Philothamnus nitidus

Philothamnus nitidus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Philothamnus
Species:	P. nitidus
Binomial name
Philothamnus nitidus (Günther, 1863)
Synonyms [2]
Ahaetulla nitida Günther, 1863 Ahaetulla lagoensis Günther, 1872 Philothamnus semivariegatus nitidus (Günther, 1863)

Green bush snake (Philothamnus nitidus) in Republic of Congo

Philothamnus nitidus, also known commonly as the green bush snake, the Cameroons wood snake, and Loveridge's green snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to central Africa. There are two recognized subspecies. ^[2]

Description

Adults of Philothamnus nitidus usually have a total length (tail included) of 50–80 cm (20–31 in). The maximum recorded total length is 93 cm (37 in). The eye is large, with a yellow or orange iris, and a round pupil. The body is cylindrical, and the tail is very long, more than one third of the total length. The dorsal scales are smooth, and are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The coloration is bluish green to emerald green dorsally, and paler green ventrally. ^{[3] : 492–493}

Geographic range

Philothamnus nitidus is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. ^{[1] [2]}

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Philothamnus nitidus are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). ^[1]

Behavior

Philothamnus nitidus is arboreal and diurnal. ^[1]

Reproduction

Philothamnus nitidus is oviparous. ^{[1] [2]}

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. ^[2]

• Philothamnus nitidus loveridgei Laurent, 1960
• Philothamnus nitidus nitidus(Günther, 1863)

Nota bene : A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Philothamnus.

Etymology

The subspecific name, loveridgei, is in honor of herpetologist Arthur Loveridge. ^{[4] : 161}

References

1. Branch, W.R.; Trape, J.-F.; Chirio, L.; Luiselli, L.; Segniagbeto, G.; Wagner, P.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2021). "Philothamnus nitidus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T13265514A13265525. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265514A13265525.en . Retrieved 24 June 2023.
2. Species Philothamnus nitidus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Hinkel, H.; Menegon, M. (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. ISBN   978-1-399-40481-5. 624 pp. (Loveridge's green snake Philothamnus nitidus, pp. 492–493).
4. 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

• Böhme, W.; Fischer, E.; Hinkel, H. (2023). "Reptilien aus dem Irangi Forest, Provinz Kivu-Süd, Demokratische Republik Kongo". Sauria, Berlin. 45 (4): 29–43. (in German).
• Günther, A. (1863). "On some Species of Tree-Snakes (Ahætulla)". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Third Series. 11: 283–287. (Ahætulla nitida, new species, p. 286–287).
• Laurent, R.F. (1960). "Notes complémentaires sur les Chéloniens et les Ophidiens du Congo oriental ". Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge, Sciences Zoologiques. 84: 1–86. (Philothamnus nitidus loveridgei, new subspecies, p. 40). (in French).
• Williams, E.E. (1982). "Arthur Loveridge — A Life in Retrospect". Breviora (471): 1–12.