Erythrolamprus ornatus
| Saint Lucia racer | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Erythrolamprus |
| Species: | E. ornatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Erythrolamprus ornatus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Saint Lucia racer (Erythrolamprus ornatus) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family.[2] It is also known as the ornate ground snake.
Geographic range
It is endemic to Saint Lucia.[4]
Description
Adults may attain a total length (body plus tail) of 123.5 cm (48.6 in).[5]
Its coloration is variable. Some individuals have a broad brown vertebral stripe. In others, the brown stripe is interrupted by alternating yellow spots.[6]
Behavior
Diet
Conservation status
In 1936, it was declared extinct, but it was rediscovered in 1973. It disappeared again soon after, but 11 individuals were found in 2012 on a small, mongoose-free island near Saint Lucia.[7]
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is endangered.
- ^ a b ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 216 pp. (Dromicus ornatus, p. 183.)
- ^ a b c Malhotra, A., and R.S. Thorpe. Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan. London. ix + 134 pp. ISBN 0-333-69141-5. (Erythrolamprus ornatus, p. 97.)
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Mlhtr&Thrp112347784509was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Snake Returns from Extinction". Discovery News. July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
Further reading
- Garman, S. 1887. On West Indian Reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, at Cambridge, Mass. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 24: 278-286. ("Dromicus ornatus, sp. n.", p. 281.)
- Smith, H.M.; J.R. Dixon; V. Wallach. 1993. Dromicus giganteus Jan (Reptilia: Serpentes) is a nomen nudum. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 29 (3): 77-79.
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