What's your favourite snake family?

[Mad Max]

Boidae. I love their looks and temperament, but they're also caught in a really interesting stage of evolutionary transition and that is one of my primary interests.

[Jacktar]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Boidae. I love their looks and temperament, but they're also caught in a really interesting stage of evolutionary transition and that is one of my primary interests.

Can you reference material for their stage of evolutionary transition? I'd like to read up on it

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Jacktar

Can you reference material for their stage of evolutionary transition? I'd like to read up on it

Well, fossil records for snakes are limited, but it's believed that snakes evolved from animals rather like monitor lizards and the remnant of a hip found in Boids and pythons (along with some other physical characteristics) is said to be evidence of the link.

Hussam Zaher's work is pretty excellent, I think.

A Fossil Snake with Limbs | Hussam Zaher - Academia.edu

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Well, fossil records for snakes are limited, but it's believed that snakes evolved from animals rather like monitor lizards and the remnant of a hip found in Boids and pythons (along with some other physical characteristics) is said to be evidence of the link.

Hussam Zaher's work is pretty excellent, I think.

A Fossil Snake with Limbs | Hussam Zaher - Academia.edu

No disrespect, but I find to many "it's believed" and actual provable facts to believe these theories.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

No disrespect, but I find to many "it's believed" and actual provable facts to believe these theories.

And no disrespect to you, but I'm not religious.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

And no disrespect to you, but I'm not religious.

Neither am I

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

No disrespect, but I find to many "it's believed" and actual provable facts to believe these theories.

This isnt a statment on religion or the belief of evolution or not. Its a matter of proof of this evolutionary step/change being provable or not as opposed to a matter of beliefs.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Neither am I

Well, don't be stingy, SSSSnakes. What proven facts are you talking about? Do you believe in an alternative theory? If so, what is it? I'm no expert, but I am very interested in the subject.

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

No disrespect, but I find to many "it's believed" and actual provable facts to believe these theories.

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Well, don't be stingy, SSSSnakes. What proven facts are you talking about? Do you believe in an alternative theory? If so, what is it? I'm no expert, but I am very interested in the subject.

Agreed. Im intregued by this as I've heard the theory before but as stated previously Ive seen no solid evidence backing it up. evidence is always what I base by beliefs on hence why as previously stated its not a matter of religous reasoning but seeing proof of the theory. Of course I understand that its only a theory due to the fact that theres not rock solid proof or it would be fact as opposed to theory. However I love seeing small pieces of evidence to support these types of theories.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Agreed. Im intregued by this

Yeah, sort of cryptic (and flawed) writing in SSSSnakes first response and I don't want to try and make anyone question their faith.

But I'm pretty sure that you know more about snakes than I do, SSSSnakes, so I'm genuinely intrigued by your skepticism. Maybe you'd be nice enough to PM me if we're hijacking now.

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Of course I understand that its only a theory due to the fact that theres not rock solid proof

That statement is a fact. But it's the theory with the most evidence pointing towards plausibility to my limited knowledge.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Agreed. Im intregued by this as I've heard the theory before but as stated previously Ive seen no solid evidence backing it up. evidence is always what I base by beliefs on hence why as previously stated its not a matter of religous reasoning but seeing proof of the theory. Of course I understand that its only a theory due to the fact that theres not rock solid proof or it would be fact as opposed to theory. However I love seeing small pieces of evidence to support these types of theories.

That's really just the colloquial use of the term theory. As an example, evolution is a "theory" but it's not "just a theory". It's well thought out, debated, and backed up with evidence.

Theory - In science, an explanation or model that covers a substantial group of occurrences in nature and has been confirmed by a substantial number of experiments and observations. A theory is better verified than a hypothesis.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

That's really just the colloquial use of the term theory. As an example, evolution is a "theory" but it's not "just a theory". It's well thought out, debated, and backed up with evidence.

I agree. It's almost conservative to call evolution a theory. I think it gives focus to the questions ahead though. I remember people asking where the missing link between man and ape was when I was a kid. We have the fossilized remains of a whole chain of them now and there is similar evidence that snakes evolved from lizards. It even looks like some of the links are still alive and well.

[millertime89]

No, it's not conservative to call it a theory. Scientists have these words with specific definitions for a reason. Wiki actually has a decent write up on this.
Evolution as fact and theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by millertime89

No, it's not conservative to call it a theory. Scientists have these words with specific definitions for a reason. Wiki actually has a decent write up on this.
Evolution as fact and theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is the definition of almost?

[millertime89]

It's not "almost conservative".

Better?