Tropidophis

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Tropidophis
Cuban Giant Trope (Tropidophis melanurus) (8577519420).jpg
Tropidophis melanurus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Tropidophiidae
Genus: Tropidophis
Bibron In
de la Sagra, 1843
Synonyms
  • TropidophisBibron In
    de la Sagra, 1843
  • LeionotusBibron In
    de la Sagra, 1843
  • Ungalia Gray, 1842
  • Erycopsis Fitzinger, 1843
  • Notophis Hallowell, 1856
  • Ungalia Cope, 1868 [1]

Tropidophis, common name Caribbean dwarf boas, wood snakes or West Indian wood snakes, [2] is a genus of dwarf boas [3] endemic to the West Indies and South America. Currently, either 17 or 33 species are recognized, depending on the authority. [3]

Contents

Description

Adults grow to between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in total length (including tail). They are secretive and predominantly terrestrial, found in a variety of natural habitats, including rain forest, swamps, pine woods and scrub, as well as in the vicinity of human habitation. They have an interesting defensive habit of Autohaemorrhaging from the mouth, nostrils and eyes when disturbed. [4] Some species also change colour over the course of the day. [4]

Despite their relatively small size and secretive nature, some species may be susceptible to extirpation, mainly due to habitat alteration and introduced feral animals. The Navassa Island dwarf boa ( T. bucculentus ) has not been seen for 100 years and is believed to be extinct.

Distribution and habitat

Found in the West Indies, including Cuba, and in South America (Brazil, Peru and Ecuador). [1]

Species

Species [3] Taxon author [3] Subsp.* [3] Common nameGeographic range [1]
Tropidophis battersbyi Laurent, 19490Battersby's dwarf boa Ecuador
Tropidophis bucculentus (Cope, 1868)0Navassa Island dwarf boa Navassa Island
Tropidophis canus(Cope, 1868)3 Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor the Bahamas
Tropidophis caymanensis Battersby, 19382Cayman Islands dwarf boathe Cayman Islands
Tropidophis feicki Schwartz, 19570broad-banded dwarf boawestern Cuba
Tropidophis fuscus Hedges & Garrido, 19920Cuban dusky dwarf boanortheastern Cuba
Tropidophis greenwayi Barbour & Shreve, 19361Caicos Islands dwarf boathe Caicos Islands
Tropidophis haetianus (Cope, 1879)5Haitian dwarf boa Hispaniola and adjacent islands
Tropidophis maculatus (Bibron, 1840)0spotted red dwarf boawestern Cuba
Tropidophis melanurus T(Schlegel, 1837)2dusky dwarf boaCuba and adjacent islands
Tropidophis nigriventris Bailey, 19370black-bellied dwarf boacentral Cuba
Tropidophis pardalis (Gundlach, 1840)0leopard dwarf boaCuba and adjacent islands
Tropidophis paucisquamis (F. Müller, 1901)0Brazilian dwarf boa Brazil in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
Tropidophis pilsbryi Bailey, 19371Cuban white-necked dwarf boacentral and eastern Cuba
Tropidophis semicinctus (Gundlach & W. Peters, 1864)0yellow-banded dwarf boawestern and central Cuba
Tropidophis taczanowskyi (Steindachner, 1880)0Taczanowski's dwarf boaAmazonian Peru and Ecuador
Tropidophis wrighti Stull, 19280Wright's dwarf boaeastern Cuba

T) Type species. [1]

The Reptile Database includes these further species: [5]

Species [5] Taxon author [5] Subsp.* [5] Common nameGeographic range [5]
Tropidophis cacuangoae (Hedges, Estrada & Díaz, 1999)0Ecuador
Tropidophis celiae (Hedges, Estrada & Díaz, 1999)0Canasi dwarf boaCuba and adjacent islands
Tropidophis curtus (Garman, 1887)0Northern Bahamas dwarf boathe Bahamas
Tropidophis galacelidus Schwartz & Garrido, 19750Escambray white-necked dwarf boacentral Cuba
Tropidophis grapiuna Curcio, Sales-Nunes, Suzart-Argolo, Skuk & Rodrigues, 20120 Brazil
Tropidophis hardyi Schwartz & Garrido, 19750Escambray small-headed dwarf boaCuba
Tropidophis hendersoni Hedges & Garrido, 20020Cuban khaki dwarf boaCuba
Tropidophis jamaicensis Stull, 19280Jamaican dwarf boaJamaica
Tropidophis leonae Landestoy, 20230Jaragua golden tropeDominican Republic
Tropidophis morenoi Hedges, Garrido & Díaz, 20010zebra dwarf boaCuba
Tropidophis parkeri Grant, 19410 Parker's dwarf boa [6] Little Cayman Island
Tropidophis preciosus Curcio, Sales Nunes, Suzart Argolo, Skuk & Rodrigues, 20120Brazil
Tropidophis schwartzi Thomas, 19630 Schwartz's dwarf boa [6] the Cayman Islands
Tropidophis spiritus Hedges & Garrido, 19990Sancti Spíritus dwarf boaCuba
Tropidophis steinleini Díaz & Cádiz, 20200Cuba
Tropidophis stejnegeri Grant, 19400Stejneger's dwarf boanorthern Jamaica
Tropidophis stullae Grant, 19400Stull's dwarf boasouthern Jamaica
Tropidophis xanthogaster Domínguez, Moreno & Hedges, 20060Guanahacabibes dwarf boaCuba

