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Jungle corn scale counts

Wyvern Sep 21, 2004 09:41 AM

Jungle corn scale counts... is it really a jungle or a corn that just looks like a jungle?

Does anyone know what to look for in scale counts to try and determine if a hatchling corn snake is really a corn snake or if it is in fact a jungle corn that was sold and stated to be a corn having no jungle corn influence? For all intents and purposes the snake looks like a corn, but with each shed the coloring is leaning more and more heavily into what I have seen in many jungle corns of about the same age.

I'm still working on count averages but generally speaking the pattern I am seeing from the sample areas I counted last night on a fresh shed (before my eyes started crossing) is : 23-25 anterior, 25-23 midbody, and 21-19 anterior to the vent. I am also seeing about 238 ventral and about 66 subcaudal.

Anal plate I am having a hard time determining. Looking at the snake itself I think it's a single plate. The pigment is naturally divided where the plate would theoretically divide so I can't really tell if it's a divided plate or if I am seeing the illusion of division in a single plate due to the pigment. I had already cut the shed skin in half to spread it out to start counting scales before I thought to check the anal plate scale there first.

Is there anything else I should be looking for that could help?

Replies (2)

flyfree Sep 21, 2004 11:55 AM

I have also been curious about this and noticed no real solid info availible. I will check on my corn x king with the next shed. I did note on mine in a prev shed that the anal scale is divided.(these are F1 corn sire cal king dam) Someone else recommended making a hi res scan of the shed and then enlarging in a photo editor.... I may try this technique to save my sanity. I will share any info I get with you.
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"There Has to be more to life than fighting over fish heads"-Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Wyvern Sep 21, 2004 06:37 PM

>>Someone else recommended making a hi res scan of the shed and then enlarging in a photo editor.... I may try this technique to save my sanity. I will share any info I get with you.

Thanks a bunch. That scanner idea sounds like a good one. Need to try it out on mine and see if it works.

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