Diet and snake venom evolution

Nature
J C DaltryR S Thorpe

Abstract

Venom composition within snake species can show considerable geographical variation, an important consideration because bites by conspecific populations may differ in symptomatology and require different treatments. The underlying causes of this phenomenon have never been explained. Here we present evidence that the variation in the venom of the pitviper Calloselasma rhodostoma (Serpentes: Viperidae) is closely associated with its diet. We also evaluated other possible causes of geographic variation in venom using partial Mantel tests and independent contrasts, but rejected both contemporary gene flow (estimated from geographical proximity) and the phylogenetic relationships (assessed by analysis of mitochondrial DNA) among populations as important influences upon venom evolution. As the primary function of viperid venom is to immobilize and digest prey and prey animals vary in their susceptibility to venom, we suggest that geographical variation in venom composition reflects natural selection for feeding on local prey.

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Citations

Apr 1, 1996·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·W Wüster
Jul 20, 2002·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·Donghui MaKandiah Jeyaseelan
Jun 20, 2000·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·R E Hill, S P Mackessy
Aug 11, 2000·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·D Mebs
Jun 22, 2002·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Jorge Luis López-LozanoLauro Morhy
Nov 7, 2002·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·P J MirtschinM Mirtschin
Sep 25, 2003·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Mónica María SaldarriagaJosé María Gutiérrez
Mar 1, 1997·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·W WüsterD A Warrell
Dec 5, 1998·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·D ParkY Yun
Dec 5, 1998·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·F AfifiyanK Jeyaseelan
Sep 15, 1999·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·G Rádis-BaptistaT Yamane
Jul 10, 1999·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·J CascardiJ Sherma
Feb 11, 2000·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Y ChumanM Ohno
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Sep 4, 2013·Journal of Proteome Research·Gabriela S DiasSolange M T Serrano
Aug 15, 2008·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Paula JuárezJuan J Calvete

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