Glossary
These definitions will help you use the identification keys.
- Acanthal ridges -- Ridges (with light
lines) extending from the eyes to the nostrils in members of the
species Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (spring salamanders).
- Anal plate -- The scale or scales directly
covering the cloaca of a snake. This plate may be single (one scale)
or divided along the mid-line into two scales.
- Bridge -- The part of the shell between
the front and hind legs connecting the upper and lower halves of
the shell.
- Carapace -- The upper half of a turtle
shell.
- Costal grooves -- The grooves present
along the sides of the bodies of many salamanders. When counting
them for identification purposes, include only those between the
front legs and the hind legs.
- Dorsolateral ridge -- Lines or
folds of skin (usually gold colored) along the upper sides of some
frogs in the family Ranidae.
- Intercalary cartilage -- An extra
piece of cartilage in the toes of members of the Hylidae (tree
frog) family. It causes the end of the toes to have a "stepped-down" appearance.
- Keeled scales -- Snake or lizard scales
that have a raised ridge running horizontally along each scale.
They give the scales a rough appearance.
- Keeled tail -- A salamander tail
that narrows to a knife edge along its dorsal (top) surface.
- Nasolabial grooves -- Narrow grooves
that extend from the nostrils to the mouth in salamanders of the
family Plethodontidae.
- Parotoid glands -- Large skin glands
that appear as swellings on each side of the back of the head of
toads (family Bufonidae) and some salamanders.
- Pit organ -- The heat sensing organs of
the pit vipers that belong to the family Viperidae. They appear
as holes on each side of the head between the eye and nostril.
- Plastron -- The lower half of a turtle
shell.
- Rostral -- This is the tip of the
snout.
- Scale rows -- The scales on the bodies
of snakes are arranged in rows that extend down the length of the
animal. To count scale rows, choose a position about midway posterior
(back) from the head. Start with the first scale row dorsal (above)
the enlarged ventral (belly) scales, and count from one side of
the snake over the back to the other. Do not count the ventral
scales.
- Scutes -- Another word for keratin
scales. Refers especially to the keratin scales on the outer layer
of turtle shells. Sometimes called horny scutes.
- Tympanum -- This is the external
ear drum visible on the side of the head of most frogs.
- Vestigial -- Greatly reduced and non-functional.