scale anomaly

This is a belly sub caudal shot of a 4 yr old female. The irredesence made it difficult to shoot, so this is the best I could get. Unless someone knows a better way. At any rate, if you look closely you will see that several of the scales are divided into two, and three peices. The edge of the vent scale is curled slightly under. She has always been this way, and does not seem to suffer any ill effect from it, but I thought it night make for some interesting conjecture.
My theory is that it may be a genetic mutation caused by a finite gene pool, or possible inbreeding. I would venture to guess that this type of deformaty would not occur in a healthy, diverse gene pool. Although I have never examined a wild caught Indigo, I have never seen anything like this in the countless wild snakes I have caught over the years. I would further venture to surmise that this type of anomaly may occur with greater freaquencey in wild populations as the gene pool dwindles. Let's have some thoughts.
T.

hi... I'd say skin ailments early in life could give that appearance later on... I have had snakes heal from skin ailments that later produced a similar look when healed...mind you that doesn't mean it's the case here...

Hello Tony,

The scale anomaly you have indicated has been described by the few D. couperi breeders in Europe as well, as has low fertility among males and SDS of neonate specimens.
If the curling of the cloacal scale were the only abnormality, I’d be inclined to agree with Patrick, that such could have been caused by a dermal pathogen, or injury, early on.
However, the development of segmented ventral scales would lead me to believe something genetic is at play.
Also, I have had the honor of examining a number of wild D. couperi, and I have observed the same anomaly only a few times in regards to specimens within the wild.

Best regards,

Jeff Snodgres

I posted a link to this thread at the other forum.

Eric