Phylogenetic analysis of β-defensin-like genes of Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis snakes

► 13 new β-defensin-like genes of Brazilian poisonous snakes were described. ► They are constituted of three exons and two introns as in lizards and fishes. ► The concatenated sequences, exons and introns, showed phylogenetic signal. ► We found two main lineages of β-defensin-like sequences in Bothrops. ► The described genes may be submitted to the birth-and-death evolution model.