Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes

Bryan G. Fry (), Nicolas Vidal, Janette A. Norman, Freek J. Vonk, Holger Scheib, S. F. Ryan Ramjan, Sanjaya Kuruppu, Kim Fung, S. Blair Hedges, Michael K. Richardson, Wayne. C. Hodgson, Vera Ignjatovic, Robyn Summerhayes and Elazar Kochva
Additional contact information
Bryan G. Fry: School of Medicine, University of Melbourne
Nicolas Vidal: Pennsylvania State University
Janette A. Norman: Museum Victoria
Freek J. Vonk: Leiden University
Holger Scheib: University of Geneva and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Centre Médical Universitaire
S. F. Ryan Ramjan: School of Medicine, University of Melbourne
Sanjaya Kuruppu: Monash University
Kim Fung: Molecular and Health Technologies, CSIRO
S. Blair Hedges: Pennsylvania State University
Michael K. Richardson: Leiden University
Wayne. C. Hodgson: Monash University
Vera Ignjatovic: University of Melbourne
Robyn Summerhayes: University of Melbourne
Elazar Kochva: Tel Aviv University

Nature, 2006, vol. 439, issue 7076, 584-588

Abstract: A sting in the tale Conventional wisdom has it that among reptiles, venom delivery systems have evolved in only two lineages, advanced snakes and the helodermatid lizards, the latter represented by the Gila monster and beaded lizard, sole survivors of an ancient group of predators called the Monstersauria. A new study reveals that two additional major lineages of lizards — the varanids and iguanians — also produce venom toxins, and that iguanian lizards even have the signs of venom glands. This suggests that snakes and lizards are much more closely related than was thought, the snakes evolving from relatively advanced lizards, rather than as a separate evolutionary radiation.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04328

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