Anal spur

Anal spur

Anal spurs are the vestigial remnants of legs found on each side of the vent in primitive snakes, such as boas and pythons. The bone is considered a hip bone, which has no connection with the spine and simply "floats" in the muscle mass. There is sometimes a bone, considered a femur, which sticks out of the snake's side. This primitive femur is then covered by a corneal spur, which resembles a claw. Males' spurs are generally longer and more pointed than females', and are used for clasping and tickling during courtship and mating. Sometimes they are used during fights to scratch the opponent.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Python regius — Taxobox name = Python regius regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata classis = Reptilia ordo = Squamata subordo = Serpentes familia = Pythonidae genus = Python species = P. regius binomial = Python regius binomial authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • part — A portion. SYN: pars [TA]. abdominal p. of aorta SYN: abdominal aorta. abdominal p. of esophagus [TA] the portion of the esophagus from where it passes through the diaphragm to the stomach. See …   Medical dictionary

  • homopteran — /heuh mop teuhr euhn, hoh /, adj. 1. homopterous. n. 2. a homopterous insect. [1835 45; see HOMOPTEROUS, AN] * * * ▪ insect order Introduction   any of more than 32,000 species of sucking insects, the members of which exhibit considerable… …   Universalium

  • Snake scales — Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales. Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India. page 1] Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it… …   Wikipedia

  • Flatulence — German peasants greet the fire and brimstone from a papal bull of Pope Paul III in …   Wikipedia

  • John Holmes (actor) — Male adult bio name = John Holmes birth= birth date|1944|08|08|mf=y location= Ashville, Ohio, U.S. birthname= John Curtis Estes death= death date and age|1988|03|13|1944|08|08|mf=y primary cause of death= cardiorespiratory arrest, encephalitis,… …   Wikipedia

  • Perchlorate — Structure et dimensions de l ion perchlorate Modèle 3D de …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Viola (plant) — Viola Viola odorata (type species) Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

  • Latin profanity — is the profane, indecent, or impolite vocabulary of Latin, and its uses. The profane vocabulary of early Vulgar Latin was largely sexual and scatological: the abundance[1] of religious profanity found in some of the Romance languages is a… …   Wikipedia

  • Lestes viridis — Chalcolestes viridis Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”