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Gular Scales
Snakes, like other reptiles, have skin covered in scales.Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India. p. 1 Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes, known as snakeskin as a whole. A scale protects the body of the snake, aids it in locomotion, allows moisture to be retained within, alters the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in camouflage, and in some cases even aids in prey capture (such as '' Acrochordus''). The simple or complex colouration patterns (which help in camouflage and anti-predator display) are a property of the underlying skin, but the folded nature of scaled skin allows bright skin to be concealed between scales then revealed in order to startle predators. Scales have been modified over time to serve other functions such as "eyelash" fringes, and protective covers for the eyes [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Head
''Ahaetulla,'' commonly referred to as Asian vine snakes or Asian whip snakes, is a genus of colubrid snakes distributed throughout tropical Asia. They are considered by some scientists to be mildly venomous and are what is commonly termed as 'rear-fanged' or more appropriately, opisthoglyphous, meaning their enlarged teeth or fangs, intended to aid in venom delivery, are located in the back of the upper jaw, instead of in the front as they are in vipers or cobras. As colubrids, Ahaetulla do not possess a true venom gland or a sophisticated venom delivery system. The Duvernoy's gland of this genus, homologous to the venom gland of true venomous snakes, produces a secretion which, though not well studied, is considered not to be medically significant to humans. Green-colored members of this genus are often referred to as green vine snakes. They are not to be confused with the "green vine snake" ''Oxybelis fulgidus'', which convergently appears very similar but is found in Central ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atheris Ceratophora
:''Common names: Usambara bush viper,Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. . horned bush viper, eyelash bush viper, more.'' ''Atheris ceratophora'' is a venomous viper species endemic to a few mountain ranges in Tanzania. This used to be the only horned, arboreal viper known from Africa, until the discovery in 2011 of ''Atheris matildae'', also found in Tanzania. No subspecies are currently recognized. Description It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of . Females are slightly larger than males. The maximum total length for a male is reported to be , the tail of which measured .Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. . Easily recognized by a set of 3-5 horn-like superciliary scales above each eye. The rostral scale is more than twice as broad as high. There are 9 upper labials. The first 3 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Natrix
''Natrix'' is a genus of Old World snakes found across Eurasia (although the range of ''Natrix tessellata'' extends into Egypt and those of '' N. astreptophora'' and '' N. maura'' into north-west Africa) in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Common names Member species of the genus ''Natrix'' are collectively called grass snakes and water snakes, but some other snake species also known commonly as "grass snakes" and "water snakes" are not in the genus. Species The genus ''Natrix'' contains five extant species and at least five extinct (fossil-only) species. ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Natrix''. Etymology ''Natrix'' is classical Latin for a water snake. The word comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "snake", with cognates in the Celtic and Germanic languages, the latter including the English adder. It was probably influenced through folk etymology by th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphiesma Stolatum
The buff striped keelback (''Amphiesma stolatum'') is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake found across Asia. It is a typically nonaggressive snake that feeds on frogs and toads. It belongs to the subfamily Natricinae, and is closely related to water snakes and grass snakes. It resembles an Asian version of the American garter snake. It is quite a common snake but is rarely seen. Anatomy and morphology A small, slender snake, the buff striped keelback is generally olive-brown to gray in colour. The head and the body are of the same colour. The body of the buff striped keelback is short, and it has a long slender tail which is almost a quarter of its length. Two yellow stripes along the length and to the sides of the spine are the distinctive feature of this snake. These stripes are diffuse at the head and are especially bright on the second half of its body. The keelback has irregular blackish crossbars on the body. Near the head the crossbars are prominent, whereas on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keeled Scales
Keeled scales refer to reptile scales that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center that may or may not extend to the tip of the scale, Campbell, J. A., Lamar, W. W. (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp. 1,500 plates. . making them rough to the touch. According to Street's (1979) description of European lizards and snakes, in those that have keeled scales the keels are usually stronger in male specimens and are consistently arranged according to the species of reptiles, even though many others do not have them. With European lizards, the dorsal scales are usually well keeled, while those on the flanks are more weakly keeled and those on the belly smooth. Street, D. (1979). ''The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe''. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 268 pp. . Non-European lizards such as ''Sphaerodactylus macrolepis'' also display keeled scales. Klauber (1997), describes how the keels on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ptyas Mucosus
