while an reptilian investigation at Doda region (Jammu and Kashmir) i came across an snake moult which have an extra small head shield. Photography is attached, it would be very helpful if somebody help me with its identification.
Yeah, but right now i am willing to know about the extra scale identity !
Anyways Thanks
Is it a distinct scale? From the picture it would seem that the margins are not as well defined as the rest of the scales. It may just be an artifact. If it is a distinct scale then it may just be a variant and you would need more examples from other conspecifics to confirm the pattern. Best of luck!
I might call it 'a small azygous posterior prefrontal' but that's just a descriptive label, not an 'identity', because the idea of direct homology between the 'same' scale or suture in different individuals or species is slightly problematic.
From my experience (especially but not only with Australian elapid snakes), I'd say it's the sort of thing that might occur as a rare variant in any species, but would be more likely in certain lineages where the regular large head scales have a tendency to 'break up' at the edges (associated with increased flexibility and gape in e.g. Acanthophis, viperids, some seasnakes, homalopsids etc.). Consider a series of python or viper species where some (e.g. Liasis, Causus) have regular large head shields, others (e.g. Morelia viridis, Crotalus) have small scales over nearly the whole head, and there are intermediates with distinct major shields separated by irregular small scales. All these conditions exist on a continuum historically and developmentally, but trying to establish homology or identity of particular scales or sutures may not always be worthwhile.
Thanks Jon & Lawrence......
As for the scale ... this one is distinct ... we may say its a varient to someother species .. as in indian elapids we donot have loreal but we find small cunate scale in between infra labials... the scales we found in elapids are not keeled but this moult have keeled scales , loreal n an cunate scale too. I may upload other images of the molt if you like to check..
Amit, are you still trying to ID the snake? That wasn't clear from your question. I think that minor scale variants (if they haven't already been described as characteristic for certain species) probably won't help much. My first guess would be a Boiga sp., but you have a lot more information on that slough than shows in the picture. Cheers
- Yes John i am trying to do so but i havent seen such type of scale n variation in morphologicl charcters thats why i asked about the scale first although we have found many small scales inbetween frontals in many species like vipers, Boa s but this one i found pretty different.
- Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I identified the recognized scales by adding abbreviations. I also added an arrow. Is the arrow pointing to the scale between the frontal and prefrontals that you are seeking identification?
Entiendo que lo que Usted pregunta es una definición de escala. La denominación de escala se emplea comunmente en Herpetología., para designar una sucesión de elementos , como las escamas dorsales, ventrales ,subcaudales, etc . En la región cefálica, por ejemplo en los ofidios , lagartos etc. las escama no se disponen formando una escala. Se denominan, independientemente : escama rostral prefrontal frontal , gulares , supralabiales , infralabiales.etc. Hay escalas en las regiones dorsales y subcaudales.
Atentamente. J. Silva Haad.
I asked several friends in the Biology Department, University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History. Here is an answer from Dr. Harvey Lillywhite:
It could be a frontonasal, a scale that is located between the internasals or prefrontals, usually found in lizards, but sometimes rarely in snakes. Do you know if the snake is a viper or something else?
Any idea the species of snake?
I will post other responses as they are received.
Cn't say frontonasal because its between the prefrontals n frontal.. Yeah i cn tell you now the snake is a viper (Himalyan pit viper). I have sighted many specimens of this species but observed this little scale only in two specimens..
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