If similarities in chemical structure is irrefutable proof of homology, then tetrodotoxin must have evolved in the common ancestor of the puffer fishes and the blue ringed octupus and it has subsequently been lost in other kinds of fishes and in other kinds of octopuses. Clearly this is not the case since tetrodotoxin is of bacterial origin. Since an estimated 60-70% of colubrids, according to Dr. Kenneth Kardong, lack the Duvernoy's gland and they therefore lack toxins, the venom evolved first in the colubroid ancestor hypothesis is just as untenable as the monophyletic origin of tetrodotoxin.

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• Atractaspis - CKing, Thu Nov 13 19:23:03 2003
• RE: Atractaspis - oxyuranus, Fri Nov 14 08:18:51 2003
• RE: Atractaspis - CKing, Fri Nov 14 08:52:40 2003
• Don't feed the Troll n/p - WW, Fri Nov 14 09:34:11 2003
• RE: Ignoring evidence? - CKing, Fri Nov 14 10:39:39 2003
• Put up or shut up - BGF, Fri Nov 14 16:49:54 2003
• RE: Delay No More - CKing, Fri Nov 14 21:09:03 2003
• Put your money where your mouth is.. - BGF, Fri Nov 14 22:36:48 2003
• RE: Delay No More! - CKing, Sat Nov 15 09:02:00 2003
• blah blah blah - BGF, Sat Nov 15 14:55:18 2003
• RE: Delay No More! - CKing, Sat Nov 15 17:57:06 2003
• RE: Delay No More! - BGF, Sun Nov 16 03:04:30 2003
• RE: Delay No More! - CKing, Sun Nov 16 10:09:17 2003
• Prove it - BGF, Sun Nov 16 16:23:23 2003
• RE: Ignoring published evidence - CKing, Sun Nov 16 16:59:18 2003