Lycodon rufozonatus

Last updated

Lycodon rufozonatus
Asian king snake.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species:
L. rufozonatus
Binomial name
Lycodon rufozonatus
(Cantor, 1842)
Subspecies
  • L. r. rufozonatus(Cantor, 1842)
  • L. r. walli Stejneger, 1907
Synonyms   [2]

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.

Contents

Etymology

The subspecific name, walli, is in honor of British herpetologist Frank Wall. [3]

Description

Lycodon rufozonatus typically grows to a total length (including tail) of around 70 centimetres (28 in), reaching up to 130 cm (51 in) in extreme cases. [4] The head is long and relatively flat, and somewhat separate from the neck. The medium-sized eyes bulge slightly and have vertical pupils. The ventral scales have a strong keel, while the dorsal scales are only faintly keeled; the scale count is typically 17:17:15, but can be up to 21:19:17. [4]

Geographic range

Lycodon rufozonatus is found across a large part of East Asia, from the Korean Peninsula in the north (and extending just into easternmost Russia) to northern Laos and Vietnam in the south; the bulk of its range in found in eastern China. [4] The continental populations are all placed in the nominate subspecies (L. r. rufozonatus); a second subspecies, L. r. walli, is found in the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan. [5]

Behaviour and ecology

Lycodon rufozonatus lives in a wide variety of habitats; it can be found from near sea level to as high as 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), and is most common near river plains. [4] It is usually found on the ground, but is occasionally seen swimming in streams. [4] It is nocturnal, feeding on fish, frogs, lizards, snakes and young birds. [4] D. rufozonatus has a generally mild disposition, curling into a spherical mass with the head hidden when approached. Individuals can, however, be unpredictable, and some will bite readily. [4] There are very few clinical reports on the toxinology of D. rufozonatus bites, but the species appears to be non-venomous. [4] L. rufozonatus can harbour tapeworms of the genus Spirometra , and the consumption of raw meat from D. rufozonatus has led to cases of human sparganosis in Korea and Japan. [6]

Reproduction

L. rufozonatus is oviparous. [2]

Taxonomic history

The species was first described as "Lycodon rufo-zonatus " by Theodore Edward Cantor in an 1842 paper on the fauna of "Chusan" (Zhoushan, China) in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History . [7] Cantor included it among the "innocuous" (not venomous) species, and described it as "Brown, with numerous transversal crimson bands; the abdominal surface pearl-coloured, spotted with black on the tail". [7]

Common names

L. rufozonatus is known by several common names, including "Asian king snake", [8] "banded red snake", "red banded krait", "red banded odd-toothed snake" and "red-banded snake". [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk snake</span> Species of snake

The milk snake or milksnake, is a species of kingsnake; 24 subspecies are currently recognized. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as a 25th subspecies, but is now recognized as a distinct species. The subspecies have strikingly different appearances, and many of them have their own common names. Some authorities suggest that this species could be split into several separate species. They are not venomous to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet kingsnake</span> Species of snake

The scarlet kingsnake or scarlet milk snake is a species of kingsnake found in the southeastern and eastern portions of the United States. Like all kingsnakes, they are nonvenomous. They are found in pine flatwoods, hydric hammocks, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, prairies, cultivated fields, and a variety of suburban habitats; not unusually, people find scarlet kingsnakes in their swimming pools, especially during the spring. Until recently, and for much of the 20th century, scarlet kingsnakes were considered a subspecies of the milk snake; however, Pyron and Bubrink demonstrated the phylogenetic distinction of this species and its closer relationship to the mountain kingsnakes of the southwestern United States. These largely fossorial snakes are the smallest of all the species within the genus Lampropeltis, usually ranging from 40 to 50 cm at maturity. The maximum recorded length is in Jonesboro, AR 76.2 cm (30.0 in). Hatchlings range in size from 8 to 18 cm .

<i>Bungarus</i> Genus of venomous snakes

Bungarus is a genus of elapids native to Asia. Often found on the floor of tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Southern China, they are medium-sized, highly venomous snakes with a length typically not exceeding 2 metres. These are nocturnal ophiophagious predators which prey primarily on other snakes at night, occasionally taking lizards, amphibians and rodents. Most species are with banded patterns acting as a warning sign to their predators. Despite being considered as generally docile and timid, kraits are capable of delivering highly potent neurotoxic venom which is medically significant with potential lethality to humans. The genus currently holds 16 species and 5 subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger snake</span> Highly venomous snake native to southern Australia and Tasmania

The tiger snake is a large and highly venomous snake of southern Australia, including its coastal islands and Tasmania. These snakes are often observed and locally well known by their banding, black and yellow like a tiger, although the species can be highly variable in coloration and patterning. All populations are classified within the genus Notechis (Elapidae). Their diverse characteristics have been classified either as distinct species or by subspecies and regional variation.

