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Scale Microornamentation of Uropeltid Snakes by David J. Gower is a Environmental Science article available to read on EtoBox.

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## Abstract Microornamentation was examined on the exposed oberhautchen surface of dorsal, lateral, and ventral scales from the midbody region of 20 species of the fossorial snake family Uropeltidae and seven species of fossorial scolecophidian and anilioid outgroups. No substantial variation was observed in microornamentation from the different areas around the midbody circumference within species. All oberhautchen cells were flat and exhibited no major surface features other than occasional posterior margin denticulations, small pores/pits, and narrow, low ridges. This is largely consistent with the hypothesis that friction reduction and dirt shedding are the main selective pressures on microornamentation, given that reducing shine is not of key importance in fossorial animals. Variations among taxa were observed in the shape and size of oberhautchen cells, in the presence of pores/pits, in the presence and size of denticulations on posterior cell margins, and in the level or imbricate nature of cell borders. Six microornamentation characters were formulated, scored, and plotted onto a selected phylogeny. Character evolution and phylogenetic signal were explored, accepting the in

Who reads Scale Microornamentation of Uropeltid Snakes?

Author

David J. Gower

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0362-2525)

Published

2003

Language

EN

Field

Environmental Science (Physical Sciences)