Lab 5: Snakes

Question 1

Main families of Squamata (Snakes) (B-L)

Answer 1

1) Boidae
2) Colubridae
3) Elapidae
4) Lamprophidae
5) Leptotyphlopidae

Question 2

Main families of Squamata (Snakes) (P-V)

Answer 2

1) Psammophiidae
2) Pythonidae
3) Typhlopidae
4) Uropeltidae
5) Crotalidae

Question 3

Characteristics of Boidae*

Answer 3

No paired enlarged chin shields
Boas
Rainbow boas have iridescent scales
Rows of teeth on BOTH upper and lower jaws

Question 4

Characteristics of Colubridae

Answer 4

No anterior fangs
2 or more pairs of enlarged chin shields
Labials scales touch eye (no suboculars)

Question 5

Characteristics of Elapidae

Answer 5

Coral snakes, Cobras, and Sea snakes
Permanently erect fangs on upper jaw
Stripes (transverse)

Question 6

Characteristics of Lamprophiidae

Answer 6

Skinny angular face, medium thick body, big eyes
Wolf snakes (light colouration around nose and eyes)

Question 7

Characteristics of Leptotyphlopidae

Answer 7

Thread snake (looks like blind snake)
Ocular fused with labial scale

Question 8

Characteristics of Psammophiidae

Answer 8

Smooth scales
Flattened head and body
Sandy environments
Yellow road line down center of back
Part of Elapidae

Question 9

Characteristics of Pythonidae

Answer 9

Large dark blotches
Backward curving teeth on TOP AND BOTTOM jaw
Triangular head

Question 10

Characteristics of Typhlopidae

Answer 10

Blind snake
Verry smooth
Fossorial skull
Very small eyes

Question 11

Characteristics of Uropeltidae

Answer 11

Centipede + worm
Reduced ventral scales
Short and thick tail (doesn’t taper slowly)

Question 12

Characteristics of Crotalidae

Answer 12

Heat sensing pit organ between eye and nostril
Wide triangular heads

Question 13

Nerodia Sipedon

Answer 13

Colubridae
(Northern water snake)
Uncommon in quebec
Large and dark dorsal blotches
Keeled scales
10 lower labials
Upper labials touch eye (no suboculars)

Question 14

Storeria dekayi

Answer 14

Colubridae
(Brown Snake)
Rare in Quebec. Small and brown with dark speckles and dark marking on neck
No loreal scale (scale between nasal and preocular)
17 rows of dorsal scales
Overbite

Question 15

Storeria occipitomaculata

Answer 15

Colubridae
(Red-bellied Snake)
Common in Quebec
Belly looks beige in preserved specimen
No loreal scale (scale between nasal and preocular)
15 rows of dorsal scales

Question 16

Thamnophis sirtalis

Answer 16

Colubridae
(Common Gartersnake)
Common in Quebec
Colour variable
Lateral stripes on scale rows 2 and 3 in addition to dorsal stripe
Keeled scales
7 upper labials

Question 17

Thamnophis sauritus

Answer 17

Colubridae
(Eastern Ribbonsnake)
Very slim (more slim than gartersnake)
Lateral stripes on scale rows 2 and 3, bright dorsal stripe
Upper labials with NO dark marking

Question 18

Diadophis punctatus

Answer 18

Colubridae
(Ringnecked snake)
Southern Quebec
White ring around neck (completely encircle neck)
Yellow belly
Loreal scale present

Question 19

Opheodrys vernalis

Answer 19

Colubridae
(Smooth greensnake)
Green all over (appear blue when preserved)
Smooth scales

Question 20

Lampropeltis triangulum

Answer 20

Colubridae
(Milksnake)
Light Y or V shaped mark on back of neck
Large reddish brown blotches

Question 21

Crotalus horridus

Answer 21

Crotalidae
(Timber Rattlesnake)
Rattle at end of tail
Venomous
Wide head and keeled scaled
Jagged horizontal stripes