International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 78-89 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 79 This study will explore the current understanding of the global distribution of snakes and explain how historical climate has influenced these distribution patterns. This study will integrate the relevant research results of macroecology, phylogenetics and species distribution models to analyze the relationship between climate history and the diversity and distribution of snakes, emphasizing the significance of protecting snake diversity in the context of rapid climate change. 2 Global Distribution Pattern 2.1 Latitude gradient: more in tropical regions vs. less in temperate and polar regions Snakes have the largest number of species in tropical regions, especially in the Neotropical zone, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These places have stable and warm climates and a wide variety of habitats, which can support a large number of snakes. In some areas of the Neotropical zone, there are over 100 species of snakes in each grid area (Marques et al., 2021). In temperate and polar regions, the climate is colder and more variable, and there are far fewer surviving snake species. This is usually because poikilothermic animals are subject to physiological restrictions here, and the complexity of their habitats is also lower (Guedes et al., 2017; Roll et al., 2017; Michailidou et al., 2021). The life and distribution latitude of snakes are similar to those of other vertebrates, presenting a variety of differences. From the equator towards the poles, the number of snake species significantly decreases. This distribution pattern is formed by the combined influence of historical climate change and current environmental conditions, making the tropical region both like a "museum" preserving ancient species and like a "cradle" nurturing new species (Roll et al., 2017; Azevedo et al., 2020). In temperate and polar regions, glaciation and low temperatures restrict the survival time and species number of snakes (Guedes et al., 2017; Michailidou et al., 2021). 2.2 Continental differences in snake species and distribution The distribution of snakes on different continents reflects their unique biogeographical history and living environment. In the Americas, especially South America, there are a particularly large number of snake species, which are very famous. The Amazon forest and the Atlantic forest are the main hotspots where snakes are concentrated (Guedes et al., 2017; Marques et al., 2021). There are also many snake species in Asia and Africa, but their evolutionary patterns and regionally specific distribution characteristics are different. For example, in the savannas and forests of Africa, there are both snakes that can adapt to various environments and snakes that have very specific requirements for their living environment. These snakes are the result of past changes in biological communities (Engelbrecht et al., 2020; Engelbrecht et al., 2021). Although the total number of snakes in Australia is small, the proportion of venomous snakes is high and unique groups have evolved, which is well-known (Roll et al., 2017). The differences between continents are also influenced by factors such as topography, climate change and past geographical isolation. For instance, the Andes Mountains and the mountainous areas of Central America are places where many endemic snake species gather. The snakes on the island have a special species combination, which is caused by diffusion and geographical isolation (Penayo et al., 2023). These factors interact with each other, resulting in different populations of snakes on different continents. Each region can reflect its own evolutionary process and climatic conditions (Guedes et al., 2017; Roll et al., 2017; Azevedo et al., 2020; Engelbrecht et al., 2021). 2.3 Habitat diversity: terrestrial snakes, arboreal snakes, aquatic snakes and sea snakes Snakes have a wide range of habitats, from land environments such as forests, grasslands and deserts to trees, water and even Marine ecosystems. The appearance and ecological adaptability of land snakes vary the most, and they can adapt to various small environments and different prey (Marques et al., 2021). Arboreal snakes commonly found in tropical forests have special appearances such as slender bodies and curly tails, which enable them to utilize the vertical habitat and canopy resources (Cabral et al., 2022; Hudry and Herrel, 2025).
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