Atractus medusa

Atractus medusa
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Atractus
Species:	A. medusa
Binomial name
Atractus medusa Passos, Mueses-Cisneros, Lynch & Fernandes, 2009

Atractus medusa is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to northwestern South America. ^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, medusa, refers to the Greek mythological female monster, Medusa, who had venomous snakes for hair. ^{[3] : 175}

Geographic distribution

Atractus medusa is found in Colombia and Ecuador. ^[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Atractus medusa is forest, at elevations from sea level to 550 m (1,800 ft). ^[1]

Behavior

Atractus medusa is terrestrial. ^[1]

Reproduction

The mode of reproduction of Atractus medusa is unknown. ^[2]

References

1. Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Bolívar, W.; Velasco, J.; Castañeda, M.R. (2017). "Atractus medusa ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T44581169A44581172. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44581169A44581172.en .
2. Atractus medusa at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 October 2021.
3. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5.

Further reading

• Arteaga, A.; Mebert, K.; Valencia, J.H.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Peñafiel, N.; Reyes-Puig, C.; Vieira-Fernandes, J.L.; Guayasamin, J.M. (2017). "Molecular phylogeny of Atractus (Serpentes, Dipsadidae), with emphasis on Ecuadorian species and the description of three new taxa". ZooKeys. 661: 91–123.
• Castro Herrera, Fernando; Valencia Aguilar, Anyelet; Villaquirán Martínez, Diego F. (2012). Diversidad de Anfibios y Reptiles del Parque Nacional Natural Isla Gorgona. Bogotá, Colombia: Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle. ISBN   978-958-46-0094-3. 212 pp.
• Passos, P.; Mueses-Cisneros, J.J.; Lynch, J.D.; Fernandes, R. (2009). "Pacific lowland snakes of the genus Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae), with description of three new species". Zootaxa. 2293: 1–34. (Atractus medusa, new species).
• Wallach, V.; Williams, K.L.; Boundy, J. (2014). Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, a division of Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN   978-1-4822-0847-4. xxviii + 1,209 pp. (Atractus medusa, p. 76).