Xenodon rabdocephalus

Last updated

Xenodon rabdocephalus
Xenodon rabdocephalus.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Xenodon
Species:
X. rabdocephalus
Binomial name
Xenodon rabdocephalus
(Weid, 1824)
Synonyms [2]
  • Coluber rabdocephalus
    Wied, 1824
  • Xenodon rabdocephalus
    Fitzinger, 1826
  • Xenodon colubrinus
    Wucherer, 1862
  • Xenodon bertholdi
    Jan, 1863
  • Xenodon angustirostris
    W. Peters, 1864
  • Xenodon suspectus
    Cope 1868
  • Xenodon bipraeoculis
    Cope, 1885
  • Xenodon mexicanus
    H.M. Smith, 1940
  • Xenodon rabdocephalus
    Liner, 1994

Xenodon rabdocephalus, commonly known as the false fer-de-lance, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America and northern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Contents

Geographic range

X. rabdocephalus is found in southern Mexico in the states of Guerrero, Veracruz, Yucatan and Campeche, through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. In northern South America it is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil where it occurs in the states of Amapá, Rondônia, Pará, Espírito Santo and Bahia. [2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of X. rabdocephalus is forest in the moist lowlands and the premontane regions, [3] at altitudes from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft). [1]

Description

X. rabdocephalus is a medium-sized snake which reaches a total length (including tail) of 80 cm (31 in). It is mainly brown with a series of brown and grey hourglass-shaped dorsal blotches on the body. [3]

Diet

X. rabdocephalus feeds mainly on frogs and toads, [4] including tadpoles. [1]

Reproduction

X. rabdocephalus is oviparous. [1] [2]

Subspecies

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

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

Related Research Articles

<i>Spilotes pullatus</i> Species of snake

Spilotes pullatus, commonly known as the chicken snake, tropical chicken snake, or yellow rat snake, is a species of large nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the Neotropics.

<i>Spilotes sulphureus</i> Species of snake

Spilotes sulphureus, commonly known as the yellow-bellied hissing snake or Amazon puffing snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in South America, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad.

<i>Drymobius margaritiferus</i> Species of snake

Drymobius margaritiferus, commonly known as the speckled racer, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake native to the Americas. The specific name, margaritiferus, means "pearl-bearing" in Latin, referring to the pearl-like spots on the dorsal scales.

<i>Geophis sanniolus</i> Species of snake

Geophis sanniolus, commonly known as the pygmy snail-eating snake or the pygmy snail sucker, is a species of small snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central America and southeastern Mexico.

<i>Leptophis mexicanus</i> Species of snake

Leptophis mexicanus, commonly known as the Mexican parrot snake, is a species of medium-sized slender snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Americas.

<i>Leptophis</i> Genus of snakes

Leptophis is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as parrot snakes. The species within this genus are widely distributed throughout Mexico, Central and South America.

<i>Leptophis diplotropis</i> Species of snake

Leptophis diplotropis, commonly known as the Pacific Coast parrot snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico.

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

The rustyhead snake, also known commonly as the rufous-headed snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central America and Colombia.

<i>Xenodon</i> Genus of snakes

Xenodon is a genus of New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.

<i>Xenodon merremii</i> Species of snake

Xenodon merremii, also known commonly as Wagler's snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America and is widespread in the eastern half of the continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-red rat snake</span> Species of snake

The yellow-red rat snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico and Central America. Three subspecies are recognized.

<i>Pliocercus euryzonus</i> Species of snake

Pliocercus euryzonus, commonly known as Cope's false coral snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to southeastern Central America and northwestern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

The Colombian longtail snake, also known commonly as the sock-headed snake and the white-headed snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species, which is monotypic in the genus Enuliophis, is native to Central America and northern South America.

<i>Scaphiodontophis annulatus</i> Species of snake

Scaphiodontophis annulatus, commonly known as the Guatemala neckband snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. There are four recognized subspecies.

<i>Pituophis deppei</i> Species of snake

Pituophis deppei, commonly known as the Mexican bullsnake and the Mexican pine snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.

<i>Pituophis lineaticollis</i> Species of snake

Pituophis lineaticollis, commonly known as the Middle American gopher snake or the cincuate bull snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.

<i>Stenorrhina degenhardtii</i>

Stenorrhina degenhardtii, also known by its common name Degenhardt's scorpion-eating snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. There are three recognized subspecies.

<i>Geophis sartorii</i> Species of snake

Geophis sartorii, also known commonly as Sartorius' snail-sucker and the terrestrial snail sucker, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern North America and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Pliocercus elapoides, also known commonly as the variegated false coral snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern North America and northern Central America. There are four recognized subspecies.

Rhadinella godmani, also known commonly as Godman's graceful brown snake, and as la culebra-café de Godman and la lagartijerita de Godman in American Spanish, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America and southern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lamar, W.; Porras, L.W.; Sasa, M.; Sunyer, J.; Velasco, J.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Valencia, J.; Gonzales, L.; Catenazzi, A.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G. (2019). "Xenodon rabdocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T198540A2532293. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T198540A2532293.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Species Xenodon rabdocephalus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 Savage JM (2002). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two Continents, between Two Seas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. xx + 934 pp. ISBN   0-226-73537-0.
  4. Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. ISBN   0-7167-0020-4. (Xenodon, p. 149).

Further reading