Thermophis baileyi

Last updated

Thermophis baileyi
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thermophis
Species:
T. baileyi
Binomial name
Thermophis baileyi
(Wall, 1907)
Synonyms
  • Tropidonotus baileyiWall, 1907
  • Natrix baileyiMalnate, 1953
  • Thermophis baileyi— Malnate, 1953 [2]

Thermophis baileyi, also known commonly as Bailey's snake, the hot-spring keelback, the hot-spring snake, [3] and the Xizang hot-spring keelback, is a rare species of colubrid snake endemic to Tibet.

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, baileyi, is in honor of Frederick M. Bailey, a British army officer and explorer. [4]

Geographic range

T. baileyi is found only at high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau. The species is endemic to Tibet and was recorded for the first time in 1907 by Wall near Gyantze at 4,300 m (14,100 ft) above sea level (no exact coordinates available). [5] In 1990 Macey and Papenfuss reported the species from Yangbajain hot spring area. So far T. baileyi is known only from a few sites. [6] [7] [8] A comprehensive distribution map of T. baileyi was provided by Hofmann et al. (2014), showing that the geographic range of the snake is a restricted area between the Transhimalaya and the Himalaya, along the central part of the Yarlung Zhangbo suture zone. [9]

Description

Thermophis baileyi is olive green, with five series of indistinct spots dorsally, most pronounced in the forebody. It has a dusky postocular streak, and dusky posterior edges to the labials. The belly is bluish-grey, with each ventral black basally. The young are darker than adults.

The dorsal scales are in 19 rows at midbody, all keeled except the last row, with indistinct double apical facets. The ventrals number 201–221. The anal is divided. The subcaudals number 91-111, mostly divided, but with a few entire.

Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 2 feet 6 inches (76 cm). [5]

Conservation status

Bailey's snake is considered Near Threatened by IUCN. [1] In the last decades, the growing exploitation of geothermal energy has led to a destruction of hot spring habitats, resulting in an increased threat to populations of hot-spring snakes. [7] [10] [11]

Taxonomy

The existence of Bailey's snake was first announced in the scientific literature in 1907, when it was described as a new species by Frank Wall. [5] Wall originally classified it as Tropodinotus baileyi. In 1953 Malnate referred to it as Tropidonotus (= Natrix) baileyi, and realizing that Bailey's snake did not fit in the genus Natrix, placed it in the new genus Thermophis, designating T. baileyi as the type species. [12]

Habitat

Snakes of the genus Thermophis live probably at the highest altitude of any snakes in the world. [13] The presence of T. baileyi is strongly attributable to hot springs with low sulphur concentration, locations in river valleys that provide rocky slopes and vegetated shorelines, and existence of a river within a 500 m (1,600 ft) radius. [9]

Related Research Articles

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

The Nilgiri keelback, also known commonly as Beddome's keelback, is a species of snake found in the Western Ghats in India. The species is named after Richard Henry Beddome, 1830–1911, British army officer and naturalist. It was first discovered near the Nilgiris but is now known more widely from the Western Ghats. This snake is terrestrial and feeds on toads.

<i>Hebius khasiensis</i> Species of snake

Hebius khasiensis, commonly known as the Khasi Hills keelback or Khasi keelback, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to southeastern Asia.

The Assam keelback, commonly known as Peal's keelback, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Northeast India. It has recently been rediscovered after 129 years in Arunachal Pradesh.

Wall's keelback is a species of natricine snake endemic to Northeast India.

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

The checkered keelback, also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common species in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia. It is non-venomous.

<i>Rhabdophis subminiatus</i> Species of snake

Rhabdophis subminiatus, commonly called the red-necked keelback or red-necked keelback snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<i>Trimerodytes percarinatus</i> Species of snake

Trimerodytes percarinatus, commonly known as the eastern water snake, olive keelback, olive annulate keelback or Chinese keelback water snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae.

St. John's keelback is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<i>Nerodia clarkii</i> Species of snake

Nerodia clarkii, commonly known as the salt marsh snake, is a species of semiaquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake found in the southeastern United States, in the brackish salt marshes along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, with a population in northern Cuba.

