Data from: Snake oil in action: Geographic and seasonal variability in epidermal lipids shape evaporative water loss in snakes
Data files
Oct 27, 2025 version files 156.06 KB
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README.md
2.37 KB
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Table_S1_snakes.xlsx
11.84 KB
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Table_S2_snakes.xlsx
14.32 KB
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Table_S3_snakes.csv
51.56 KB
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Table_S3_snakes.xlsx
75.97 KB
Abstract
Many reptiles inhabit deserts, where there is a benefit to minimizing evaporative water loss (EWL) due to the risks to water balance imposed by the extreme heat and dryness. We compared the EWL of desert versus Mediterranean snakes and the content and composition of their epidermal lipids, which form the primary barrier against evaporation. We obtained shed skins from two farm-grown species (a desert specialist viper, Echis coloratus, and its Mediterranean relative, Daboia palaestinae) and from 17 captive snake species of both Mediterranean and desert origins, kept under identical conditions. Total EWL was measured in live snakes using flow-through respirometry. Cutaneous EWL was approximated in vitro through the shed skin, and epidermal lipids were quantified following extraction in n-hexane and identified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0vt4b8hbv
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
Data for Dubiner et al. "Snake oil in action: geographic and seasonal variability in epidermal lipids shape evaporative water loss in snakes".
Table_S1_snakes.xlsx: Results of lipid extraction. Variables are: source (zoo vs farm), biome and season of origin, and lipid content (% of dry mass) in snake skins.
- Source (zoo vs farm), biome and season of origin, and lipid content (% of dry mass) in snake skins.
Table_S2_snakes.xlsx: Results of respirometry and in vitro evaporation. Extraction. Variables are: biome and season of origin, evaporative water loss (EWL, in mg/minute for respirometry and mg/day/cm2 or in vitro evaporation), and skin resistance to EWL (in seconds per meter) in snake skins.
- Biome and season of origin, evaporative water loss (EWL, in mg/minute for respirometry and mg/day/cm2 for in vitro evaporation), and skin resistance to EWL (in seconds per meter) in snake skins.
Table_S3_snakes.xlsx and Table_S3_snakes.csv: Peak areas (in microvolt-seconds) for all compounds identified from snake skin n-hexane extracts using UPLC-MS for Daboia palaestinae and Echis coloratus. "Calc. MW" is the calculated molar weight. "m/z" is the mass-to-charge ratio. "RT" is the retention time. "t-test" is between species for the specific variable. For each sample, "double bonds" (in fatty acids) and "chain length" (in ceramides) refer to the weighted mean across all compounds.
- Variables are the specific compounds for each individual (plus summary statistics per species). Peak areas are given (in microvolt-seconds) for all compounds identified from snake skin n-hexane extracts using UPLC-MS for Daboia palaestinae and Echis coloratus (as well as all unknown compounds, pooled). "Calc. MW" is the calculated molar weight. "m/z" is the mass-to-charge ratio. "RT" is the retention time. "t-test" is between species for the specific variable. For each sample, "double bonds" (in fatty acids) and "chain length" (in ceramides) refer to the weighted mean across all compounds.
Note: A version of Table 3 is also available in CSV format.
- Dubiner, Shahar; Kenar, Noa; Lavi Shasha, Noa et al. (2025). Snake oil in action: Geographic and seasonal variability in epidermal lipids shape evaporative water loss in snakes. Functional Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70216