Interest in rattlesnakes
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/5/7/25575584/5527861.jpg)
Rattlesnakes are most commonly identified by their rattles. Its interesting to wonder how and why the snake evolved to form a rattle on the end of its tail. The unique pattern on the skin of the snake, and the engaging rattles on the end of their tails. What species did this snake evolve from and what are some unique qualities about this species?
WHEN DID THIS SPECIES APPEAR IN EARTH'S HISTORY?
The first sign of a reptile's egg was dated about 275 million years ago during the earth's later Permian Period. The earliest snake in earth's history was named Lapparentophis defrenni. It's fossil was found in the Saharan Desert and dated about 130 million years ago. An unnamed fossil made up of only 2 vertebrae was found in Spain and dated a few million years before Lapparentophis defrenni. The most complete fossil of a snake was found in Argentina and was named Dinilysia patagonica. It showed many comparisons to boas and pythons. Based on many fossils and studying modern reptiles, scientists have concluded that snake most likely evolved from lizards. Since snake fossils are very delicate and rattlesnakes live in deserts, its hard to pinpoint exactly when rattlesnakes first came about but scientists believe it was about 7 million years ago.
Evidence
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/5/7/25575584/7855381.jpg?475)
This is a picture of a python. Pythons have tiny leg like structures protruding from their bodies. It shows where their ancestors legs would have been and how they evolved to no longer have legs but still have stubs.
Evolutionary History
All reptiles evolved from a group of amphibians called Labrynthodonts. Snakes are evolutionary cousins of Tyrannosaurs and triceratops. Snakes first began to evolve during the time of the dinosaurs. A few of the first snakes were the python and the boas. Once a new species of smaller snake came about the larger and smaller snakes fought for food. A new group formed with a more refined venom apparatus. They had short fangs that eventually migrated to the front of their mouths.
Vipers appeared about 10 million years ago. They were of the first snakes to evolve to have their fangs in the front of their mouths. From there pit vipers evolved. Overtime certain pit vipers developed rattles on their ends of their tails which they used to warn predators. These were the rattlesnakes.
Vipers appeared about 10 million years ago. They were of the first snakes to evolve to have their fangs in the front of their mouths. From there pit vipers evolved. Overtime certain pit vipers developed rattles on their ends of their tails which they used to warn predators. These were the rattlesnakes.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/5/7/25575584/9136292.jpg?410)
This shows a branch of different species that evolved with Basal Vertebrates.
Next FOr the species
There are many theories that rattlesnakes will soon evolve to grow without their rattles. Since today their rattles give them away they have been found to rarely use them. They could, over time, grow with smaller rattles and even grow without them.
Sources
http://afarensis99.wordpress.com/2007/04/30/darwin_explains_the_rattlesnak/
http://arachnophiliac.info/burrow/evolution_of_snakes.htm
http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts-rattlesnake.htm
http://news.discovery.com/animals/zoo-animals/snakes-lost-legs-evolution-110207.htm
http://cbcreatures.webs.com/evolutionofsnakes.htm
http://arachnophiliac.info/burrow/evolution_of_snakes.htm
http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts-rattlesnake.htm
http://news.discovery.com/animals/zoo-animals/snakes-lost-legs-evolution-110207.htm
http://cbcreatures.webs.com/evolutionofsnakes.htm