Opisthotropis maxwelli

Opisthotropis maxwelli
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Opisthotropis
Species:	O. maxwelli
Binomial name
Opisthotropis maxwelli Boulenger, 1914

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

Etymology

The specific name, maxwelli, is in honour of British Presbyterian missionary John Preston Maxwell (1871–1961), who also was a physician working in China (1898–1936), and who presented the holotype to the British Museum (Natural History). ^{[3] : 171}

Description

Opisthotropis maxwelli may attain a total length (tail included) of 44 cm (17 in). The tail is rather long, comprising 20–23% of the total length. The dorsal scales are keeled, more strongly so on the posterior of the body, and arranged in 17 rows throughout the length of the body. Dorsally, it is dark olive; ventrally, it is yellow. ^[2]

Geographic distribution

Opisthotropis maxwelli is found in southeastern China, in the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi, and the autonomous region of Guangxi. ^{[1] [2]}

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Opisthotropis maxwelli is streams, at high altitudes. ^[1]

Behavior

Opisthotropis maxwelli is aquatic and nocturnal. ^[2] It shelters under rocks. ^[1]

Diet

Opisthotropis maxwelli preys predominately upon aquatic segmented worms, ^[1] and also freshwater shrimp, fishes, frogs and their tadpoles. ^[2]

Reproduction

Opisthotropis maxwelli is oviparous. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. Lau, M.; Wang, Y. (2012). "Opisthotropis maxwelli ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T177428A1485691. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. Species Opisthotropis maxwelli 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. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5.

Further reading

• Boulenger, G.A. (1914). "Descriptions of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Eighth Series. 14: 482–485. (Opisthotropis maxwelli, new species, p. 483).
• Pope, C.H. (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., 28 figures, Plates I–XXVII. (Opisthotropis maxwelli, p.176).
• Zhao, E.-M. (2006). [Snakes of China ]. Hefei, China: Anhui Science and Technology Publishing House. 652 pp. (in two volumes, with color plates). (in Chinese).
• Zhao, E.-M.; Adler, K.K. (1993). Herpetology of China (Volume 10 of the Contributions to Herpetology series). Oxford, Ohio: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). ISBN   978-0916984281. 552 pp.