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Free images of Ecdysis Many
of these
images have been photographed at and posted with the very kind
permission If you would like to support the Toronto Zoo, please CLICK HERE. Note
on large files: Very large files may be bigger than your
screen.
What is Ecdysis? Snakes "moult" or "slough" their skin, which means that their old, worn skin is shed and replaced. The scientific name for shedding a layer of skin is called "ecdysis". As snakes age, they grow. Their skin, however, does not grow with them as our skin does on us. As they get larger, snakes need to shed the outer layer (old skin) and start with a new fresh layer. Since snakes keep on growing, they keep on shedding. Juvenile snakes grow more quickly and therefore shed their skins more often. They might do so every week or two, while a mature snake may shed only a few times a year. The process beings when the old skin separates from the new skin layer and gets an old dull and dry appearance. The snake now wriggles out of the old skin by rubbing against a rough surface. As in the images below, you see that often, the skin peels off in one piece. The skin of a snake is made up of scales which are actually cells that are stacked on top of each other.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 1 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 2 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 3 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 4 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 5 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
Toronto
Zoo Shed
Boa Constrictor Snake Skin - 6 Medium - 640 x 480 Right click on above image and chose "save as". Large - 4608 x 3456 - Still free, but now only available by email request.
If you would like to support the Toronto Zoo, please CLICK HERE.
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