Philodryas chamissonis

Philodryas chamissonis
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Xenodontinae
Genus:	Philodryas
Species:	P. chamissonis
Binomial name
	Philodryas chamissonis; (Wiegmann, 1834)
Synonyms
	Coronella chamissonis ; Wiegmann, 1834; Psammophis temminckii ; Schlegel, 1837; Tæniophis tantillus Girard, 1854; Dromicus chamissonis ; — Steindachner, 1867; Liophis luctuosa Philippi, 1899; Philodryas chamissonis ; — Sallaberry-Pincheira et al., 2011;

Philodryas chamissonis, commonly known as the long-tailed snake, is a species of moderately venomous opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) colubrid snake native to South America.^[3]

Etymology

The specific name, chamissonis, is in honor of German botanist and poet Adelbert von Chamisso.^[4]^[5]

Geographic range

This species is endemic to Chile and has a large distribution, from Copiapó to Valdivia.^{[citation needed]}

Description

Usually, it is gray, with black and white longitudinal stripes on the body. It is a medium-sized snake, which usually reaches 1.4 m (4.6 ft) in total length.^{[citation needed]}

The length of the tail is 25-28.5 % of the total body length. There are 8 upper labials, the 4th and 5th entering the eye. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. Ventrals 179-224; anal plate divided; subcaudals 100-122.^[6]

Habitat

Philodryas chamissonis lives in a large variety of habitats.

Diet

Its diet is mainly composed of little rodents, insects, and other smaller reptiles.^{[citation needed]}

Reproduction

It is an oviparous reptile.

Conservation status

It is classified as data deficient by the IUCN, and is a protected animal in Chile.

Venom

Because P. chamissonis is rarely found, bites by it are uncommon. However, its bite is painful and causes extensive swelling.^[7]

References

^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ Sallaberry-Pincheira, N.; C.F. Garin; D. González-Acuña; M.A. Sallaberry; J.A. Vianna. 2011. Genetic Divergence of Chilean long-tailed snake (Philodryas chamissonis) across latitudes: conservation threats for different lineages.
Diversity and Distribution 17: 152-162.
^ ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Philodryas chamissonis, p. 51.)
^ Boulenger, G.A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II. Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xi + 382 pp. + Plates I.- XX. (Dromicus chamissonis, pp. 119-120.)
^ Neira, P.; L. Jofré; D. Oschilewski; B. Subercaseaux; N. Muñoz. 2007. Mordedura por Philodryas chamissonis. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura. (Snake bite by Philodryas chamissonis: a case presentation and literature review). Revista chilena de infectología 24 (3): 236-241.