''Ptyas mucosa'', commonly known as the oriental ratsnake, Indian rat snake, ''darash'' or ''dhaman'', is a common non-venomous species of colubrid snake found in parts of South and Southeast Asia. Dhamans are large snakes. Typical mature total length is around though some exceed . The record length for this species was , second only to their cousin ''Ptyas carinata'' among living colubrid snakes.Auliya, M. (2010). ''Conservation Status and Impact of Trade on the Oriental Rat Snake Ptyas mucosa in Java, Indonesia''. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. Despite their large size, oriental ratsnakes are usually quite slender with even a specimen of commonly measuring only around in diameter. Furthermore, the average weight of ratsnakes caught in Java was around , though larger males of over (which average mildly larger of the two sexes in the species) may easily weigh over . Their color varies from pale browns in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest areas. Rat snakes are diurnal, semi- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trimeresurus
''Trimeresurus'' is a genus of venomous pit vipers found in Asia from the Indian Subcontinent throughout Southeast Asia, China, and the Pacific Islands. Currently 44 species are recognized. Common names include Asian palm pit vipers,Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . Asian lanceheads, and green pit vipers.United States Navy (1991). ''Poisonous Snakes of the World''. New York: U.S. Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. . Description Most species in the genus ''Trimeresurus'' are relatively small, primarily arboreal species, with thin bodies and prehensile tails. Most ''Trimeresurus'' species are typically green in color, but some species also have yellow, black, orange, red, or gold markings. Feeding The diet of ''Trimeresurus'' species includes a variety of animals, including lizards, amphibians, birds, rodents, and other small mammals. Reproduction Like most viper species, many of the species in the genus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Nasuta
''Ahaetulla nasuta'', also known as Sri Lankan green vine snake and long-nosed whip snake, is a venomous, slender green tree snake endemic to Sri Lanka. Distribution Due to longstanding confusion over the taxonomy of ''A. nasuta'', the species was once thought to have a large range from Sri Lanka to peninsular India, including the Western Ghats, along with a disjunct population in Southeast Asia. However, a 2020 phylogenetic study found ''A. nasuta'' to actually comprise a species complex, with the "true" ''A. nasuta'' (from which the species was originally described) being restricted to the wet zone of Sri Lanka (including the Sri Lanka lowland and montane rainforests). 4 populations from the Western Ghats of India that were formerly grouped with ''A. nasuta'' were split into the species '' A. borealis'', '' A. farnsworthi'', '' A. isabellina'', and '' A. malabarica''. The large-bodied form from lowland peninsular India (and possibly the dry zone of the northern portion o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Typhlopidae
The Typhlopidae are a family of blind snakes. They are found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and all mainland Australia and various islands. The rostral scale overhangs the mouth to form a shovel-like burrowing structure. They live underground in burrows, and since they have no use for vision, their eyes are mostly vestigial. They have light-detecting black eye spots, and teeth occur in the upper jaw. Typhlopids do not have dislocatable lower jaw articulations restricting them to prey smaller than their oral aperture. The tail ends with a horn-like scale. Most of these species are oviparous. Currently, 18 genera are recognized containing over 200 species. Geographic range They are found in most tropical and many subtropical regions all over the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, islands in the Pacific, tropical America, and southeastern Europe. Fossil record Possible Typhlopid skin has been identified in Dominican amber. Genera Type genus Fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leptotyphlops Humilis - Head
''Leptotyphlops'' is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and threadsnakes, in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is endemic to and found throughout Africa. Eleven species have been moved to the genus ''Trilepida'', and other species have been moved to the genera ''Epacrophis'', ''Epictia'', ''Mitophis'', ''Myriopholis'', ''Namibiana'', '' Rena'', ''Siagonodon'', ''Tetracheilostoma'', and ''Tricheilostoma''. Description Most species of ''Leptotyphlops'' look much like shiny earthworms. They are generally black, grey, or blackish-brown and their scales give them a segmented appearance. Their common name comes from the fact that their eyes are greatly reduced almost to the point of uselessness, and hidden behind a protective head scale. The species which are called thread snakes are so named because of their very narrow, long bodies. Behavior All blind snakes including those of the genus ''Leptotyphlops'' are burrowing snakes, spending ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Viperidae
The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of their venom. Four subfamilies are currently recognized. They are also known as viperids. The name "viper" is derived from the Latin word ''vipera'', -''ae'', also meaning viper, possibly from ''vivus'' ("living") and ''parere'' ("to beget"), referring to the trait viviparity (giving live birth) common in vipers like most of the species of Boidae. Description All viperids have a pair of relatively long solenoglyphous (hollow) fangs that are used to inject venom from glands located towards the rear of the upper jaws, just behind the eyes. Each of the two fangs is at the front of the mouth on a short maxillary bone that can rotate back and forth. When not in use, the fangs fold back against the ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pythonidae
The Pythonidae, commonly known as pythons, are a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten genera and 42 species are currently recognized. Distribution and habitat Pythons are found in sub-Saharan Africa, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, southeastern Pakistan, southern China, the Philippines and Australia. In the United States, an introduced population of Burmese pythons, ''Python bivittatus'', has existed as an invasive species in the Everglades National Park since the late 1990s. Common names * Sinhala - පිඹුරා (''Pimbura'') *Telugu - కొండచిలువ (Kondachiluva) * Odia - ଅଜଗର (Ajagara) *Malayalam - പെരുമ്പാമ്പ് (perumpāmp) *Hindi - अजगर ('Ajgar') Conservation Many species have been hunted aggressively, which has greatly reduced the population of some, such as the Indian python, ''Python molu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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