Biology:Seychelles wolf snake

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Short description: Species of snake

Seychelles wolf snake
Lycognathophis seychellensis 310595.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycognathophis
Boulenger, 1893 [2]
Species:
L. seychellensis
Binomial name
Lycognathophis seychellensis
(Schlegel, 1837) [1]
Synonyms
  • Psammophis seychellensis Schlegel, 1837
  • Scopelophis seychellensis - Fitzinger, 1843
  • Tropidonotus seychellensis - Duméril & Bibron, 1854
  • Thrasops citrinus Cope, 1868
  • Lycognathophis sechellensis [sic] - Boulenger, 1893[3][4]

The Seychelles wolf snake (Lycognathophis seychellensis) is a species of snake in the superfamily Colubroidea. It is monotypic within the genus Lycognathophis.[5] The Neo-Latin name, Lycognathophis, is derived from the Greek words λύκος (lykos) meaning "wolf", γνάθος (gnathos) meaning "jaw", and όφις (ophis) meaning "snake", referring to the snake's dentition.[6]

Geographic range

It is endemic to Seychelles.[1]

Description

This species has 20-22 large, subequal maxillary teeth and its 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.[3]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Conservation status

It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gerlach, J.; Ineich, I. (2006). "Lycognathophis seychellensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2006: e.T61427A12481585. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61427A12481585.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61427/12481585. Retrieved 17 November 2021. 
  2. "Lycognathophis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=700335. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I. London.
  4. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  5. "Lycognathophis seychellensis". http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Lycognathophis&species=seychellensis. 
  6. Mish, F.C., Editor in Chief. 2004. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Merriam-Webster. Springfield, Massachusetts.

Wikidata ☰ Q1950889 entry