Has the snake evolved at all?

Answer 1

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Well, "the snake" is not very specific, but I assume you are asking about snakes in general.
First, like others have said, all living beings are "evolved"; in addition, we can trace their evolutionary paths through many indicators, including molecular characteristics, anatomy, fossil relatives, etc.
Snakes are highly specialized scleroglossan lizards, and as such are related to other scleroglossans such as geckoes, teyu lizards or monitor lizards.
The snakes considered as most primitive are small worm-like creatures that live underground and have small mouths, as well as internal remains of their hindlimbs.
Here are some photographs:
http://gibbon.anat.sunysb.edu/kleylab/ph…

Other snakes evolved the characteristic extremely dilatable jaws and thus were able to swallow relatively large prey; among these, the constrictor boas and pythons have paired claws called 'spurs' at the sides of the cloaca that are remains of their hindlimbs.
http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/images/spu…

Some of the most specialized snakes include the true vipers, that have evolved extremely specialized teeth able to inject venom into their prey. A specialized venom apparatus has also evolved independently in colubrid snakes (probably more than once).

The current diversity of snakes, which include generalized and specialized forms with striking evolutionary acquisition, all united by the common characters that attest to their common ancestry, illustrates the evolution of a highly successful body plan. The fossil record of snakes is fragmentary, but more and less derived forms are known.

More about evolution of snakes:
http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units…

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Asker's Comment:

one of the very best answers I have gotten. Aplus, and extra credit. Thank you for your time and effort. There were two other very good answers, also, but yours was so thorough......

Answer 2

I don't think it has much at all. For it's purpose and survival I think it is more than satisfactory.

Answer 3

All organisms are evolving at all times, despite variations in rate. Speciation is another matter. Many reptiles seem to be in speciation dead ends, but the proper mutation in their well conserved genomes, coupled with the right selection pressure could alter that.

Answer 4

yes they used to have legs you can even see to stumps of legs in large snakes they are tiny though

Answer 5

Yes! Modern snakes are as highly evolved as you, your parakeet, or the fungus in your garden soil. They are completely adapted for the niche we find them (or we wouldn't find them!). Don't think of algae, reptiles, amphibians, or rats as "less evolved" than us....instead realize that the assemblage of species currently on earth it there because they have survived the competition and predation and are well adapted for what they do. Some, like snakes, have been around as a group (and doing quite well thank you) for much longer than humans.
Species are formed all the time and species go extinct all the time (unfortunately, they go extinct at a rapid rate these days) and some groups (like snakes) have been around as a group for a long time (because they are good at what they do).