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.