| Madagascarophis lolo | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pseudoxyrhophiidae |
| Genus: | Madagascarophis |
| Species: | M. lolo |
| Binomial name | |
| Madagascarophis lolo | |
Madagascarophis lolo is a species of snake endemic to Madagascar. [2] [3] It is colloquially referred to as the ghost snake due to its strikingly pale coloration. [4] [5] It was initially found inside a lime rock formation in 2016. [6] [7]
Madagascarophis lolo can be identified from other species in its genus by its gray overall body color with a black vertebral stripe and dorsal alternating lighter gray splotches. It has 25 midbody scale rows, 189 ventral scales and 56 divided subcaudal scales. With the exception of M. fuchsi , it differs from all other Madagascarophis species by having extended contact of posterior infralabial scales. M. lolo can be distinguished from M. fuchsi by its slightly lower number of infralabial scales, with M. lolo having around 10 infralabial scales, versus approximately 12–13 infralabial scales in M. fuchsi. [1] [2]
Like other species of Madagascarophis , M. lolo is nocturnal. [1]
Madagascarophis lolo is terrestrial and semi-arboreal, and is mainly found on karst rock formations. Researchers propose that the rarity of M. lolo sightings could be due to the rough terrain which the species inhabits; the karst rock formations are difficult to navigate, especially in the night, when M. lolo would be active. [1]
Madagascarophis lolo is probably endemic to karst areas of Analamerana and Ankarana in northern Madagascar. [1]
Madagascarophis lolo gets its specific name lolo from the Malagasy word for "ghost". The name refers to both the pale gray color of the ghost snake, and the elusiveness of the species relative to other species in an area of Ankarana that is relatively well explored. [1]
Geckolepis is a genus of geckos, commonly referred to as fish scale geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They are nocturnal, arboreal, insectivorous lizards, found in primary and secondary forest, as well as degraded habitats. They are best known for their ability to lose their skin and scales when grasped by a predator.
Ankarana Special Reserve is a protected area in northern Madagascar created in 1956. It is a small, partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone. With an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in), the underlying rocks have been eroded to produce caves and feed subterranean rivers—a karst topography. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion.
The crowned lemur is a lemur that is 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long and weighs 2 kg (4.4 lb). Its tail is about 42–51 cm (17–20 in) long.
Madagascarophis is a genus of small, mildly venomous snakes native to the island of Madagascar. They are commonly referred to as Malagasy cat-eyed snakes. Five species are in the genus.
The greater bamboo lemur, also known as the broad-nosed bamboo lemur and the broad-nosed gentle lemur, is a species of lemur endemic to the island of Madagascar.
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Vipera transcaucasiana is a venomous viper species endemic to parts of Georgia and northern Turkish Anatolia.
The Anjajavy's Protected Area is located on a peninsula of the town of Antonibe, in the district of Analalava and in the north-west region of Madagascar. It is part of the Sofia region of the independent province of Mahajanga and its position is between 47°13’ at 44°22’ of longitude east and 14°58 at 15°07’ of latitude south..
The large-eared tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Geogale, and the only member of the subfamily Geogalinae. It is endemic to Madagascar where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss, but to a lesser extent than was previously thought and is listed by the IUCN as being of "Least Concern".
Glossogobius ankaranensis is a species of fish in the family Gobiidae. This cavefish is endemic to the Ankarana Reserve in Madagascar. Its natural habitat is inland karsts.
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The Ankarana Special Reserve tufted-tailed rat is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It was first described in 2009. It is endemic to Madagascar, in the Ankarana Special Reserve.
Pararhadinaea is a monotypic genus of snakes in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The only species is Pararhadinaea melanogaster, sometimes known as the Madagascar burrowing snake. It is endemic to the island of Madagascar.
Dendrelaphis schokari, also known as the common bronze-back or Schokar's bronzeback, is a species of non-venomous arboreal snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Caryospora is a genus of parasitic protozoa in the phylum Apicomplexa. The species in this genus infect birds and reptiles with the majority of described species infecting snakes. It is the third largest genus in the family Eimeriidae.
Tsingymantis is a monotypic genus of frogs in the family Mantellidae. The sole species is Tsingymantis antitra.
Geckolepis megalepis is a species of gecko found in the limestone karst formations of northern Madagascar. It is the first addition to the Geckolepis genus since 1942. This species of gecko has the largest scales of any known gecko and can detach them as a defence mechanism when a predator attacks, leaving the predator with a mouthful of scales rather than itself; a character it shares with all other members of the genus Geckolepis. Its scales were reported to come away with greater ease than its congeners.
Phelsuma roesleri, also known commonly as Rösler's day gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Uropeltis shorttii, also known commonly as the Shevaroy Hills earth snake and Shortt's shieldtail snake, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. This species was first described as Silybura shorttii by British naturalist Richard Henry Beddome in 1863. It is found only in the Shevaroy Hills of Salem district in Tamil Nadu state in South India. For a long time, this species was misclassified into Uropeltis ceylanica, a snake endemic to the Western Ghats, till a recent taxonomic study proved it to be a distinct species with a very narrow geographic range. It is a burrowing snake, presumed to be nocturnal, feeding on soft-bodied worms. It becomes active during the rains. U. shorttii has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019, and is listed as "Critically Endangered" under criteria B1ab(iii).
The ghost skink is a species of skink endemic to Australia. Commonly known as the Ghost skink because of its faded dorsolateral banding when compared to other banded Erimiascincus species that have well-defined dorsolateral banding on their backs.
