Tropidophis stejnegeri

Tropidophis stejnegeri
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Tropidophiidae
Genus:	Tropidophis
Species:	T. stejnegeri
Binomial name
	Tropidophis stejnegeri; Grant, 1940
Synonyms
	Tropidophis pardalis stejnegeri; Grant, 1940; Tropidophis haetianus stejnegeri; — Schwartz & Henderson, 1988; Tropidophis stejnegeri; — Hedges, 2002;

Last updated October 31, 2023

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 (dwarf boas). The species is endemic to the northern half of Jamaica.^[3]^[4]

Etymology

The specific name, stejnegeri, is in honor of Norwegian-born, American herpetologist Leonhard Stejneger.^[2]

Geographic range

T. stejnegeri is found in the northern half of Jamaica, typically from Montego Bay, Mt. Horeb, and Plum Park, St. James Parish, and Bluefields, Westmoreland Parish, in the west, to the type locality in the east, and also at Balaclava in northern St. Elizabeth Parish.^[5] The type locality is "Boston Bay, Portland Parish, Jamaica".^[2]

Description

T. stejnegeri is distinguished from other Tropidophis species by its bright-colored body and tail.^[5]

Habitat and ecology

This species, T. stejnegeri, is from dry, moist and wet habitats, found under vegetation debris and in bromeliads on the ground or low in trees, and is active at night.^[6]

Reproduction

T. stejnegeri is known to reproduce by viviparity.^[5]

Threats

Threats to the species T. stejnegeri include tourism development and urbanization along the coast, bauxite mining in the Cockpit Country, agricultural development and, presumably, predation by the small Indian mongoose ( Urva auropunctata ) and feral cats throughout the species' range.^[6]

Conservation

The family Tropidophiidae is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The species T. stejnegeri occurs in a number of Forest Reserves, but these are not effectively managed to prevent ongoing deforestation, and so improving site management is important for the species, as is invasive species control. This species is listed as Near Threatened on the basis that it has an extent of occurrence of approximately 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, however, it does not quite qualify for listing as Vulnerable under criterion B on the basis that the population is not thought to be severely fragmented and the species is not thought to occur at fewer than 10 locations.^[6]

Related Research Articles

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.

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

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 hendersoni, commonly known as the Cuban khaki dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to the West Indies.

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.

The Central Antillean slider is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is found on three islands in the West Indies: Hispaniola, Great Inagua, and Puerto Rico.

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.

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 haetianus, the Haitian dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies.

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.

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.

Albert Schwartz was an American zoologist who worked extensively with the herpetofauna of Florida and the West Indies, and later with butterflies. One magazine article once dubbed him as one of the "Kings of West Indian Anole Taxonomy".

References

↑ Wilson BS, Hedges B (2019). "Tropidophis stejnegeri ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T75606659A75608084. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T75606659A75608084.en. Downloaded on 07 December 2021.
1 2 3 Species Tropidophis stejnegeri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
↑ "Tropidophis stejnegeri Grant, 1940". www.gbif.org. GBIF . Retrieved 5 November 2021.
↑ "ITIS - Report: Tropidophis stejnegeri ". www.itis.gov. Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 5 November 2021.
1 2 3 "Tropes". iNaturalist. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
1 2 3 "Jamaican Eyespot Trope". IUCN Redlist. Retrieved 5 November 2021.