Scales Microstructure of Snakes from the Egyptian Area

Abstract

The morphology of many organisms seems to be related to the environments in which they live. Many snakes are so similar in their morphological patterns that it becomes quite difficult to distinguish any adaptive divergence that may have occurred. Many authors have suggested that the microstructure of the reptile's scales has important functional value. Herein, we investigate variations on the micromorphology of the external surface of dorsal scales on the head, the mid-body region (trunk), and the tail of Rhomphotyphlops braminus (Typhlopidae), Eryx jaculus (Boidae), Psammophis sibilans (Colubridae), Naja haje (Elapidae) and Echis carinatus (Viperidae). The specimens were metallized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. All species displayed unique dorsal scale surface microstructures of the investigated regions. The microstructural pattern of the scales of head, trunk, and tail differs in different species of these snakes. In conclusion, we detected ecomorphologic relationships between extant dorsal scale microstructures and snake microhabitat, enabling us to hypothesize that environmental pressures have significant influences not only on these animals' macrostructure, but also on its microstructure as well.

Phylogenetic analysis of colubrid snakes based on 12S rDNA reveals distinct lineages of Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) populations in Sumatra and Java

“…It provided the corridor for the migration of the snakes from the north of Sundaland to the south in Java region (Inger and Voris 2001). The prehistoric environmental conditions also had an enormous influence on the divergence of these snakes (Allam and Abo-Eleneen 2012). However, based on the map of Heaney (1991), the Pleistocene savanna or grasslands only covered part of the area between Sumatra-Borneo and Borneo-Eastern Java.…”

Yilan Türleri̇ Arasindaki̇ Morfoloji̇k Farkliliklarin Saptanmasinda Yilan Gömlekleri̇ni̇n Kullanilabi̇li̇rli̇ği̇ni̇n Araştirilmasi

“…Bu çalışmaların birinde dört farklı habitattan seçilen on farklı yılan türüne ait deri örneklerinin taramalı elektron miksoskobunda incelemiş ve sonuç olarak yılan derilerine ait mikro mimarilerin taksonomide kullanılabileceği rapor edilmiştir [17]. Bir başka çalışmada iki farklı yılan türüne ait deri örnekleri taramalı elektron mikroskobu ile incelenmiş ve mikroyapılarında önemli farklılık olduğunu bildirilmiştir [18]. Dört farklı yılan türünde taramalı elektron mikroskop kullanarak yapılan çalışmada incelenen deri örneklerinin mikroyapısının türler arasında önemli farklılıklar gösterdiği ve bu yöntemin taksonomide kullanılabileceği belirtilmiştir [19].…”

Microstructure of scales in selected lizard species

“…The oberhaütchen and underlying layers may all be rucked to produce ridges on the scale surface (Harvey and Gutberlet, 1995). The overall structure of features of the oberhautchen surface and epidermal folding is referred to here as microornamentation (Ruibal, 1968, Arnold, 2002) or microstructure (Allam and Abo-Eleneen, 2012), and these features are readily studied by scanning electron microscopy. Despite this common special structure of squamate scales, Allam and Abo-Eleneen (2012) reported that the snake’s microhabitats have many impacts on the scales outer surface microstructure.…”

“…Electron microscopy and ultrastructure studies of the squamate scale surfaces are very important for the analysis of scale microstructures. Several studies have focused on scale microstructure and microornamentation to suggest their functional significance (Gower, 2003, Allam and Abo-Eleneen, 2012) or to simply describe microanatomy (Chiasson and Lowe, 1989, Velloso et al, 2005). In addition, microstructures and microornamentations have been used as tools in ontogenetic and/or evolutionary studies of squamates (Harvey and Gutberlet, 1995).…”