Abstract
Papuan white snake ( Micropechis ikaheka ) is endemic to New Guinea (the region of the Papua and Papua New Guinea). Internal histology of skin layer and the microtopography structure on the surface scales of M. ikaheka were the aims of the study. This study also related to zoogeographical of the snake in Papua. Geographical skin color variation of M. ikaheka can be described in three groups, i.e. brown, yellow and black group. The three groups of the snake have specific zoogeography in the mainland of Papua and satellite islands to Papua New Guinea. Paraffin method used in this work showed approximately five layers i.e. oberhautchen, the beta ( b ) - layer, the mesos layer, the alpha ( a ) - layer, and the dermis in the snake skin. Although the paraffin method cannot explain the arrangement of pigment cells, however, the dark color on the dermis might contain melanophores that might cause dark color of the snake body. Overlapping scales formed the hinge region were flexible to assist the snakes when they moved across substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the oberhautchen of all of M. ikaheka revealed no microornamentation . However, dorsal and ventral scales showed many follicles on the entire surface of the boundary scales.
Highlights
A scaly, keratinized integument is one of the distinctive features of reptilian, to make their skin airproof (Hildebrand & Goslow 2001)
According to the most generally accepted classification (O’Shea 1996), the yellow population is the subspecies of M.i. ikaheka with the distribution throughout Vogelkop region, including Salawati Island in north-western Papua
An intermediate color appears between both groups in southwest Vogelkop, Tanah Merah, lowland forest of Bintuni, plus a new group from Batanta and Waegeo Island (Krey 2009)
Summary
A scaly, keratinized integument is one of the distinctive features of reptilian, to make their skin airproof (Hildebrand & Goslow 2001). Like other reptiles, grow from top layer or the epidermis (Abdel-Aal et al 2011). In lepidosaurians (lizards, snakes, and sphenodontids) germinal layer of the epidermis spinosus-like keratinocytes alternate to hard (beta) and soft (alpha) layers (Toni et al 2007; Chang et al 2009). The epidermis of lepidosaurs is of particular complexity and interest (Hildebrand & Goslow 2001), with very colorful scales and organized in an attractive pattern. The color of terrestrial reptiles can be diverse and their pigmentation complex, marked with colorful patches
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
