New Dwarf Dropped

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-...azon/101834266

kawaii 🥺

"The species is unusual for having a "vestigial pelvis" -Cool finding! :cool:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

"The species is unusual for having a "vestigial pelvis" -Cool finding! :cool:

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that confuses me, how is this different than the usual “spurs” 🤔

Here's some good reading on snakes with vestigial pelvic structures:

https://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2...aliva-and.html
https://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2...ipesnakes.html

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Originally Posted by YungRasputin

that confuses me, how is this different than the usual “spurs” ��

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My take :hmm:: there's more "there" apparently- spurs are vestigial thigh bones- the pelvis is where they'd attach in the body. So snakes with only spurs are further evolved than a snake with a vestigial pelvis (but snakes with spurs are more primitive than all the snakes without spurs). I think this is a "first" time a snake like this has been found :confusd: though it's been assumed that they obviously existed- from the existence of spurs. (But this is all "above my pay-grade", lol.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

"The species is unusual for having a "vestigial pelvis" -Cool finding! :cool:

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It's not unusual for a boa or a python. It's only unusual for a snake, because 80 percent of snakes are colubrids, which lack them. I suspect the writer of this article didn't know much about snake taxonomy, and didn't have time to learn it before his/her deadline.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

It's not unusual for a boa or a python. It's only unusual for a snake, because 80 percent of snakes are colubrids, which lack them. I suspect the writer of this article didn't know much about snake taxonomy, and didn't have time to learn it before his/her deadline.

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Despite keeping some boas & pythons, I've always been way more into colubrids & "others" so I guess that's why I fell for their idea that this was something more exceptional than it apparently is- & I must admit, snake taxonomy has never been my focus- I leave that to others.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Despite keeping some boas & pythons, I've always been way more into colubrids & "others" so I guess that's why I fell for their idea that this was something more exceptional than it apparently is- & I must admit, snake taxonomy has never been my focus- I leave that to others.

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I won't fault you there. I'm trying to learn more, but, man! It's a slog.

maybe it’s the sleep dep lol but am i understanding it right, that these “vestigial pelvis” is indeed just the “spurs” that all other ancient snakes share?

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Originally Posted by YungRasputin

maybe it’s the sleep dep lol but am i understanding it right, that these “vestigial pelvis” is indeed just the “spurs” that all other ancient snakes share?

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The spurs are the vestigial legs. The vestigial pelvis is what they're attached to.
https://i.imgur.com/tx1RpBG.png