Opisthotropis latouchii

Opisthotropis latouchii
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Opisthotropis
Species:	O. latouchii
Binomial name
	Opisthotropis latouchii; (Boulenger, 1899)
Synonyms
	Tapinophis latouchii; Boulenger, 1899; Cantonophis praefrontalis; F. Werner, 1909;

Last updated October 03, 2025

Opisthotropis latouchii, also known commonly as the Sichuan mountain keelback, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to China.^[2]

Etymology

O. latouchii is named after French-born Irish naturalist John David Digues La Touche, who worked in China as a customs inspector for many years.^[3]

Geographic range

O. latouchii is found in southeastern China.^[1]^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of O. latouchii is freshwater streams, but it is also found in rice paddies and irrigation ditches.^[1]

Behavior

O. latouchii is nocturnal.^[2]

Diet

O. latouchii preys upon aquatic worms,^[1] earthworms, freshwater shrimp, fishes, tadpoles, and frogs.^[2]

Reproduction

O. latouchii is oviparous.^[1]^[2] In Fujian adult females lay eggs in August.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Wang, Y.; Jiang, J.; Li, P.; Lau, M. (2012). "Opisthotropis latouchii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012 e.T192205A2055421. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Species Opisthotropis latouchii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Opisthotropis latouchii, p. 151).

Boulenger GA (1899). "On a Collection of Reptiles and Batrachians made by Mr. J. D. Latouche in N.W. Fokien, China". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London1899: 159–172 + Plates XVI–XIX. (Tapinophis latouchii, new species, p. 164 + Plate XVIII, figures 1, 1a–1c).
Pope CH (1935). The Reptiles of China: Turtles, Crocodilians, Snakes, Lizards. (Volume X of the Natural History of Central Asia series, edited by Chester A. Reeds). New York: American Museum of Natural History. lii + 604 pp. + Plates I–XXVII. (Opisthotropis latouchii, new combination, pp. 173–176 + Plate VIII, figures B–F).
Stejneger L (1926). "Chinese Amphibians and Reptiles in the United States National Museum". Proceedings of the United States National Museum66 (2562): 1–115. (Tapinophis latouchii, p. 77).
Werner F (1909). "Beschreibung neuer Reptilien aus dem Kgl. [=Königlichen] Naturalienkabinett in Stuttgart ". Jahreshefte des Vereins für vaterländische Naturkunde in Württemberg65: 55–63. (Cantonophis praefrontalis, new species, pp. 57–58). (in German).

This article relating to Natricinae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[iucn_status_18_November_2021-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wang, Y.; Jiang, J.; Li, P.; Lau, M. (2012). "Opisthotropis latouchii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012 e.T192205A2055421. Retrieved 18 November 2021.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Species Opisthotropis latouchii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

[3] Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Opisthotropis latouchii, p. 151).

[1]

[2]

[3]