Theodore Edward Cantor (1809–1860) was a Danish physician, zoologist and botanist. He described several new species of reptiles and amphibians, and six species have been named in his honor.

<i>Gloydius himalayanus</i> Species of snake

Gloydius himalayanus also known as the Himalayan pit viper or the Himalayan viper is a venomous pitviper species found along the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Pakistan, India and Nepal. No subspecies are currently recognized. Himalayan pit vipers have been found up to 4900m above sea level, which makes it the highest living snake ever found.

Trimeresurus cantori, commonly known as Cantor's pit viper or Cantor's pitviper, is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the Subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India. It was named after Theodore Edward Cantor (1809-1860), a Danish naturalist serving as a surgeon with the East India Company in Calcutta. No subspecies are recognized as being valid.

<i>Craspedocephalus gramineus</i> Species of snake

Craspedocephalus gramineus, known as the bamboo pit viper, Indian green pit viper, or common green pit viper, is a venomous pit viper species found in the southern and north eastern parts of India. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Lycodon laoensis</i> Species of snake

Lycodon laoensis, commonly known as the Laotian wolf snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake endemic to Asia.

<i>Sinomicrurus macclellandi</i> Species of snake

Sinomicrurus macclellandi, commonly known as MacClelland's coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southern and eastern Asia.

<i>Vipera ammodytes</i> Species of snake

Vipera ammodytes, commonly known as horned viper, long-nosed viper, nose-horned viper, and sand viper, poskok is a species of viper found in southern Europe, mainly northern Italy, the Balkans, and parts of Asia Minor. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is reputed to be the most dangerous of the European vipers due to its large size, long fangs and high venom toxicity. The specific name, ammodytes, is derived from the Greek words ammos, meaning "sand", and dutes, meaning "burrower" or "diver", despite its preference for rocky habitats. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Walterinnesia</i> Genus of snakes

Walterinnesia is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Elapidae. The genus contains two species, known commonly as desert black snakes or black desert cobras, which are endemic to the Middle East. The generic name Walterinnesia honours Walter Francis Innes Bey (1858–1937), who was a physician and zoologist in Egypt.

<i>Atheris hispida</i> Species of snake

Atheris hispida is a viper species endemic to Central Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is known for its extremely keeled dorsal scales that give it a bristly appearance. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include rough-scaled bush viper, spiny bush viper, hairy bush viper, and others.

<i>Bitis parviocula</i> Species of snake

Bitis parviocula is a venomous viper species found only in Ethiopia. It is large with a broad head and spectacular geometric markings. In 1995, the species was known from only three specimens, but additional information has surfaced since then. Little is known about its natural history or its venom. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Lycodon</i> Genus of snakes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese cobra</span> Species of snake

The Chinese cobra, Guizhou spitting cobra, or the Taiwan cobra, is a species of cobra in the family Elapidae, found mostly in southern China and a couple of neighboring nations and islands. It is one of the most prevalent venomous snakes in China, which has caused many snakebite incidents to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian horned viper</span> Species of snake

The Persian horned viper, known as the Persian horned viper, false horned viper, and by other common names, is a species of vipers endemic to the Middle East and Asia. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Lycodon carianatus is a snake of the Colubridae family. It is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka. The snake is commonly known as the Ceylon wolf snake, and as දාර කරවලා or දාර රදනකයා in Sinhala.

<i>Lycodon ruhstrati</i> Species of snake

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.

References

  1. Li, P.; Zhou, Z.; Guo, P.; Jiang, J.; Ji, X.; Borkin, L.; Milto, K.; Golynsky, E.; Rustamov, A.; Munkhbayar, K.; Nuridjanov, D.; Kidera, N.; Ota, H. (2017). "Lycodon rufozonatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T192124A2043244. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T192124A2043244.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Species Lycodon rufozonatus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Dinodon rufozonatus walli, p. 279).
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Dinodon rufozonatum". Clinical Toxinology Resources. University of Adelaide . Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  5. Ananjeva, Natalia B. (2006). "Red-banded snake Dinodon rufozonatus (Cantor, 1840)". The Reptiles of Northern Eurasia: Taxonomic Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status. Series faunistica. Vol. 47. Pensoft Publishers. p. 141. ISBN   9789546422699.
  6. Cook, Gordon Charles; Zumla, Alimuddin (2009). Manson's Tropical Diseases (22nd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1662. ISBN   9781416044703.
  7. 1 2 Cantor, Theodore Edward (1842). "General features of Chusan, with remarks on the flora and fauna of that island". Annals and Magazine of Natural History . First Series. 9 (59, 60): 361–371, 481–493. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6704. (Lycodon rufo-zonatus, new species, p. 483). (in English and Latin).
  8. Dieckmann,Simon; Norval, Gerrut; Mao, Jean-Jay (2010). "A description of an Asian king snake (Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum[Cantor, 1842]) clutch size from central western Taiwan" (PDF). Herpetology Notes . 3: 313–314. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-17.