Frontal scale (snakes): Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 16:39, 23 April 2007

The frontal scale refers to one or more scales on top of the head located between the supraocular scales. In many snakes, such as colubrids and elapids, this is a single large scale or plate. In most crotalines, however, this space is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped smaller scales that may be either keeled or smooth (see intersupraoculars).[1] In blind snakes (Leptotyphlops), the frontal is second plate in the median dorsal line on the crown behind the rostral scale.[2]

Cited references

  1. Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  2. Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.