The snake could indeed be an atavism, as Professor Cao Shandong has indicated. An atavism being an organism that is a real or supposed evolutionary throwback; the unexpected appearance of primitive traits, or a reversion to or reappearance of a trait that had been present in a lineage in the past, but which had been absent in intervening generations. Atavisms occur because genes for previously existing phenotypical features are often preserved in DNA, even though the genes are not expressed in some or most of the organisms possessing them.
I do agree with you Chris, as film would give everyone a better indication of whether the features are simply scales or rudimental appendages...

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

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