Snake Groups

[TheTaipan]

Do u think there was a point on making the snake groups Aniliidae and Xenopeltidae because there is only one snake species in each of the two groups?

[smy_749]

I don't think thats how it works. There doesn't have to be a 'point'. They identify species by specific characteristics, DNA, genealogy whatever. If it doesn't fit into a category which already exists then it has to be its own category.....

Should we just call tuatara's skinks because theres only a handful of different types?

[StudentoReptile]

Yeah, to elaborate on what SMY said....what defines a particular species is certain characteristics that distinguish it from another established species. For example, what separates a leopard gecko from an African fat-tail gecko? Or a corn snake from a grey rat snake?

Can't really go by color or pattern, because in most cases, those are too variable. Usually there are differences in the skeletal structure, dentition, scale counts, and/or DNA. In fact, there are several species of amphibians that can ONLY be distinguished at the molecular level!

So take the sunbeam snake for example. It has enough differences in anatomy/physiology to separate it from all other genera, but it just happens to be the only one known to science in that category. That is why it is a "loner."

To take the discussion further, this is why many snake enthusiasts have issues with the family Colubridae, which includes (but is not limited to): ratsnakes, kingsnakes, garters, pine snakes, beauty snakes, African house snakes, etc. For decades, it has been a "dumping ground" for those "typical-looking" snakes that are obviously not vipers, elapids, or constrictor (Boidae). But now taxonomists are really picking them apart, and separating them likewise as they find differences. They did this with African House snakes a couple years ago; originally, all "house" snakes were lumped under the genus Lamprophis, but then they split it off into 4-5 new genera, which I personally felt was warranted, because some were obviously distinct from others.

[StudentoReptile]

This is one reason why I encourage everyone, and those who field herp a lot especially, to invest in getting a dichotomous key for your area. You'd be surprised how many species you have always thought you could ID on the spot, but you'd be wrong!

Just a bit of trivia, what distinguishes a cottonmouth from a copperhead?