| Lycodon alcalai | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Lycodon |
| Species: | L. alcalai |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycodon alcalai | |
Lycodon alcalai, also known commonly as Alcala's wolf snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. [2] The species is endemic to the Philippines.
The specific name alcalai was chosen to honor the Philippine naturalist Angel Chua Alcala, who made significant contributions to herpetology in the Philippines. [3] [4]
L. alcalai is a member of the genus Lycodon , a genus of snakes commonly known as wolf snakes. [5] The genus belongs to the snake family Colubridae, the largest snake family, with member species being found on every continent except Antarctica. [6]
L. alcalai has a body that is rounded on the back and flattened on the belly. Its head is distinct from its neck, with a snout that extends further than its lower jaw. The pupil of its eye is a vertical ellipse. The rostral scale is large and triangular, and extends backwards for some distance. The dorsum of the snake and the top of the head are dark brown in color, while the belly and bottom of the head are white or light cream yellow. The holotype for the species has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 56 cm (22 in), a tail that is 22.7 cm (8.9 in), and a total length of 78.7 cm (31.0 in). [3] L. alcalai is distinguished from other species in its genus by the lack of a keel or ridge on the scales on its back, as well as the absence of transverse light bands along the body and tail. It most closely resembles the related species L. chrysoprateros. [3]
L. alcalai is oviparous, or egg-laying. [2] The species prefers lowland habitats, not being found more than 320 meters above sea level. [1] It is frequently found in shrubs or on the forest floor, as well as at the edge of the forest, and occasionally in adjacent agricultural fields. It is thought to feed on the eggs of other reptiles, by slitting them open with its blade-like teeth. [3]
L. alcalai is native to the Philippine islands of Batan and Sabtang. Recent records of the snake exist from Calayan island as well, and the species may also be found on other small islands in the region. [1]
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers L. alcalai to be a species of "Least Concern", based on a survey in 2009. The islands that it inhabits are well protected, have very few inhabitants, and do not experience anthropogenic environmental disturbances such as hunting or logging. [1]
Lycodon gammiei, commonly known as Gammie's wolf snake or the Sikkim false wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to India.
The white-banded wolf snake, also known as the northern large-toothed snake, is a species of colubrid snake found in Asia.
Lycodon aulicus, commonly known as the Indian wolf snake or common wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Early naturalists have suggested its resemblance to the venomous common krait as an instance of Batesian mimicry.
Lycodon striatus, commonly known as the northern wolf snake or the barred wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake from southern Asia.
Lycodon flavomaculatus, commonly called the yellow-spotted wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found in the Western Ghats of India.
Lycodon laoensis, commonly known as the Laotian wolf snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake endemic to Asia.
Lycodon bicolor, commonly known as the Two-coloured wolf snake, Bicolored wolf snake, or the Golden wolf snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Western Himalaya.
Lycodon is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as wolf snakes. The Neo-Latin name Lycodon is derived from the Greek words λύκος (lykos) meaning wolf and οδόν (odon) meaning tooth, and refers to the fang-like anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth. They are nonvenomous, but many members of this genus strongly resemble the venomous kraits in appearance, an example of Emsleyan mimicry.
Calamaria is a large genus of dwarf burrowing snakes of the family Colubridae. The genus contains 66 recognized species. The genus is endemic to Asia.
Cyclocorus is a genus of cyclocorid snakes endemic to the Philippines. They are found on every major island except for those of the Palawan chain.
Lycodon rufozonatus is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to East Asia. It is medium-sized, nocturnal, and is considered non-venomous. Two subspecies are recognised: one of which, L. r. walli, is restricted to the Ryukyu Archipelago; the other, L. r. rufozonatus(Cantor 1842), is found in only in Korea & China.
Lycodon bibonius, also known as Ota's wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found on the islands of Camiguin Norte and Babuyan Claro in the Philippines.
Lycodon chrysoprateros, also known as Ross's wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found on the island of Dalupiri in the Philippines.
Lycodon solivagus, also known as the common wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found on Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Lycodon butleri, also known commonly as Butler's wolf snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia.
Lycodon cardamomensis, also known as the Cardamom Mountains wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake found in south-western Cambodia and eastern Thailand.
Lycodon cavernicolus, also known as Gua Wang Burma wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found in peninsular Malaysia. It was first described in 2014.
Lycodon ruhstrati, also known as Ruhstrat's wolf snake, the mountain wolf snake, or the Formosa wolf snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake found in Taiwan, southern and eastern China, and northern Vietnam.
Calamaria alcalai, Alcala's reed snake, is a species of snake in the family, Colubridae. It is endemic to Mindoro, the Philippines.
Lycodon cathaya, the Huaping wolf snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is a slender species with a total length of 562.5–910.6 cm (221.5–358.5 in), a snout–vent length of 451.4–730.1 cm (177.7–287.4 in), and tail length of 111.1–180.5 cm (43.7–71.1 in). The upper side of the head is brownish-black with a grey-tinged rose collar band, while the underside of the head is mostly whitish. The upper side of the body is brownish-black with grey-tinged rose bands that divide the brownish-black ground colour into elliptical patches. The middle of the underside has irregular brownish-black splotches making an unbroken strip along the underside with two greyish-white lines along its sides. The Huaping wolf snake can be distinguished from other wolf snakes by a combination of its scalation and coloration.
