Calamaria mecheli

Calamaria mecheli
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Calamaria
Species:	C. mecheli
Binomial name
Calamaria mecheli Schenkel, 1901

Calamaria mecheli, also known commonly as Mechel's reed snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Calamariinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. ^[2]

Etymology

The specific name, mecheli, is in honor of Mr. A. von Mechel who collected the holotype. ^{[3] : 174}

Description

A small species of snake, Calamaria mecheli may attain a total length (tail included) of 25 cm (9.8 in). ^{[4] : 233–235}

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Calamaria mecheli is forest, at altitudes as high as 400 m (1,300 ft). ^[1]

Behavior

Calamaria mecheli is terrestrial and semifossorial. ^[1]

Reproduction

Calamaria mecheli is oviparous. ^[2]

References

1. Vogel, G. (2012). "Calamaria mecheli ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T192092A2038744. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192092A2038744.en .
2. Species Calamaria mecheli at The Reptile Database
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.
4. Inger, R.F.; Marx, H. (1965). "The Systematics and Evolution of the Oriental Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Calamaria". Fieldiana: Zoology. 49: 1–304.

Further reading

• David, P.; Vogel, G. (1996). The Snakes of Sumatra: An annotated checklist and key with natural history notes. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. ISBN   978-3930612086. 259 pp.
• Inger, R.F.; Voris, H.K. (2001). "The biogeographical relations of the frogs and snakes of Sundaland". Journal of Biogeography. 28 (7): 863–891. Bibcode:2001JBiog..28..863I. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2699.2001.00580.x.
• Manthey, U.; Grossmann, W. (1997). Amphibien und Reptilien Südostasiens. Münster, Germany: Natur und Tier Verlag. ISBN   3-931587-12-6. 512 pp. (Calamaria mecheli, p. 329). (in German).
• Schenkel, E. (1901). "Achter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums [= Eighth Supplement to the Catalogue of the Herpetological Collection of the Basel Museum]". Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel. 13: 142–199. (Calamaria mecheli, new species, pp. 165–166, Figures 4, 4a, 4b). (in German).