core.form-ula

Snakes are covered with scales, which are cornified folds in the epidermal layers of the skin. These scales are usually arranged in rows along the body, the numbers and arrangement of which are characteristic of the species.. A single scale may be very smooth and shiny (as in the rainbow snakes), have a raised ridge (keel) along its centre, be heavily striated, or even have a raised spine in the centre, as in the Javanese wart snake. The scales in some species have sensory structures on the posterior margins called apical pits, and all scales have various micro-ornamentations, consisting of hairlike projections, holes, spinules (small spines), and other specializations visible only through an electron microscope. The scales on the ventral surface of the body are modified into broad plates in the majority of species and are used in locomotion.

Snakes are dependent temperature creature and constantly need to preserve particular range of temperature of their body to stay active. The skin serves as a main heat aggregator of the body which is used later on. To maximize sun absorbtion snakes use “Surface to weight ratio ” principle- they know to stretch their skin in order to increase heat inteke in it. To preserve the heat afterwords snakes contract ther skin and coil into spiral to reduce the exposed surface. In emergency situation ,snakes form a sphere or coil into mass with another snakes.

Water loss prevention is very important to snakes as ririd area inhabitants. Snakes get their water supply from drinking, eating and from its absorbtion by the skin from the environment. According to the research by Lillywhite and Sanmartino in 1993, snake attract water to their skin through small channels located in between the scales skin. All the water is accumulated into the underskin jackets and stored there to serve the body. at the same time the keratinzed skin epidermis prevents the water from evaporation from the body.

Scales are connected to the muscle system of the snakes body with special tissue, and are being pulled by the muscle contraction and relaxing back and forth to improve gliding or griping to the rough surface. Nerves send command to snakes vertebral system->to muscular system->to scales. In the case of linear progression scales serve as tiny legs for a snake and provide the main factor for motion(as vertebral systems stays fully inactive).

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