A study of spitting cobras, published in
Science (22 January 2021 doi 10.1126/science.abb9303) reveals how a combination of venom components have evolved to create an instantly painful venom, not once, but on three separate occasions.
This is the first clear example of snake venom evolving for defence, and provides a remarkable example of convergent evolution, or how natural selection can cause the same solution to a problem to evolve multiple times.
Contrary to the theory that venoms are adapted primarily to enable snakes to kill prey, in spitting cobras, a venom which causes instant pain, and a delivery system which enables the snake to spray the venom to a distance of up to 2.5 metres towards the eyes of anything which comes too close, suggests a defence mechanism, rather than hunting weaponry.
Headwaters Junction plan advances
ROSA SALTER RODRIGUEZ | The Journal Gazette
A plan for a phase of Headwaters Junction attraction on the north side of the St. Mary s River in Fort Wayne is chugging ahead with approvals from the Fort Wayne Plan Commission.
The railroad history nonprofit organization will be allowed to move the restored 19th-century Craigville Depot and a refurbished former military hospital rail car from the 1950s to a parking lot east of Fort Wayne Outfitters.
The outdoor recreation business focuses on boating and cycling and stands along the river at 1004 Cass St., just east of Wells Street. The business s owners, Tim and Cara Hall, are selling some of the rarely used land in their parking lot to further Headwaters Junction s progress.
Headwaters Junction phase OK d
Restored depot, rail car to move north side of St. Marys
ROSA SALTER RODRIGUEZ | The Journal Gazette
A plan for one phase of the Headwaters Junction attraction on the north side of the St. Marys River is chugging ahead with approvals from the Fort Wayne Plan Commission.
The railroad history nonprofit organization will be allowed to move the restored 19th-century Craigville Depot and a refurbished former military hospital rail car from the 1950s to a parking lot east of Fort Wayne Outfitters.
The outdoor recreation business focuses on boating and cycling and stands along the river at 1004 Cass St., just east of Wells Street. The business s owners, Tim and Cara Hall, are selling some of the rarely used land in their parking lot to further Headwaters Junction s progress.