The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards
Photographic identification is a promising marking technique alternative to the toe-clipping, but is time consuming, particularly when a large number of individuals is involved. For this reason several authors had frequently preferred the toe-clipping. In this study we analysed the black spot patter...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Firenze University Press
2006-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Herpetologica |
| Online Access: | https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/1515 |
| _version_ | 1819111377385553920 |
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| author | Roberto Sacchi Stefano Scali Mauro Fasola Paolo Galeotti |
| author_facet | Roberto Sacchi Stefano Scali Mauro Fasola Paolo Galeotti |
| author_sort | Roberto Sacchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photographic identification is a promising marking technique alternative
to the toe-clipping, but is time consuming, particularly when a large number of
individuals is involved. For this reason several authors had frequently preferred the
toe-clipping. In this study we analysed the black spot pattern of ventral scales of wall
lizards (Podarcis muralis) and we showed that photographic identification is an effective
method for recognizing individuals, and the error of this technique is much less
than that of the toe-clipping arising from natural toe loss. Moreover, the numerically
encoding of the black spot pattern may radically reduce the time needed to compare
the pictures of large samples of individuals, solving one of the more important obstacle
against the use of photographic identification. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:56:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-937939cd480a4ec49050b3a78c393a2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1827-9635 1827-9643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:56:39Z |
| publishDate | 2006-06-01 |
| publisher | Firenze University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Herpetologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-937939cd480a4ec49050b3a78c393a2f2022-12-21T18:39:51ZengFirenze University PressActa Herpetologica1827-96351827-96432006-06-012110.13128/Acta_Herpetol-18871883The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizardsRoberto SacchiStefano ScaliMauro FasolaPaolo GaleottiPhotographic identification is a promising marking technique alternative to the toe-clipping, but is time consuming, particularly when a large number of individuals is involved. For this reason several authors had frequently preferred the toe-clipping. In this study we analysed the black spot pattern of ventral scales of wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) and we showed that photographic identification is an effective method for recognizing individuals, and the error of this technique is much less than that of the toe-clipping arising from natural toe loss. Moreover, the numerically encoding of the black spot pattern may radically reduce the time needed to compare the pictures of large samples of individuals, solving one of the more important obstacle against the use of photographic identification.https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/1515 |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Sacchi Stefano Scali Mauro Fasola Paolo Galeotti The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards Acta Herpetologica |
| title | The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| title_full | The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| title_fullStr | The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| title_full_unstemmed | The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| title_short | The numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| title_sort | numerical encoding of scale morphology highly improves photographic identification in lizards |
| url | https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/1515 |
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