There are currently 33 species, in which 26 of them are West Indian and 15 of them are Cuban. The 15 species in Cuba are the most diverse. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropidophiidae</span> Family of snakes

The Tropidophiidae, common name dwarf boas or thunder snakes, are a family of nonvenomous snakes found from Mexico and the West Indies south to southeastern Brazil. These are small to medium-sized fossorial snakes, some with beautiful and striking color patterns. Currently, two living genera, containing 34 species, are recognized. Two other genera were once considered to be tropidophiids but are now known to be more closely related to the boids, and are classified in the subfamily Ungaliophiinae. There are a relatively large number of fossil snakes that have been described as tropidophiids, but which of these are more closely related to Tropidophis and Trachyboa and which are more closely related to Ungaliophis and Exiliboa is unknown.

<i>Tropidophis melanurus</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis melanurus, commonly known as the dusky dwarf boa, Cuban wood snake, or Cuban giant dwarf boa, is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species found mainly in Cuba. There are three subspecies that are recognized as being valid, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Tropidophis fuscus is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to Cuba. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Tropidophis celiae, commonly known as the Canasi dwarf boa or the Canasi trope, is an endangered species of dwarf boa, a snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Tropidophis spiritus, also known commonly as the Sancti Spiritus dwarf boa and the Sancti Spiritus trope, is a small species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba. It is distinguished from other Tropidophis species by its gracile body shape and color pattern of bold spots.

Tropidophis xanthogaster, also known commonly as the Guanahacabibes dwarf boa and the Guanahacabibes trope, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, in the province of Pinar del Río, western Cuba.

Tropidophis bucculentus, also known commonly as the Navassa Island dwarf boa, is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to Navassa Island in the Caribbean Sea. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Tropidophis greenwayi is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to the Caicos Islands. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor</span> Special species of snake

The Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor, also known as the Inagua trope or Bahama wood snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas.

<i>Tropidophis feicki</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis feicki, also known commonly as the broad-banded dwarf boa, the broad-banded trope, and Feick's dwarf boa, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Tropidophis maculatus, or the spotted red dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Tropidophis nigriventis, or the black-bellied dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Tropidophis pardalis, also known commonly as the leopard dwarf boa and the spotted brown trope, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

Tropidophis pilsbryi, commonly known as Pilsbry's dwarf boa or the Cuban white-necked dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

<i>Tropidophis semicinctus</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis semicinctus, also known commonly as the banded dwarf boa, the yellow-banded dwarf boa, and the yellow-banded trope, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

<i>Tropidophis taczanowskyi</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis taczanowskyi, also known commonly as Taczanowski's dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is native to northern South America.

Tropidophis wrighti, commonly known as Wright's dwarf boa, the gracile banded dwarf boa, and the gracile banded trope, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

<i>Chilabothrus fordii</i> Species of snake endemic to Hispaniola

Chilabothrus fordii, also known commonly as Ford's boa and the Haitian ground boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. There are three recognized subspecies.

<i>Tropidophis stejnegeri</i> Subspecies of snake native largely to Northern Jamaica

Tropidophis stejnegeri, also known commonly as Stejneger's dwarf boa and the Jamaican eyespot trope, is a small species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to the northern half of Jamaica.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ↑ Parker HW, Grandison AGC (1977). Snakes — a Natural History. Second Edition. London and Ithaca: British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. + 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. ISBN   0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN   0-8014-9164-9 (paper).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tropidophis ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  4. 1 2 Domínguez, Michel; Luis V. Moreno; S. Blair Hedges (August 2006). "A new snake of the genus Tropidophis (Tropidophiidae) from the Guanahacabibes Peninsula of Western Cuba". Amphibia-Reptilia. 27 (3): 427–432. doi: 10.1163/156853806778190088 .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Tropidophis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 29 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Tropidophis parkeri, p. 200; T. schwartzi, p. 239).
  7. ↑ Hedges, S. Blair (November 2002). "Morphological variation and the definition of species in the snake genus Tropidophis (Serpentes, Tropidophiidae)". Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Zoology Series. 68 (2): 83–90. doi:10.1017/S0968047002000092. ISSN   1475-2980.

Further reading

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