Most Primitive Snake Fossil Discovered

smooth wombat writes "A newly discovered fossil seems to suggest that snakes evolved on land rather than in the water. The size of the fossil is unknown but it wasn't more than three feet long according to Hussam Zaher of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. It's the first time scientists have found a snake with a sacrum -- a bony feature supporting the pelvis -- he said. That feature was lost as snakes evolved from lizards, and since this is the only known snake that hasn't lost it, it must be the most primitive known, he said."

Comments

Snakes?!

[winmine]

Was a fossilized plane found nearby?

Lawyers and Politicians

[Alien54]

I know there has to be a joke in here someplace. but politicians need not apply, since snakes are mostly backbone as it is.

So let me get this straight...

[hackwrench]

Having a feature makes you more primitive than not having a feature?
Wow! The final proof that men are more primitive than women!

Re:So let me get this straight...

[bar-agent]

Although there are a couple of handfuls of features that women have that men don't.

Well...sometimes less than a handful, sometimes more. :)

Lawyers - Slimemold or Snake?

[gadlaw]

All this is very good and important as we fill the evolutionary gaps. While it will never be enough to convince the 'god did it' crowd it does make the rest of us feel better seeing the evidence pile up. But my original thought when reading this story was wondering when scientists will be able to determine whether lawyers are more closely related to snakes or to slime molds. I'm crossing my fingers for slime molds. I like snakes.