Preliminary Head Maps
Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: General
Forum Name: UK Reptiles and Amphibians
Forum Description: A forum for general questions and answers relating to wild reptiles and amphibians in the UK
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=286
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2024 at 9:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Preliminary Head Maps
Posted By: -LAF
Subject: Preliminary Head Maps
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2003 at 5:39pm
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Here are four preliminary head maps of British reptiles. I would just like to note that a:) The Adder (at least the top view) will be replaced by a more typical specimen as and when I find one, and b:) The slow worm head scalation also confused me somewhat so I hope the labeling it is accurate but no guarentee (especially regarding lower labials - 2 apparent lower sets but I only labled the uppermost one). If anyone has any suggestion for amendments or alterations I would be more than happy to receive them.
Many thanks, Lee. 
All images ®Lee Fairclough 2003 ------------- Lee Fairclough |
Replies:
Posted By: Alan Hyde
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2003 at 8:21pm
I've got to say Lee, they look really good mate. Nice job
Cheers, Alan |
Posted By: Wolfgang Wuster
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2003 at 10:07am
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Hi Lee,
Nice drawings. A couple of corrections: you missed the last two upper and lower labials on the adder, and I don't think your concept of chin shields is correct. The chin shields are normally taken to be the two pairs of scales lying either side of the mental groove, behind the chin of the snake. Without seeing the snake you based your drawings on came from from a different angle (underneath), it's hard to be sure what's what, but at least the upper, more posterior scales you labelled as chin shields in the adder and common lizard, and probably also the grass snake, are not chin shields. Cheers, Wolfgang ------------- Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
Posted By: -LAF
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2003 at 11:51am
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Thanks for that, that's really helpful. I was basing my adder labials from its outward appearance and the transition was pretty non descript - next time I'll takes notes on these things while in the field (or find one with white labials to make it easy!). As for the chin shield, even I can see now that the adder is way wrong, while in the grass snake may extend further than they should (I have an underside view of that snakes head from when it played dead for me)so I will rectify these. With the lizard though I beleive that multiple pairs of chin shields are de rigour. Certainly the 'lizard' head map in the collins guide is labled with 6 pairs, and after checking with an underside shot of a female L. vivippara there is no other obvious way than to lable these as chin shields, so they can probably stay for a while.
Many thanks for that! Cheers, Lee. ------------- Lee Fairclough |