Research on the ecological effect of microronamentations on the scale surface in reptiles has been carried out over the past few decades.It is found that the microornamentation pattern in reptiles is related to their ...Research on the ecological effect of microronamentations on the scale surface in reptiles has been carried out over the past few decades.It is found that the microornamentation pattern in reptiles is related to their habitats.This study examined the wettability on scale surface,as well as the differences in microornamentation on ventral scales from the mid-body region in three snake species,Hypsiscopus plumbea(aquatic),Oocatochus rufodorsata(semi-aquatic) and Elaphe carinata(terricolous).Moreover,the scale specimens were metallized and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.Our results showed that there are microornamentations on the ventral scale surfaces of the tested species,which showed interspecific differences.To be specific,the aquatic snake shows the narrow,fine and regular denticulations which are connected to reduce friction and dirt shedding.By contrast,the terrestrial snake acquired the wider and shorter denticulation which would render more friction during locomotion but it shows greater water resistance to improve the capacity of dirt shedding and compensate for the disadvantage of short and wide denticulations.Additionally,the denticulation characteristics of the semi-aquatic snake fell in between those of aquatic and terrestrial snakes.Therefore,it is deduced in this study that the ventral scale microornamentations in snakes contribute to ecological adaptation to their preferential microhabitats.展开更多
基金supported by grants from Natural Science Foundation of China(31200283 and 31770443)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD) of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions。
文摘Research on the ecological effect of microronamentations on the scale surface in reptiles has been carried out over the past few decades.It is found that the microornamentation pattern in reptiles is related to their habitats.This study examined the wettability on scale surface,as well as the differences in microornamentation on ventral scales from the mid-body region in three snake species,Hypsiscopus plumbea(aquatic),Oocatochus rufodorsata(semi-aquatic) and Elaphe carinata(terricolous).Moreover,the scale specimens were metallized and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.Our results showed that there are microornamentations on the ventral scale surfaces of the tested species,which showed interspecific differences.To be specific,the aquatic snake shows the narrow,fine and regular denticulations which are connected to reduce friction and dirt shedding.By contrast,the terrestrial snake acquired the wider and shorter denticulation which would render more friction during locomotion but it shows greater water resistance to improve the capacity of dirt shedding and compensate for the disadvantage of short and wide denticulations.Additionally,the denticulation characteristics of the semi-aquatic snake fell in between those of aquatic and terrestrial snakes.Therefore,it is deduced in this study that the ventral scale microornamentations in snakes contribute to ecological adaptation to their preferential microhabitats.