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

The Japanese keelback is a species of colubrid snake, which is endemic to Asia.

<i>Rhabdophis tigrinus</i> Species of snake

Rhabdophis tigrinus, also known commonly as the tiger keelback, kkotbaem, or yamakagashi, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Many sources, though not ITIS, recognize one subspecies, Rhabdophis tigrinus formosanus of Taiwan.

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

The green water snake is a common species of nonvenomous natricine snake endemic to the southeastern United States.

Thermophis is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipsadinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

Dipsadinae is a large subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Dipsadidae). They are found in most of the Americas, including the West Indies, and are most diverse in South America. There are more than 700 species.

Tropidonophis doriae, commonly known as the barred keelback, is a species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. The species is native to New Guinea and some nearby islands.

<i>Hebius</i> Genus of snakes

Hebius is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae.

Hebius venningi, commonly known as the Chin Hills keelback or Venning's keelback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<i>Hebius sauteri</i> Species of snake

Hebius sauteri, commonly known as Sauter's keelback or the Kosempo keelback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.

Pope's keelback is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in Vietnam and southern China.

Rhabdophis barbouri, also known commonly as Barbour's water snake, is a species of keelback snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Philippines.

References

  1. 1 2 Rao, D.-q.; Li, P. (2014). "Thermophis baileyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T21736A2778010. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T21736A2778010.en .
  2. Species Thermophis baileyi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. "Hot-spring snake" is the translation of the Chinese name 温泉蛇.
  4. 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. (Thermophis baileyi, p. 14).
  5. 1 2 3 Wall F (2007). "Some new Asian snakes". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society17 (3): 612–618 + three unnumbered plates. (Tropidonotus baileyi, new species, pp. 617–618 + second unnumbered plate, six views).
  6. He M, Feng J-C, Liu S-Y, Guo P, Zhao E-M (2009). "The phylogenetic position of Thermophis (Serpentes: Colubridae), an endemic snake from the Qinghai‐Xizang Plateau, China" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 43 (7–8): 479–488. doi:10.1080/00222930802389825. S2CID   84653966. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. 1 2 Huang S, Liu S-y, Guo P, Zhang Y-p, Zhao E-m (2009). "What are the closest relatives of the hot-spring snakes (Colubridae, Thermophis), the relict species endemic to the Tibetan Plateau?" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 51 (3): 438–446. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.02.013. PMID   19249375. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Zhao E-m (1998). "Thermophis baileyi ". pp. 318–320. In: Zhao E-m et al. (1998). Fauna Sinica, Reptilia, vol. 3, Serpentes. Beijing: Science Press.
  9. 1 2 Hofmann S, Kraus S, Dorge T, Nothnagel M, Fritzsche P, Miehe G (2014). "Effects of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on the phylogeography, demography and population structure of a high-elevation snake species, Thermophis baileyi, on the Tibetan Plateau". Journal of Biogeography. 41 (11): 2162–2172. doi:10.1111/jbi.12358. S2CID   83590838.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Dorge T, Hofmann S, Wangdwei M, Duoje L, Solhøy T, Miehe G (2007). "The ecological specialist, Thermophis baileyi (Wall, 1907) – new records, distribution and biogeographic conclusions". Herpetological Bulletin. 101: 8–12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Hofmann S (2012). "Population genetic structure and geographic differentiation in the hot spring snake Thermophis baileyi (Serpentes, Colubridae): Indications for glacial refuges in southern-central Tibet". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 63 (2): 396–406. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.01.014. PMID   22306823.
  12. Malnate EV (1953). "The Taxonomic Status of the Tibetan Colubrid Snake Natrix baileyi ". Copeia. 1953 (2): 92–96. doi:10.2307/1440132. JSTOR   1440132.
  13. Hill, Bernard (narrator) (25 May 2008). "Tibet". Wild China. Wild China #3. "Tibet". 13:00 minutes in. BBC. BBC Two . Retrieved 24 November 2011.