...although I'm not all that new to snakes, I rarely get the opportunity to see a snake shed from nose to tail. My male shed last night after feeding and I was able to observe the entire process. It doesn't seem like any big deal, but I enjoyed it. Rarely do I ever get to experience it, it usually happens during the night or while I'm not watching. It was pretty cool...he shed in one piece and the whole process took less than 1 1/2 minutes. He just moved along while the skin stayed in the same place inverting itself. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I just stood and stared. Most of the time I am seemingly too busy, and miss the reasons why these creatures got my attention in the first place.
I cut a section for a scale count but don't really know what I'm doing. I folded it in half and cut a 6 to 8 inch patch out and sliced it down the ventrals...I get 42 scales, not counting the ventrals. Is this a mid-body count? Am I supposed to count in a horizontal row perpendicular to the ventral or scales or that touch in a zig-zag? I did the later, but what is the correct way?
Linda
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
