Arrangement of scales

[Tula_Montage]

Whilst looking into "keeled scales" I came across these diagrams which I found rather fascinating. The snake in question is a Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolata (a common grass-snake of South Asia).

Apparently the position/shape/size of these scales have actually been used to reclassify snake species and are commonly used to identify "mystery snakes" when it comes to bites from venomous snakes. For example, in relation to venomous snakes of Myanmar, the distribution of snakes permits the use of the presence or absence of loreal scales to distinguish between relatively harmless Colubrids and lethally venomous Elapids.

The rule of hand for this region is that the absence of a loreal scale between the nasal scale and pre-ocular scale indicates that the snake is an Elapid and hence lethal. All very fascinating if you ask me!

Ventral scales correspondant to the vertebrae can also be used to count the ribs without dissection.... Gee I didn't know scales could be so important to the science of snakes.

 

[Roy Munson]

I agree that it's fascinating. It's cool to "geek out" on this stuff.

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

I love looking at pics like this - it actually helps when checking over our snakes and making sure they are healthy. I also have the snake chart, the one that has the different ... oh, what's the term... the skeletin, the muslces, etc... There's six snake bodies on it and each one depicts a different system of a snake's body.

ANYway,

Thanks for sharing Elle!
Jenn

 

[Tula_Montage]

LOL glad you found it interesting!

I have one on muscles and organs too, but the diagrams are a little gross

PS, when probing Sir Gnarly for practise last night, I found out it is indeed possible to milk a snake! (DON'T ASK HOW)