What features do experts examine to definitively distinguish L. capucinus from L. aulicus?
Answer
Subcaudal scale count or head scale arrangement.
Distinguishing between the Common Wolf Snake (*L. capucinus*) and the Oriental Wolf Snake (*L. aulicus*) is often challenging for the average person due to overlapping color and pattern variations. Experts, however, rely on minute morphological details that are typically invisible to the casual observer. These definitive characteristics usually involve counting and assessing the precise arrangement of scales located on the underside of the tail (subcaudal scales) or the specific pattern and configuration of scales around the snake's head region.
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