FfFfFfFF 58,133 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Toothy worm-like creatures called caecilians have smooth, shiny skin and already look a lot like snakes. Still, scientists were surprised to discover some of these legless animals may have venomous saliva—possibly the first example ever found in amphibians Nearly 200 caecilian species wiggle through tropical forests the world over, ranging from the 3.5-inch-long Idiocranium russell in Cameroon to the nearly five-foot-long giant known as Caecilia thompsoni in Colombia. Scientists already knew caecilians have three rows of needle-nosed teeth—two on the top and one on the bottom—that likely help the predators catch and gulp down earthworms. But while looking at caecilians captured in Brazil, Jared discovered a never-before-described set of dental glands that produce saliva and, possibly, venomous enzymes. But, he cautions, further analysis is needed to confirm caecilian saliva is truly venomous. If it is, the implications are striking, says Emma Sherratt, an evolutionary biologist at University of Adelaide in Australia who was not part of the study. For the research, study leader Pedro Luiz Mailho-Fontana, also a Butantan Institute evolutionary biologist, and colleagues performed analyses on saliva samples from two adult ringed caecilians (Siphonops annulatus) to determine what chemicals they contained. They found a family of enzymes called A2 phospholipase that’s widespread in venomous creatures, such as wasps, scorpions, and snakes. Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/07/caecilians-amphibians-venomous-saliva/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartySick 172,545 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Convergent evolution is interesting. It's funny how certain body plans and traits constantly show up in unreleated species. Makes you wonder how diverse alien life would actually be Whimsical bitch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice bear 1 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 my grandma used to work on her yard and unearth them by accident when she dug to plant something they're very slow tho, they might be venomous but a bite is really really avoidable ice heard one side from above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weed 78,964 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 literally look like earth worms from hell, but their closest relative is the salamander! very interesting. Also I'm not educated on this at all but how would it be the first venomous amphibian when there are venomous frogs? No shade I'm curious lol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FATCAT 60,888 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 5 minutes ago, PartySick said: Convergent evolution is interesting. It's funny how certain body plans and traits constantly show up in unreleated species. Makes you wonder how diverse alien life would actually be I know right? Though I'm sure that if the environment on other planets was much different, the convergent evolution would also be different, but exciting none the less! This kitten over here (meow) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice bear 1 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 1 minute ago, weed said: literally look like earth worms from hell, but their closest relative is the salamander! very interesting. Also I'm not educated on this at all but how would it be the first venomous amphibian when there are venomous frogs? No shade I'm curious lol i think it's the venom/poison difference if it spews it's poison, if it bites it's venom ...i guess? ice heard one side from above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calmar 22,768 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Just now, ice bear said: i think it's the venom/poison difference if it spews it's poison, if it bites it's venom ...i guess? Poison occurs when you bite it Venom occurs when it bites you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylight 911 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 it looks like a.... uhm.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartySick 172,545 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Just now, Skylight said: it looks like a.... uhm.... Snake, right!? How crazy is that Whimsical bitch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice bear 1 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 1 minute ago, calmar said: Poison occurs when you bite it Venom occurs when it bites you oh like food poisoning ice heard one side from above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weed 78,964 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Just now, ice bear said: i think it's the venom/poison difference if it spews it's poison, if it bites it's venom ...i guess? I think I misinterpret it as "first venomous amphibian" rather than "first saliva of an amphibian that is venomous," because the frogs are classified "venomous" but it's through spikes on their back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice bear 1 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 1 minute ago, PartySick said: Snake, right!? How crazy is that lowkey the one in the first picture has benedict cumberbatch's facial features ice heard one side from above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartySick 172,545 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, FATCAT said: I know right? Thought I'm sure that if the environment on other planets was much different, the convergent evolution would also be different, but exciting none the less! Throwback to my former dream job of astrobiology aka "alien hunting" Granted cells worked similarly in alien biospheres I bet we'd see similar animal and plant types. Body plans and such. Chemical composters and photosynthesizers would come first followed by those that prey on them. Earth life evolved to be as efficient as possible following that same path, I'd put money on alien life being at least recognizable as "alien fish" or "alien flower", etc Unless their first single cells went on a totally different route from the beginning...one that we might not even imagine...but the parent star and volcanic chemicals would be the most abundant and readily available sources of energy so that wouldn't make sense... Ugh, can we just find aliens already please Whimsical bitch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weed 78,964 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, ice bear said: lowkey the one in the first picture has benedict cumberbatch's facial features I can see the resemblance to Smaug, played by Balayage Cumquat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice bear 1 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 1 minute ago, weed said: I can see the resemblance to Smaug, played by Balayage Cumquat i am earth, i am blindness, i am venomous saliva ice heard one side from above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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