Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all!

I am doing my thesis work on Heterodon platirhinos and have discovered something troubling. Currently I am doing some work with taxonomy and have noticed that several people consider the Madagascar Hognose Snakes (Leioheterodon) a close ally to American Heterodon sp. How is this possible? I realize that during certain key points in the earths geologic history sections of the Americas where linked with Africa and there was a possibility of Heterodon like snakes making there way into Africa. But isn’t it possible that the similarities between Leioheterodon and Heterodon are examples of convergent evolution at work? Please let me know what you think here.

Thanks a bunch!

Zac

I agree with you. I don't see that much in common and doubt they are very closely related at all. Same with the tricolor hogs. It is almost like some people saying emerald tree boas and chondros are extremely closely related. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

Actually, comparing them to green tree pythons and emerald tree boas isn't a bad one. Madagascar hognosed (Leioheterodon madagascarensis) and Eastern American hogs (Heterodon platyrhinos) are in two different snake families, Pseudoxyrhophiinae and Xenodontinae respectively. In fact, all the Madagascar 'colubrids' are actually 'proto-elapids' in that they actually sit at the base of the Elapidae tree.

Cheers
BGF
Hognose and other 'colubrid' venoms.