A comparison of head scale microstructure between genera Eristicophisand Pseudocerastes

In the present study, it was hypothesized that micromorphology undergoes a specific evolutionary path at the time of species derivation. Many authors have suggested that the microstructure of the superficial surface of scales hasundergone important adaptations and hasfunctional value in snakes. For testing,this hypothesis, theskin micro-ornamentation of the snakes’genera PseudocerastesandEristicophiswasstudied usinga dino-lite digitalmicroscope and scanning electron microscopy.Skin samples from the dorsalpart of the head in these related vipers were photographed and compared with each other in terms of divergence time.This study demonstrates that microstructures show a progressionfrom an uneven honeycomb(a plesiomorphy)toa smoother and network-free(an autapomorphy) surface structure.