80-million-year-old snake brain reveals a surprising evolutionary secret
An 80-million-year-old fossil of a snake species named Tametara mirim reveals that early snakes were more ecologically diverse than previously thought. Advanced 3D imaging of the fossil brain suggests that snakes adapted to various habitats and sensory environments early in their evolution.
More than 4,000 snake species live today, all descended from heavily modified lizard ancestors. Yet scientists still do not fully understand how snakes developed their long, limbless bodies. Because early snake fossils are rare, researchers have struggled to determine which environments and behaviors shaped their evolution.
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