Data from: Diversification rates and phenotypic evolution in venomous snakes (Elapidae)

The relationship between rates of diversification and of body size change
(a common proxy for phenotypic evolution) was investigated across
Elapidae, the largest radiation of highly venomous snakes. Time-calibrated
phylogenetic trees for 175 species of elapids (more than 50% of known
taxa) were constructed using seven mitochondrial and nuclear genes.
Analyses using these trees revealed no evidence for a link between
speciation rates and changes in body size. Two clades (Hydrophis,
Micrurus) show anomalously high rates of diversification within Elapidae,
yet exhibit rates of body size evolution almost identical to the general
elapid ‘background’ rate. Although correlations between speciation rates
and rates of body size change exist in certain groups (e.g. ray-finned
fishes, passerine birds), the two processes appear to be uncoupled in
elapid snakes. There is also no detectable shift in diversification
dynamics associated with the colonization of Australasia, which is
surprising given that elapids appear to be the first clade of venomous
snakes to reach the continent.