What morphological feature characterizes the Suborder Serpentes, separating it from Lacertilia?
Answer
Limbless bodies and elongate, cylindrical forms
The assignment to the Suborder Serpentes signifies a specific evolutionary branch within Squamata that has undergone significant morphological streamlining compared to lizards (Suborder Lacertilia). The defining characteristics of snakes are their adaptation to locomotion without limbs, resulting in bodies that are limbless and possess an elongate, cylindrical shape. While other features like sensory perception are important for behavior, the physical structure is the primary taxonomic differentiator at this level.
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