Data from: The macroevolutionary singularity of snakes

Snakes and lizards (Squamata) represent a third of terrestrial vertebrates
and exhibit spectacular innovations in locomotion, feeding, and sensory
processing. However, the evolutionary drivers of this dramatic radiation
remain poorly known. We infer potential causes and ultimate consequences
of squamate macroevolution by combining individual-based natural history
observations (>60,000 animals) with a comprehensive time-calibrated
phylogeny that we anchored with genomic data (5,400 loci) from 1,018
species. Through concerted changes in the dynamics of phenotypic evolution
and speciation, snakes have transformed the macroecological landscape
through their impact on the trophic architecture of animal communities.
Squamate biodiversity reflects a legacy of singular events that occurred
during the early history of snakes and reveals the profound impact of
historical contingency on vertebrate biodiversity.