2 



MARKING PROTOCOLS 



Scale-Clipping 



Subcaudal clipping ( 1) . 



The first method ever used to mark snakes for an ecological 

 study was devised by Blanchard and Finster (1933). It consisted of 

 completely removing three subcaudal scales with a pair of sharp 

 scissors, using a code to designate those scales clipped. By 

 counting caudad from the cloacal plate, and placing the left and 

 right subcaudals on the respective sides of a dash, a typical code 

 of "2,5-4" represents the second and fifth subcaudal on the left 

 and the fourth subcaudal on the right as being marked. 



This method or variations thereof have been used, at least 

 until the recent advances in radiotelemetry, for the past fifty 

 years by the overwhelming majority of ecologists. Published reports 

 indicate that close to 50,000 snakes have been marked by subcaudal 

 clippings. It has been employed in studies by Blaesing (1979), 

 Blanchard et al. (1979), Carpenter (1952), Fitch (1949b, 1958), 

 Fitch and Fleet (1970), Fitch and Glading (1947), Fukada (1959; 

 1960; 1978), Parker (1974), Reynolds and Scott (1982), Siebert 

 (1950), Siebert and Hagen (1947), Test et al. (1966), and Tinkle 

 (1957) . 



Although Blanchard and Finster (1933) warned that scales only 

 partially removed would regenerate through time, subseguent studies 

 demonstrated that certain species have the ability to completely 

 regenerate even entirely removed subcaudals. Calstrom and Edelstam 

 (1946) were the first to demonstrate this, and further noted how 

 difficult and harmful subcaudal clipping was with juveniles. Conant 

 (1948) described a zoo specimen of Elaphe obsoleta in which 

 regeneration obliterated the original marks after five years. 

 Regeneration was further verified by Fitch (1982), who studied 

 twelve species of snakes over a 30 year period (22,000 individuals 

 marked) . He showed that regeneration of clipped scales was more 

 rapid and complete in Elaphe obsoleta than in any other species 

 that he studied. After a few years, many clipped scales were 

 indistinguishable from natural injuries (Fitch, 1963a) . Other 

 species also possess good regeneration. For example, Diadophis 

 punctatus are scared by bites from predators, and these scars are 

 indistinguishable from those of clipping after two or three years 

 (Fitch, 1975) . Similarly, Fitch (1963b) observed regeneration in 

 some Coluber constrictor after two or three years. 



