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Evolution of snakes takes surprise twist — cobras didn't come from where we thought they did

Live Science
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79% Informative

Scientists once believed that Elapoidea , the superfamily containing cobras, coral snakes and mambas, originated in Africa .

A fossil of a file snake found in Tanzania dated to the Oligocene Epoch ( 33.9 million to 23 million years ago) supported this hypothesis.

Researchers used genetic analysis and fossils from other regions to conclude that these snakes originated in Asia .

There are now 700 species on every continent except Antarctica and many islands as well.