by Joel La Rocque

Created on: April 13, 2009

Most people believe that a snake is wet and slimy to the touch, this fallacy has endured mainly because most non venomous species of snakes have smooth scales that reflect sunlight which gives a wet appearance. Snakes such as the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake looks anything but wet. This is due to a ridge on the scale that runs laterally through the scale, giving the lower portion of the scale a shaded appearance. Snakes are dry immediately from a swim across a pond, their skin does not absorb water making them quite dry. There are several different types of scales and all serve a specific function. The "ventral" or belly scales of all snakes are placed in a row from front to rear. Each overlaps the other and is connected to a muscle which enables the snake to move forward over the earths surface. Ventral scales are always smooth. The "Dorsal" scales cover the snakes sides and back. These scales come in various sizes and shapes. Some are triangular, some are round to oval, others are "Keeled". These scales can be large such as those on a rat snake, others are small, like those on a file snake. It is important to know that unlike a fishes scale, the scales of a reptile do NOT come off. They are extensions of the skin that Ly's beneath the scale. Also the color of a scale is embedded deep into the dermal layer of the skin. The outer layer of skin is called the epidermis, it is color less and is the part that sheds from time to time when the owner gains or looses weight. There are several types of scales on the snakes head area. Cobras, some vipers and many harmless species of snakes possess large plate like scales on the crown of the head, while Boas and pythons have numerous very small scales covering their head. Other scales of the head are the "rostral" scales at the tip of the snout, the "sub-ocular" scales below the eye, the "labial" scales border the mouth. The scales under the snakes tail are called the " subcaudal" scales. These scales are similar to the ventral scales but they can be singular or divided in the center. Some species of snakes that make the deserts their home have specialized scales over each eye, these scales are called "horned" scales. They cast a shadow upon the eye which reflects glare and protects the eye from wind blowing sand. A clear scale covers the pupil of each eye and is called a "brill", it sheds along with the rest of the worn skin, a few times a year. Other specialized scales form horns on the tip of the snout like those

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