Snake with foot found in China

[nick]

A snake with a single clawed foot has been discovered in China, according to reports.

Dean Qiongxiu, 66, said she discovered the reptile clinging to the wall of her bedroom with its talons in the middle of the night.

"I woke up and heard a strange scratching sound. I turned on the light and saw this monster working its way along the wall using his claw," said Mrs Duan of Suining, southwest China.

Full story with, franky wierd, photograph of the snake here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6187320/Snake-with-foot-found-in-China.html)

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

How cool is that, what a neat find! Small little snake too, very cute, it appears the photo isn't much smaller than actual size. xP

[ShatteredWings]

OK, thats quite cool

and probably a bit of evidence towards evolution

[Modus Operandi]

That made my day :P

You're right Heardbutnotseen, that is good evidence for evolution.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Well, I think we already have evolution pretty well proved, it's just that the jury is definitely out on whether humans and apes share a common ancestor or not.

I think this does show that snakes and lizards probably share common genes, though, for sure. I think when people think of evolution in other animals, we think more of changes within the same species, such as different kinds of snakes or different kinds of lizards in different areas. But this could indicate something even farther back, and I think that's just so interesting.

We already know that chickens have the gene that causes scales, left over from some reptilian ancestor (which is why perhaps why reptiles tend to share the same hollow bones, and why birds have a finger-like structure to the bones in their wings plus the scaley clawed feet). It seems like it wouldn't be so far-fetched for snakes to carry the gene for legs, it's just not active (maybe not the right word) and thus it's not expressed in their appearance.

It's certainly fascinating, whatever comes of it.

[Modus Operandi]

Well, I think we already have evolution pretty well proved, it's just that the jury is definitely out on whether humans and apes share a common ancestor or not.

I think this does show that snakes and lizards probably share common genes, though, for sure. I think when people think of evolution in other animals, we think more of changes within the same species, such as different kinds of snakes or different kinds of lizards in different areas. But this could indicate something even farther back, and I think that's just so interesting.

We already know that chickens have the gene that causes scales, left over from some reptilian ancestor (which is why perhaps why reptiles tend to share the same hollow bones, and why birds have a finger-like structure to the bones in their wings plus the scaley clawed feet). It seems like it wouldn't be so far-fetched for snakes to carry the gene for legs, it's just not active (maybe not the right word) and thus it's not expressed in their appearance.

It's certainly fascinating, whatever comes of it.

Yeah, I totally agree, I meant that it provides good evidence for the doubters. A snake dosen't just randomly grow a foot.:P

[OhHeyItsTy]

I would definitely have freaked if I'd seen that!

[RaeNose]

That is strange.
I probably would've freaked out at first also. Although I probably wouldn't have killed it; snakes are cool.
That is definitely some interesting piece of news.

[OneManArmy]

I would have been scared shitless If I found that when I was sleeping but I wouldn't of killed it (to sissy to do so). But still pretty cool.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

I would have been a little freaked just to see a snake crawling up my wall in the middle of the night in the first place, in a, "Where the $#%& did that come from?!?" kind of way. xP I definitely wouldn't have killed it though, especially one so small, just would have tried to safely capture it without getting bitten. Of course, I'm familiar enough with the poisonous snakes in Cali to know which I'd have to worry about, but getting bitten just sounds yucky. I'd trap it under a trashcan or something, chase it into the corner and then slam the thing down over it. Works with bugs and alligator lizards, at least.

Then I'd call Animal Control and say, "So.... there's this snake in my house, and I need someone to come pick it up." They may ask me to describe it, or to say why I can't just let it go outside to wherever it came from, and I'd respond with, "Well, you know, it looks snake-like. Long, scaley, hisses a little.... Oh, and it has a random foot sticking out of it's side." xDD

[Zephyr]

That's wicked!
I <3 biological anomalies,
Sooo amazing = ]

[diamond jetstream]

...................c.........COOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!!

[mrmcdonaldduck]

cool, a snake with a leg!

[Sage]

I liked the chinese cats with wings better. Go look it up if you're unfamiliar.

[Requin]

Eugh. How disgusting. But at the same time quite remarkable. :)

Shame she killed it but I do'nt blame her.