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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

Reptiles.

Richard Shine¹

¹Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. rick.shine@sydney.edu.au

Current Biology : CB

|March 23, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Evolutionary biologists find that common reptiles like snakes and turtles are not closely related. Phylogenetic analysis reveals birds are more closely related to crocodiles and dinosaurs than to other reptiles.

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Published on: February 7, 2019

Area of Science:

* Evolutionary Biology
* Phylogenetics
* Herpetology

Background:

* The common understanding of 'reptiles' includes snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles.
* This grouping is challenged by evolutionary biology and phylogenetic analysis.
* Many animals commonly called reptiles are not closely related evolutionarily.

Purpose of the Study:

* To clarify the evolutionary relationships between animals commonly classified as reptiles.
* To highlight the discrepancies between common classifications and phylogenetic findings.
* To illustrate the deep evolutionary divergences within the reptile clade.

Main Methods:

* Phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary relationships.
* Examination of the evolutionary tree of life.
* Comparative analysis of animal lineages.

Main Results:

* Phylogenetic analysis shows that animals commonly called reptiles are not a monophyletic group.
* Birds share a closer common ancestor with crocodiles and dinosaurs than with lizards and snakes.
* Turtles represent an ancient lineage that diverged from other reptiles over 200 million years ago.
* The tuatara represents a distinct, ancient lineage with only one surviving species.

Conclusions:

* The traditional classification of 'reptiles' is not supported by evolutionary data.
* Evolutionary history reveals deep divergences and complex relationships among reptile groups.
* Understanding these relationships requires moving beyond superficial similarities to phylogenetic evidence.