve connections underlying scale organs in two sea snakes, Aipysurus laevis and Hydrophis stokesii. Our results show ultrastructural features in the cephalic scale organs of both marine species that closely resemble the mechanosensitive Meissner-like corpuscles that underlie terrestrial snake scale organs. We conclude that the scale organs of marine hydrophiines have retained a mechanosensory function, but future studies are needed to examine whether they are sensitive to hydrodynamic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M. Crowe-Riddell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Ruth Williams
- Adelaide Microscopy, the Centre for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Lucille Chapuis
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Kate L. Sanders
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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8
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Crowe-Riddell JM, Snelling EP, Watson AP, Suh AK, Partridge JC, Sanders KL. The evolution of scale sensilla in the transition from land to sea in elapid snakes. Open Biol 2017; 6:rsob.160054. [PMID: 27278646 PMCID: PMC4929937 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scale sensilla are small tactile mechanosensory organs located on the head scales of many squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes). In sea snakes and sea kraits (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae), these scale organs are presumptive scale sensilla that purportedly function as both tactile mechanoreceptors and potentially as hydrodynamic receptors capable of sensing the displacement of water. We combined scanning electron microscopy, silicone casting of the skin and quadrate sampling with a phylogenetic analysis to assess morphological variation in sensilla on the postocular head scale(s) across four terrestrial, 13 fully aquatic and two semi-aquatic species of elapids. Substantial variation exists in the overall coverage of sensilla (0.8-6.5%) among the species sampled and is broadly overlapping in aquatic and terrestrial lineages. However, two observations suggest a divergent, possibly hydrodynamic sensory role of sensilla in sea snake and sea krait species. First, scale sensilla are more protruding (dome-shaped) in aquatic species than in their terrestrial counterparts. Second, exceptionally high overall coverage of sensilla is found only in the fully aquatic sea snakes, and this attribute appears to have evolved multiple times within this group. Our quantification of coverage as a proxy for relative 'sensitivity' represents the first analysis of the evolution of sensilla in the transition from terrestrial to marine habitats. However, evidence from physiological and behavioural studies is needed to confirm the functional role of scale sensilla in sea snakes and sea kraits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Crowe-Riddell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Edward P Snelling
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
| | - Amy P Watson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Anton Kyuseop Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Julian C Partridge
- School of Animal Biology and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Kate L Sanders
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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9
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Gardner MG, Pearson SK, Johnston GR, Schwarz MP. Group living in squamate reptiles: a review of evidence for stable aggregations. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 91:925-936. [PMID: 26052742 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
How sociality evolves and is maintained remains a key question in evolutionary biology. Most studies to date have focused on insects, birds, and mammals but data from a wider range of taxonomic groups are essential to identify general patterns and processes. The extent of social behaviour among squamate reptiles is under-appreciated, yet they are a promising group for further studies. Living in aggregations is posited as an important step in the evolution of more complex sociality. We review data on aggregations among squamates and find evidence for some form of aggregations in 94 species across 22 families. Of these, 18 species across 7 families exhibited 'stable' aggregations that entail overlapping home ranges and stable membership in long-term (years) or seasonal aggregations. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that stable aggregations have evolved multiple times in squamates. We: (i) identify significant gaps in our understanding; (ii) outline key traits which should be the focus of future research; and (iii) outline the potential for utilising reproductive skew theory to provide insights into squamate sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Gardner
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia. .,South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
| | - Sarah K Pearson
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
| | - Gregory R Johnston
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia.,South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Michael P Schwarz
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
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10
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Goiran C, Shine R. Parental defence on the reef: antipredator tactics of coral-reef fishes against egg-eating seasnakes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goiran
- Labex Corail & Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie; BP R4 98851 Nouméa cedex New Caledonia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Biological Sciences A08; University of Sydney; Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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11
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Three-fingered RAVERs: Rapid Accumulation of Variations in Exposed Residues of snake venom toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2172-208. [PMID: 24253238 PMCID: PMC3847720 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5112172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-finger toxins (3FTx) represent one of the most abundantly secreted and potently toxic components of colubrid (Colubridae), elapid (Elapidae) and psammophid (Psammophiinae subfamily of the Lamprophidae) snake venom arsenal. Despite their conserved structural similarity, they perform a diversity of biological functions. Although they are theorised to undergo adaptive evolution, the underlying diversification mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report the molecular evolution of different 3FTx functional forms and show that positively selected point mutations have driven the rapid evolution and diversification of 3FTx. These diversification events not only correlate with the evolution of advanced venom delivery systems (VDS) in Caenophidia, but in particular the explosive diversification of the clade subsequent to the evolution of a high pressure, hollow-fanged VDS in elapids, highlighting the significant role of these toxins in the evolution of advanced snakes. We show that Type I, II and III α-neurotoxins have evolved with extreme rapidity under the influence of positive selection. We also show that novel Oxyuranus/Pseudonaja Type II forms lacking the apotypic loop-2 stabilising cysteine doublet characteristic of Type II forms are not phylogenetically basal in relation to other Type IIs as previously thought, but are the result of secondary loss of these apotypic cysteines on at least three separate occasions. Not all 3FTxs have evolved rapidly: κ-neurotoxins, which form non-covalently associated heterodimers, have experienced a relatively weaker influence of diversifying selection; while cytotoxic 3FTx, with their functional sites, dispersed over 40% of the molecular surface, have been extremely constrained by negative selection. We show that the a previous theory of 3FTx molecular evolution (termed ASSET) is evolutionarily implausible and cannot account for the considerable variation observed in very short segments of 3FTx. Instead, we propose a theory of Rapid Accumulation of Variations in Exposed Residues (RAVER) to illustrate the significance of point mutations, guided by focal mutagenesis and positive selection in the evolution and diversification of 3FTx.
