New Dwarf Dropped

[YungRasputin]

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

kawaii 🥺

[Bogertophis]

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

[YungRasputin]

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

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

[Malum Argenteum]

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

[Bogertophis]

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

My take : 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 though it's been assumed that they obviously existed- from the existence of spurs. (But this is all "above my pay-grade", lol.)

[Homebody]

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

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.

[Bogertophis]

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.

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.

[Homebody]

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.

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

[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?

[Homebody]

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?

The spurs are the vestigial legs. The vestigial pelvis is what they're attached to.