Seychelles Wolf Snake
| Seychelles wolf snake | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Lycognathophis Boulenger, 1893 [2] |
| Species: | L. seychellensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycognathophis seychellensis (Schlegel, 1837) [1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
The Seychelles wolf snake, Lycognathophis seychellensis, is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Lycognathophis.[citation needed] The New Latin name, Lycognathophis, is derived from the Greek words λύκος (lykos) meaning "wolf", υνάθος (gnathos) meaning "jaw", and όψις (ophis) meaning "snake", referring to the snake's dentition.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Geographic range
It is endemic to Seychelles.[1]
[edit] Description
This species has 20-22 large, subequal maxillary teeth and it's anterior mandibular teeth are very large, much larger than in the posterior. Its head is very distinct from the neck. The eye is moderate, with a vertically elliptic pupil but no loreal shield. Body elongate; dorsal scales keeled, with apical pits, in 17 rows. Tail long; anal divided; subcaudals paired. Ventrals 184-202; subcaudals 92-110.
Dorsally yellowish or grayish brown, uniform or with dark brown spots; dark streak on each side of head, passing through eye; upper lip yellowish, usually with brown dots; posteriorly four series of brown spots, confluent into stripes on tail. Ventrally yellowish, usually powdered or dotted with brown; a brown spot at each outer end of anterior ventrals.
Adults may attain 1 m (40 inches) in total length, with a tail 31 cm (12 inches) long.[6]
[edit] Habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
[edit] Conservation status
It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d J. Gerlach & I. Ineich (2006). "Lycognathophis seychellensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/61427. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Lycognathophis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=700335.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I. London.
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Mish, F.C., Editor in Chief. 2004. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Merriam-Webster. Springfield, Massachusetts.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I. London.
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