| Glossary |
| 1 |
Acacia scrub |
A xeropyhtic plant, usually found in deserts and dry places |
| 2 |
Aestivation |
A state of inactivity during drought and high temperature |
| 3 |
Alluvium Soil |
Fertile soil brought and deposited by rivers |
| 4 |
Apical Pit |
Small depression or pit present on the surface of the scales |
| 5 |
Arboreal |
Living among trees |
| 6 |
Bifurcated |
Forked |
| 7 |
Brille |
A transparent covering of the snake eye |
| 8 |
Brooding Behaviour |
Looking after of young ones by parents |
| 9 |
Calcareous |
A substance that contains calcium carbonate |
| 10 |
Carnivore |
An animal that eats the flesh of other animals |
| 11 |
CITES |
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora |
| 12 |
Collar |
Neckband |
| 13 |
Compressed |
Flattened vertically |
| 14 |
Constriction Process |
A unique method of killing prey in which snake coils its body tightly around the prey |
| 15 |
Coronoid Bones |
Dermal bones of the lower jaw |
| 16 |
Crustacean |
A member of the arthropod phylum that includes shrimps, crabs and lobsters |
| 17 |
Depressed |
Flattened laterally |
| 18 |
Diurnal |
Active during daytime |
| 19 |
Dorsal Surface |
The upper surface of the body |
| 20 |
Dorsolateral |
The either side of the upper surface |
| 22 |
Ecdysis |
Sheding of the old layer of skin. This phenomenon is found in amphibians and reptiles |
| 23 |
Ecothermic |
An animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of the environment |
| 24 |
Elliptical Pupil |
An oval shaped pupil |
| 25 |
Euphorbia |
A xeropyhtic plant found in deserts and dry places |
| 26 |
Fangs |
Poisonous teeth of snakes |
| 27 |
Flanks |
Fleshy part of the body extending from the ribs till the hip region |
| 28 |
Flap |
A flexible fleshy fold of the skin |
| 29 |
Flecks |
Spots, Speckles |
| 30 |
Flinch |
Shrink |
| 31 |
Habitat |
The living place of an organism or community characterized by its physical and biotic properties |
| 32 |
Haemotoxic |
A toxin specifically affecting the blood |
| 33 |
Herpetology |
The study of amphibians and reptiles |
| 34 |
Hibernation |
A state of inactivity during winter season |
| 35 |
Hood |
The flattened part of the neck |
| 36 |
Idzu Sea |
The southern most sea of Japan |
| 37 |
Imbricate |
Overlapped |
| 38 |
Jacobsons Organ |
A highly specialized sense organ which controls the senses of smell and taste |
| 39 |
Juxtaposed |
Side by side ( contrary to imbricate ) |
| 40 |
Keeled |
A longitudnal ridge on the scale of certain snakes |
| 41 |
Keratin |
A tough, fibrous protien present in horns, nails , claws and feather |
| 42 |
Labials |
Lips |
| 43 |
Mangrove swamps |
Coastal or aquatic trees or shrubs that grow in swamps or shallow water and provide a breeding place for young fish and shrimps |
| 44 |
Mental |
Foremost large scale of the chin |
| 45 |
Mottling |
Marked with spots or blotch with different colour |
| 46 |
Munji grass |
A kind of grass |
| 47 |
Myotoxic |
A toxin specifically affecting the respiratory system |
| 48 |
Nap |
Smooth hairy substance present on the upper surface of the body |
| 49 |
Nape |
Back side of the neck |
| 50 |
Neurotoxic |
A toxin specifically affecting the nervous system |
| 51 |
Nocturnal |
Active at night |
| 52 |
Ocellus |
Circular or eye shape markings |
| 53 |
Oviparous |
An animal who reproduces by laying eggs |
| 54 |
Pelagic |
Pertaining to ocean or open sea |
| 55 |
Pheromones |
A scent harmon secreted by female snake to attract male snakes of the same specie for courtship |
| 56 |
Postocular |
A scale that broaden the eye posteriorly |
| 57 |
Profrontal |
A scale present on the head |
| 58 |
Recurved |
A tooth that bends backward |
| 59 |
Reticulum |
A net or web like pattern found in the protoplasm of the cells |
| 60 |
Rostral |
Large , broad scale at the anterior upper tip of the snout |
| 61 |
Semilunar scales |
Crescent like scales |
| 62 |
Snout |
Anterior prolongation of the head |
| 63 |
Spine |
A long, pointed scale |
| 64 |
Supra Temporal |
The front part of the temporal region |
| 65 |
Tamarix |
A xeropyhtic plant, usually found in deserts and dry places |
| 66 |
Temple |
The flat part of the forehead |
| 67 |
Temporal |
Large scale between parietal and supra labial |
| 69 |
Transcaspia |
A Russian province |
| 70 |
Truncate |
Trim |
| 71 |
Typha |
A type of plant that usually found in marshy places |
| 72 |
Vent |
The exterior part of the anus |
| 73 |
Ventral Surface |
The lower surface of the body |
| 74 |
Viviparous |
Animal reproduces by laying babies |
| 75 |
Xerophytic vegetation |
Plants of the dry habitat |