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'm not a taxonimist, but you can probably consult with a herpetologist about the relationship between these two species & determine if this is convergent evolution or if there is DNA in-common with both. Below is a link of herpetologists who may be able to assist you with this task. I would also suggest contacting at these sites:

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~varanus/eric.html
http://www.snomnh.ou.edu/personnel/herpetology/vitt/

Goodluck.
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