Dolichophis jugularis

Dolichophis jugularis
Dolichophis jugularis preying on a sheltopusik
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Dolichophis
Species:	D. jugularis
Binomial name
Dolichophis jugularis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms [2]
Coluber jugularis Linnaeus, 1758 Zamenis viridiflavus var. asiana Boettger, 1880 Hierophis jugularis — Schätti, 1988 Dolichophis jugularis — Nagy et al., 2004

Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.

Geographic range

Dolichophis jugularis is found in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, ^[2] Iran, Iraq, Israel, ^[3] Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, and Syria.

Habitat

D. jugularis is found in a variety of habitats including forest, shrubland, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). ^[1]

Description

Dorsally, adults are black, but juveniles are tan with darker small blotches. The juvenile pattern disappears when the snake reaches the age of three to four years. ^[2]

Reproduction

D. jugularis is oviparous. ^{[1] [2]} Clutch size is 7–11 eggs. ^[1]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. ^[2]

• Dolichophis jugularis asianus(Boettger, 1880)
• Dolichophis jugularis cypriacus(Zinner, 1972)
• Dolichophis jugularus jugularis(Linnaeus, 1758)

References

1. Baha El Din, S.; Crochet, P.-A.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Kaya, U.; Lymberakis, P.; Disi, A.M.; Sadek, R.; Sevinç, M.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Werner, Y.L. (2012). "Dolichophis jugularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012 e.T157294A749921. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T157294A749921.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Species Dolichophis jugularis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. "לוכד נחשים - מוקד מחוז ירושלים - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.

Further reading

• Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN   0-00-219318-3. (Coluber jugularis, pp. 196–197 + Plate 35 + Map 109).
• Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Coluber jugularis, new species, p. 225). (in Latin).