Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras
Taline D. Kazandjian, Daniel Petras, Samuel D. Robinson, Jory van Thiel, Harry W. Greene, Kevin Arbuckle, Axel Barlow, David A. Carter, Roel M. Wouters, Gareth Whiteley, Simon C. Wagstaff, Ana Silvia Arias, Laura-Oana Albulescu, Anthony Plettenberg Laing, Cara Hall, A. Heap, S. Penrhyn-Lowe, Ciara Mccabe, Stuart Ainsworth, Ricardo Silva, Pieter C. Dorrestein, Michael K. Richardson, José Marı́a Gutiérrez, Juan J. Calvete, Robert A. Harrison, Irina Vetter, Eivind A. B. Undheim, Wolfgang Wüster, Nicholas R. Casewell
Abstract
From offense to defense Venom in snakes is largely used to subdue and/or kill prey, and most venoms have clear actions that facilitate death or paralysis. In one group of snakes, however, venom has evolved and shifted from predation to protection. Specifically, in three different lineages of “spitting” snakes, venom is used to deter predators. Kazandjian et al. show that similar adaptions have occurred within these lineages that transform cytotoxic components into a mixture that acts on mammalian sensory neurons and causes pain. The authors argue that increased predation on these lineages led to similar shifts in venom function. Science , this issue p. 386