Evolution of Heat Pits in Pythons and Pit Vipers

So for those of you that aren't aware, you get a member forum when you become a member of BP.net at the platinum level. I, being the biology type, chose a forum for people to post links to articles and papers about news and science news that is related to herps. I'll start with this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/sc...icks.html?_r=2

Enjoy!

Decent read for having something to spark the memories of being in Cockscomb basin seeing my first Jaguar in the wild, as well as photographing Fer-de-lance like the one mentioned in the article . . . as far as the evolution of heat pits goes it's an interesting thought, but I think it diverges from the original evolution thought process in viperidae when we examine the evolution of Venom and begs to bring the question in my mind, what evolved first the venom or the pits :O

boas have pits?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

boas have pits?

---

Tree boas do. Not bcc or bci though, that I'm aware of.

Nice read. Evolution is an interesting subject.

Agreed Chris. My BS is in ecology and evolutionary biology, so it's something that I always enjoy reading about.

I'll also be looking up the evolution of venom now, so thanks for planting that seed!

Interesting read. Im glad to know that if i do ever get bit by a vampire bat now, at least i taste spicy to them lol.