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12
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Shine R, Goiran C, Shine T, Fauvel T, Brischoux F. Phenotypic divergence between seasnake (Emydocephalus annulatus) populations from adjacent bays of the New Caledonian Lagoon. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01971.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Shine
- School of Biological Sciences A08; University of Sydney; NSW; 2006; Australia
| | - Claire Goiran
- Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie; Campus de Nouville; BP R4; 98851; Nouméa cedex; New Caledonia
| | - Terri Shine
- School of Biological Sciences A08; University of Sydney; NSW; 2006; Australia
| | | | - Francois Brischoux
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé - UPR 1934 du CNRS; 79360; Villiers en Bois; France
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13
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Lukoschek V, Shine R. Sea snakes rarely venture far from home. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:1113-21. [PMID: 22833788 PMCID: PMC3402188 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The extent to which populations are connected by dispersal influences all aspects of their biology and informs the spatial scale of optimal conservation strategies. Obtaining direct estimates of dispersal is challenging, particularly in marine systems, with studies typically relying on indirect approaches to evaluate connectivity. To overcome this challenge, we combine information from an eight-year mark-recapture study with high-resolution genetic data to demonstrate extremely low dispersal and restricted gene flow at small spatial scales for a large, potentially mobile marine vertebrate, the turtleheaded sea snake (Emydocephalus annulatus). Our mark-recapture study indicated that adjacent bays in New Caledonia (<1.15 km apart) contain virtually separate sea snake populations. Sea snakes could easily swim between bays but rarely do so. Of 817 recaptures of marked snakes, only two snakes had moved between bays. We genotyped 136 snakes for 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci and found statistically significant genetic divergence between the two bays (F(ST)= 0.008, P < 0.01). Bayesian clustering analyses detected low mixed ancestry within bays and genetic relatedness coefficients were higher, on average, within than between bays. Our results indicate that turtleheaded sea snakes rarely venture far from home, which has strong implications for their ecology, evolution, and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimoksalehi Lukoschek
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook UniversityTownsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaIrvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Richard Shine
- Biological Sciences A08, University of SydneyNSW 2006, Australia
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Brischoux F, Rolland V, Bonnet X, Caillaud M, Shine R. Effects of oceanic salinity on body condition in sea snakes. Integr Comp Biol 2012; 52:235-44. [PMID: 22710931 DOI: 10.1093/icb/ics081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the transition from terrestrial to marine environments poses strong osmoregulatory and energetic challenges, temporal and spatial fluctuations in oceanic salinity might influence salt and water balance (and hence, body condition) in marine tetrapods. We assessed the effects of salinity on three species of sea snakes studied by mark-recapture in coral-reef habitats in the Neo-Caledonian Lagoon. These three species include one fully aquatic hydrophiine (Emydocephalus annulatus), one primarily aquatic laticaudine (Laticauda laticaudata), and one frequently terrestrial laticaudine (Laticauda saintgironsi). We explored how oceanic salinity affected the snakes' body condition across various temporal and spatial scales relevant to each species' ecology, using linear mixed models and multimodel inference. Mean annual salinity exerted a consistent and negative effect on the body condition of all three snake species. The most terrestrial taxon (L. saintgironsi) was sensitive to salinity over a short temporal scale, corresponding to the duration of a typical marine foraging trip for this species. In contrast, links between oceanic salinity and body condition in the fully aquatic E. annulatus and the highly aquatic L. laticaudata were strongest at a long-term (annual) scale. The sophisticated salt-excreting systems of sea snakes allow them to exploit marine environments, but do not completely overcome the osmoregulatory challenges posed by oceanic conditions. Future studies could usefully explore such effects in other secondarily marine taxa such as seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Brischoux
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CEBC-CNRS UPR 1934, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France.
