长吻海蛇形态学观察及鳞片显微皮纹学研究

Morphological Observation and Scale Microdermatoglyphics of Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

为探讨长吻海蛇(Hydrophis platurus)的宏观及微观形态特征,运用经典分类及扫描电镜观察方法,对相关标本的形态特征及鳞片微皮纹结构进行观察,结果表明:标本深色的背面与浅色的腹面具有清晰的分界,吻部明显突出,背、腹部鳞片的形状和大小无明显分别;背部鳞片显微皮纹结构表现为多个耳状结构沿身体纵轴方向交错排列,整个视野呈现为波纹状,耳状结构之间为较深的沟槽,耳状结构侧面布满小孔。标本形态结构符合长吻海蛇形态特征,其鳞片显微皮纹结构与同属眼镜蛇科(Elapidae)的陆上种类,如舟山眼镜蛇(Naja atra)、广西华珊瑚蛇(Sinomicrurus pein⁃ani)明显属于不同模式。长吻海蛇鳞片显微皮纹结构表现出显著的水生生活适应特征,此结构特征有利于长吻海蛇在游泳时减少阻力,其沟槽和小孔有利于对海水截留。研究结果认为,蛇类鳞片显微皮纹结构具有明确的分类学意义,但鳞片超微结构差异可能不适合用于推断蛇类系统进化关系。

In order to explore the macro-and micro-morphological characteristics of yellow-bellied sea snake(Hydrophis platurus),the morphological characteristics and scale microdermatoglyphic structure of one yellow-bellied sea snake speci⁃men were investigated,using the classical classification and scanning electron microscope observation methods.The re⁃sults showed that there was a clear boundary between the dark colored back and light colored belly of the specimen,with a prominent snout.There was no significant difference in the shape and size of the dorsal and abdominal scales.The micro⁃scopic dermatoglyphic structure of the dorsal scales showed many ear-like structures arranged in a staggered manner along the longitudinal axis of the body,and the entire field of view presented a ripple like pattern,with deep grooves between the ear-like structures.The morphological structure of the specimen conforms to the morphological characteristics of the yellowbellied sea snake,and the microscopic dermatoglyphic structure of its scale is obviously different from the terrestrial species of Elapidae family,such as the Zhoushan Naja(Naja atra)and Guangxi coral snake(Sinomicrurus peinani).The morpho⁃logical structure conforms to the morphological characteristics of the yellow-bellied sea snake,and the micro dermato⁃glyphic structure of the scale shows obvious characteristics of adaptation to aquatic life.This structural feature is conducive to reducing the resistance of the yellow-bellied sea snake when swimming,and its grooves and holes are conducive to the interception of sea water.The results suggest that the microdermatoglyphic structure of snake scales has a clear taxonomy significance,but it may not be appropriate to infer the phylogenetic relationship of snakes.