Reptile & Amphibian Forums

np

n/p

how did you go about cleaning it? Did you use dermestid beetles? I've got a bunch of skulls that I would like to clean up, but have had bad luck in the past... I f****ed up on an 8.5' salvadorii skull, and now, all I have that was salvageable was the lower jawbone, and most of its teeth.... Just curious, take care steeve,

bob

I just boil it 15min and then let my hissers finish the job!

np

looking at the teeth, I would guess that this may be a species that relies heavily on feeding on snails or other shelled animals.. Perhaps albigularis?

Ok hers where I want to go with this! I took skulls from animals of different locality’s, the skulls are of same sex and size animal. Lets see if someone can positively id this one first.

I guessed awhile ago whats the answer? Or are you gonna post a picture of the top? If you want more specifics like sex, locality, you need to post the top view too.

Wow looks like a few hours has been put on this one! Makes mine look like $hit.
If I was to guess on this, id say male albigularis from Tanzania! How did I do?

it is a albig although it is a whitethroat.

You can see the similar teeth structure of this and your nile.
The easiest way to tell them apart is by seeing a top view. Albigs skull is much wider at the back, there are many other differences too some are only slight.

Hi Jody,

If you look at ANY V. albiuglaris skull from anywhere in Africa, they are going to look the same in virtually everyway, except teeth numbers/shape, depending on age, but they are the same! I know, I know, but I couldn't help posting this....

Cheers Jody,
markb

I was talking albig compared to niles. Not albigs to albigs.

The place I order these from does a great job on them.

Do you send them your dead animals, or order from their stock?

n/p

k

Not sure if posting the links are allowed on here.

WOW Jody!!

That is simply BEAUTIFUL!! Can you send me in email where I can one light that!

Thanks Jody,
markb

That picture is actually off of there site.If I took a picture of mine I wouldnt have the cool black background. Just wouldnt look as nice.

I know of two real good places to get them from. I'll send both links to you.

Looks like maybe an albig, or nile perhaps?

Like Jody says, that would give us the clue right away - the frontals and pineal segment would give us the clue we need immediately - each species morphology is different in shape, thickness, relative sizes of these 3 bones, and tells you what species is which right away....the teeth tell you more, and the jaws too...juvenile niloticus jaws look very little like adult niloticus jaws and even more so for ornatus!

cheers Jody,
markb

Nile.

You should know Steve - it is from your own collection right?

I would say V. niloticus or V. ornatus, from the rounded teeth, and bulk of the lower jaws, I say more likely a V. ornatus.

mbayless

Your right on mark it is ornatus, however aim wondering just how similar a niloticus skull would be? Are they similar to albigularis? As one person tot it was niloticus and one tot it was albigularis, I haven’t seen skulls from nil and albi.
Also can you tell what sex it is base only on skull? I know they have much different head shape.

Yes, in full adult V. niloticus you can tell the sex, as the skulls of this size are equal to the size of a box your bank checks come in the mail to you in!! They are simply enormous. Yes, the differences between albigularis, exanthematicus, niloticus and ornatus can be easily determined when you put them side by side. I have such pictures of skulls in my own collection, I have a scanner w/no instructions and NO IDEA how to install it; I have slides and photos of same too, but that does help anyone here...
mbayless

ornatus? -john