A Proposed Mathematical Cladogram Of Colubrid Snakes Collected At Mt. Arayat - Manicdao, Nathalia S. (Magalang, Pampanga : Pampanga State Agricultural University, 2019)
Colubrid snake species Lycodon capucinus, Oligodon ancorus and Pytas luzonensis collected at Mt. Arayat were assessed and analyzed through mathematical concepts such as reptilian scale shape number patterns, color pattern and tessellation. Irregular pentagon and irregular hexagon shapes of scales were observed in the dorsal head of all snakes while number pattern, color pattern and tessellation appeared in the dorsal body. A cladogram which elucidates the evolutionary relationship of the three colubrid species was constructed based from the integrated mathematical data acquired from their scales. Alternative technique in identification and classification of snakes through the use of formula codes derived from the mathematical cladogram was proposed. Validation of the cladogram and formula code-based identification method through phylogenetic study is highly recommended.