Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking at the various scale counts on the Pituophis Page and was wondering about a couple of the terms. My copy of Rat Snakes by Staszko and Walls has very good illustrations for scales on the head. I was wondering what scales are considered the "neck" of a snake? And what are "caudal" scales?

Thanks,

Mike B.

Great questions........

The caudal scales are the tail scales. That would involve anything distal or behind the vent. Neck scales would be found anotomically just behind the skull or cranium and involve the cervical vetebrae which lack ribs...my book did not give a number but in general you can eyeball a snake and get a fairly good idea of where the neck is -except for some of the big monster bulls and pines.......and most of Trav's well fed collection.......LOL.

Cheers, Ginter

Those neck scales are difficult to count. The caudals are those on top or underneath???

Thank you,

Mike B