Polemon neuwiedi
| Polemon neuwiedi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Atractaspididae |
| Genus: | Polemon |
| Species: | P. neuwiedi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polemon neuwiedi (Jan, 1858)
| |
| Synonyms | |
Polemon neuwiedi, the Ivory Coast snake-eater or Neuwied’s Polemon, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae.[2][3] It is endemic to West Africa.[1][2]
Etymology
The specific name or epithet, neuwiedi, honors Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, a German naturalist.[4]
Geographic range
It is found in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria (though definite records may be lacking).[1][2]
Description
Dorsally, Polemon neuwiedi is pale brown with three narrow black stripes. The upper surface of the head and the base of the tail are black. Ventrally, it is white.
It may attain a total length of 172 mm (6+3⁄4 in), with a tail 10 mm (3⁄8 in) long.
The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, arranged in 15 rows. Ventrals 238; anal plate divided; subcaudals 21, also divided.
Diameter of the eye less than its distance from the mouth. Rostral slightly broader than high, barely visible from above. Internasals shorter than the prefrontals. Frontal almost twice as broad as the supraocular, as long as broad, as long as its distance from the rostral, much shorter than the parietals. Nasal entire, in contact with the preocular. One preocular. One postocular. Temporals 1+1. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye. First lower labial forming a suture with its fellow behind the mental. Three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Two pairs of chin shields, the anterior pair slightly shorter than the posterior pair.[5]
Habitat
Polemon neuwiedi inhabits moist savanna and humid open forest at elevations below 500 m (1,600 ft). It is a rare fossorial and nocturnal species.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Chirio, L. (2013). "Polemon neuwiedi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. IUCN: e.T13264680A13264691. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T13264680A13264691.en. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d Polemon neuwiedi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 March 2018.
- ^ "Polemon". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Polemon neuwiedi, p. 189).
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. Trustees of the British Museum. London. pp. 249-250, 253.
Jan, G. 1858. Plan d'une iconographie descriptive des ophidiens et description sommaire de nouvelles espèces des serpents. Rev. Mag. Zool. Paris (2) 10: 519. and also Rev. Mag. Zool. Paris (2) 11 [1859]: plate iv.
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