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15
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Bonnet X. Long-term field study of sea kraits in New Caledonia: fundamental issues and conservation. Integr Comp Biol 2012; 52:281-95. [PMID: 22576814 DOI: 10.1093/icb/ics069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This short review focuses on the findings associated with a long-term field study on two species of sea kraits in New Caledonia. Since 2002, more than 30 sites in the lagoon have been sampled, and in most places mark-recapture was implemented. We collected detailed data on more than 14,000 marked individuals (>6000 recaptures) and used different techniques (stable isotopes, bio-logging, analyses of diet). The objective was fundamental: to examine how amphibious snakes cope with both terrestrial and aquatic environments. As access to abundant food is likely the main evolutionary driver for the return transition toward the sea in marine tetrapods, foraging ecology was an important part of the research and novel information was obtained on this subject. Rapidly however, field observations revealed the potential interest of sea kraits for conservation issues. Our results show that these snakes are useful bio-indicators of marine biodiversity; they also provide a useful signal to monitor levels of contamination by heavy metals in the lagoon, and more generally as a means of studying the functioning of reef ecosystems. Importantly, anecdotal observations (e.g., a krait drinking during rain) provided unsuspected physiological insights of general importance to fundamental problems and conservation. One of the lessons of this long-term study is that key results emerged in an unexpected way, but all were dependent on intensive field work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bonnet
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UPR 1934-CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France.
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16
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17
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McDOWELL SB. Notes on the Australian sea-snake Ephalophis greyi M. Smith (Serpentes : Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) and the origin and classification of sea-snakes. Zool J Linn Soc 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1969.tb00716.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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18
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LUKOSCHEK VIMOKSALEHI, KEOGH JSCOTT. Molecular phylogeny of sea snakes reveals a rapidly diverged adaptive radiation. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00691.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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19
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SHINE RICHARD, SHINE TERRI, SHINE JAMESM, SHINE BENJAMING. Synchrony in capture dates suggests cryptic social organization in sea snakes (Emydocephalus annulatus, Hydrophiidae). AUSTRAL ECOL 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01524.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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20
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Shine R, Thomas J. Do lizards and snakes really differ in their ability to take large prey? A study of relative prey mass and feeding tactics in lizards. Oecologia 2005; 144:492-8. [PMID: 15891833 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-005-0074-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2004] [Accepted: 02/23/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Adaptations of snakes to overpower and ingest relatively large prey have attracted considerable research, whereas lizards generally are regarded as unable to subdue or ingest such large prey items. Our data challenge this assumption. On morphological grounds, most lizards lack the highly kinetic skulls that facilitate prey ingestion in macrostomate snakes, but (1) are capable of reducing large items into ingestible-sized pieces, and (2) have much larger heads relative to body length than do snakes. Thus, maximum ingestible prey size might be as high in some lizards as in snakes. Also, the willingness of lizards to tackle very large prey items may have been underestimated. Captive hatchling scincid lizards (Bassiana duperreyi) offered crickets of a range of relative prey masses (RPMs) attacked (and sometimes consumed parts of) crickets as large as or larger than their own body mass. RPM affected foraging responses: larger crickets were less likely to be attacked (especially on the abdomen), more likely to be avoided, and less likely to provide significant nutritional benefit to the predator. Nonetheless, lizards successfully attacked and consumed most crickets < or =35% of the predator's own body mass, representing RPM as high as for most prey taken by snakes. Thus, although lizards lack the impressive cranial kinesis or prey-subduction adaptations of snakes, at least some lizards are capable of overpowering and ingesting prey items as large as those consumed by snakes of similar body sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Shine
- Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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21
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All at sea: aquatic life modifies mate-recognition modalities in sea snakes (Emydocephalus annulatus, Hydrophiidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-004-0897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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22
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Shine R, Bonnet X, Elphick MJ, Barrott EG. A novel foraging mode in snakes: browsing by the sea snake Emydocephalus annulatus (Serpentes, Hydrophiidae). Funct Ecol 2004. [DOI: 10.1046/j.0269-8463.2004.00803.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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23
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SHINE RICHARD, SHINE TERRI, SHINE BENJAMIN. Intraspecific habitat partitioning by the sea snake Emydocephalus annulatus (Serpentes, Hydrophiidae): the effects of sex, body size, and colour pattern. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2003. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1095-8312.2003.00213.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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24
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Masunaga G, Ota H. Growth and reproduction of the sea snake, Emydocephalus ijimae, in the central Ryukyus, Japan: a mark and recapture study. Zoolog Sci 2003; 20:461-70. [PMID: 12719649 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.20.461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A mark and recapture study was carried out for three years on a population of the Ijima's sea snake, Emydocephalus ijimae, in the coastal shallow water of Zamamijima Island, central Ryukyus, Japan. The relatively high recapture (47% of 167 marked snakes) suggests that E. ijimae is a particularly philopatric, sedentary species among the sea snakes. The sex ratio (male: female), approximately 1.6:1, significantly skewed from 1:1. The growth rate in SVL declined with growth, with females thoroughly growing better than males. Males and females were estimated to begin reproductive activity in the second or third summer and the third spring after birth, respectively. Frequency of female reproduction is guessed to vary from annual to biennial, or even less frequent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Masunaga
- Graduate School of Science and Engeneering, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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25
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Gopalakrishnakone P, Kochva E. Venom glands and some associated muscles in sea snakes. J Morphol 1990; 205:85-96. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1052050109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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McCarthy C. Adaptations of sea snakes that eat fish eggs; with a note on the throat musculature ofAipysurus eydouxi(Gray, 1849). J NAT HIST 1987. [DOI: 10.1080/00222938700770701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Hymen Marx
- Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
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