Christian Cox, researcher at FIU, has found that snake markings are clues to the individual species’ evolutionary history. Cox found that mimicry, where a species evolves to look like another species, plays an important role in snake marking diversity.

“The same type of selection behind mimicry could be important for driving diversity even in groups that don’t have those mimicry traits. For example, the black cap and collar aren’t mimicry traits, but they are genetically connected to the red and black bands that are seen in coral snake mimicry,” said Cox.

• Christian Cox