Langaha madagascariensis

Langaha madagascariensis
Female L. madagascariensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pseudoxyrhophiidae
Genus:	Langaha
Species:	L. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Langaha madagascariensis Bonnaterre, 1790
Synonyms
Langaha nasutaShaw, 1802 Langaha crista-galliDuméril & Bibron 1854 Langaha ensiferaDuméril & Bibron 1854 Langaha intermediaBoulenger 1888 [2]

Langaha madagascariensis (formerly Langaha nasuta, commonly known as the Madagascar or Malagasy leaf-nosed snake) is a medium-sized non-venomous highly cryptic arboreal species. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in deciduous dry forests and rain forests, often in vegetation 1.5 to 2 meters above the ground. ^{[1] [3]}

Description

Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes can grow up to 1 meter in length. ^[3] There is considerable sexual dimorphism within the species; the males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow with a long tapering snout, while the females are mottled grey with a flattened, leaf shaped snout. ^[4] The function of their appendage is unknown, but obviously also serves as camouflage. ^[3] They have unusually slender bodies and can be identified by their long, pointy snouts. Their diet is mainly made up of frogs and lizards. These snakes are known for^{[ by whom? ]} their unusually high levels of sexual dimorphism.^{[ citation needed ]}

It is largely a sit-and-wait predator. It may show curious resting behaviour, hanging straight down from a branch. Prey items include arboreal and terrestrial lizards. ^[5] It also exhibits hooding while stalking prey. These hooding and swaying behaviours along with its cryptic colour patterns, might allow L. madagascariensis to mimic a vine swaying in the wind. ^[6]

Leaf-nosed snakes are oviparous with clutch sizes ranging from 5 to 11 eggs. ^[3] Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes are generally calm and reluctant to bite unless provoked.

References

1. Raxworthy, C.J. (2011). "Langaha madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011 e.T172813A6922957. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172813A6922957.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Langaha madagascariensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 May 2015.
3. Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln: M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR. ISBN   978-3-929449-03-7.
4. Andrew Durso (February 7, 2013). "Malagasy Leaf-nosed Snakes". Life is Short, but Snakes are Long. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
5. Tingle, Jessica L. (2012). "Field observations on the behavioral ecology of the Madagascan leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7 (3): 442–448.
6. Kenneth L. Ksyco (2005). "Feeding behaviour of the Madagascar leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Pseudoxyrhophiinae), with an alternative hypothesis for its bizarre head structure". African Journal of Herpetology. 54 (2): 195–200. Bibcode:2005AfJH...54..195K. doi:10.1080/21564574.2005.9635534. S2CID   84825762.