MOLECULAR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION OF SNAKES USING ECDYSED SKIN
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Date
2018
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Abstract
A study was carried out to identify the species in captive snake species through molecular species identification using ecdysed skin and also to design a universal primer which can amplify the cyt b fragment of all snake species. The samples were collected from Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) Vandalur, Chennai, and Nadan Kanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar and Chennai Snake Park Trust, Guindy. The moulted skins were collected from Rat snake, Indian cobra, Indian Rock Python and Reticulated Python between October, 2017 and March, 2018. The skin samples were collected from individual enclosure and stored in a zip lock cover. During sample collection, the molted skins were characterized by various morphological characters and physical properties through direct observation.
Morphological characteristics and physical properties revealed that most of the blackish brown skins were found in Reticulated python (73.33%) and in Indian Rock python (60.00%). The skin colour of pale white was mostly found in case of Rat snake (80.00%) and Indian cobra (53.33%). The statistical analysis revealed highly significant variations (P<0.01) among the the ecdysed skin colour
of snake and the species of snake. The skin samples were sheded as fragment casts in case of Reticulated python and Indian Rock python (100%) and in case of Rat snake and Indian cobra the snake the skin were molted as both fragmented pieces and single casts also. The statistical analysis showed that Indian cobra and Rat snake frequently molted the skin as a single piece but in case of Pythons skin was never found as a single piece however sheded as a fragments of skin.
Description
TNV_TH_MVM16067_2018
Keywords
Veterinary Science