Scale count

[adamanteus]

Hi, Someone asked me how to do a scale count. So I quickly did the attached sketch (hopefully I've uploaded it properly). You simply count from the dorsal mid-line to the ventral, then double it and minus 1 (the mid dorsal only gets counted once). So the snake in my drawing wound have a scale count of 19. Hope this helps.

James.

[CrazyHedgehog]

Really helpful, thankyou..

[mikm]

hey James ... yes, thank you very much for posting this sketch ... most helpful

marian

[Cazador]

Great sketch, James.

[adamanteus]

Glad you like it Rick. It's a bit rough but I think it will give people the right idea, if they've never atempted a scale count before.

James,

[Gyre]

I've got a simple question: What is a sale count for? Gender.. Age..? =P

Hannah

[adamanteus]

It can help to identify species where colouration, form etc isn't enough. T.sirtalis has a scale count of 19, as in the drawing, whereas T.ordinoides, for example, has a count of 17.

James.

[Gyre]

Thanks, and also the drawingis very helpful. You learn something new every day.

Hannah

[KITKAT]

Could we combine the drawing in this message with the photo posted elsewhere by Stephan-A, and put it in an Article for easy reference every time this question comes up?

Originally Posted by adamanteus

Hi, Someone asked me how to do a scale count. So I quickly did the attached sketch (hopefully I've uploaded it properly). You simply count from the dorsal mid-line to the ventral, then double it and minus 1 (the mid dorsal only gets counted once). So the snake in my drawing wound have a scale count of 19. Hope this helps.

James.

[KITKAT]

OK... I am trying to count the scales on the bigger of my two T.ordinoidespickeringii

In the photo and the drawing of scale counting, there are the ventral plates, and then there are the keeled scales of the dorsal side of the snake...

And you don't count the ventral plates.

However, on my snake there is a row of scales between the ventral plates and the keeled scales of the dorsal side. The scales in this row are something like hexagonal in shape, although they are somewhat irregular. They are also much larger than the other scales on the back.

Do I count them, or not?

I have tried to change the drawing to reflect what I am asking about:



And here is the photo of my snake:



Note that in this count, I have included the hexagonal scales that are larger (2x - 3x) than the rest of the scales in the count. (Row 1, in photo above)