Divergent Paths, Convergent Heads: Morphological Adaptation of Head Shape to Habitat Use and Diet in Snakes.

ABSTRACT: Morphological convergence-where distantly related species evolve similar traits in response to shared ecological pressures-is a hallmark of adaptive evolution. In snakes, head shape is a key functional trait linked to habitat use and diet, yet the extent and drivers of its convergence across habitat types and diet remain poorly understood. Here, we used geometric morphometric analyses to analyze dorsal head shape from photographs of over 266 snake species, representing ~5% of global snake diversity. Our analyses reveal that head shape variation is only weakly structured by phylogeny and allometry, but is shaped by ecological specialization. Morphospace patterns reflect distinct differences in species with different ecologies: fossorial species exhibit compact, posteriorly wider heads suite

SUBMITTER: Hudry D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12595591 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature