Article
Venom phenotype conservation suggests integrated specialization in a lizard-eating snake.
Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology - 15 Jun 2023
Heptinstall Tucker C, Strickland Jason L, Rosales-Garcia Ramses A, Rautsaw Rhett M, Simpson Cassandra L, Nystrom Gunnar S, Ellsworth Schyler A, Hogan Michael P, Borja Miguel, Fernandes Campos Pollyanna, Grazziotin Felipe G, Rokyta Darin R, Junqueira-de-Azevedo Inácio L M, Parkinson Christopher L
Abstract excerpt
Biological specialization reduces the size of niche space while increasing efficiency in the use of available resources. Specialization often leads to phenotypic changes via natural selection aligning with niche space constraints. Commonly observed changes are in size, shape, behavior, and traits associated with feeding. One often selected trait for dietary specialization is venom, which, in snakes, often shows...
Topics
- Animals
- Snake Venoms
- Lizards
- Colubridae
- Toxins, Biological
- Phenotype