| Dasypeltis scabra | |
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| D. scabra after swallowing an egg | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Dasypeltis |
| Species: | D. scabra |
| Binomial name | |
| Dasypeltis scabra | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dasypeltis scabra, known as the common egg eater, egg-eating snake or rhombic egg eater, [1] is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to Africa.
Dasypeltis scabra is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It can also be found in Saudi Arabia and in other countries of the Middle East.
D. scabra grows to a total length (including tail) of 40–46 inches (100–120 cm), and has almost toothless jaws. Dorsally, it has a series of rhomboidal dark brown spots on a lighter background. There is an alternating series of brown spots on each side and a distinct V-shaped mark at the back of the neck. Ventrally it is yellowish, either uniform or with dark dots. [2]
It has been suggested that non-venomous Dasypeltis scabra is a mimic of venomous Echis carinatus , the saw-scaled viper, which it strongly resembles. [3]
D. scabra also closely resembles Causus rhombeatus , the rhombic night adder. These two species may be distinguished by the shape of the pupil of the eye. Snakes of the genus Dasypeltis have vertical pupils, whereas snakes of the genus Causus have round pupils. [4] However, it is possible in darker areas for the vertical eyes to become round, so this is not necessarily an accurate means of distinguishing the species.
Dasypeltis scabra can be found in a variety of habitats. They are not found in closed-canopy forests nor in true deserts, but do inhabit most ecosystems between these extremes. [5]
The rhombic egg eater is nocturnal. Although mainly terrestrial, it is a good climber and is known to scale rock outcroppings and climb trees to raid birds' nests. [5]
Dasypeltis scabra feeds exclusively on eggs. The lining of the mouth has small, parallel ridges, very similar to human fingerprints, which aid in grasping the shell of an egg. Once swallowed, the egg is punctured by specialized vertebral hypapophyses which extend into the esophagus. The shell is then regurgitated in one piece, and its contents passed along to the stomach. [6]
When disturbed, D. scabra inflates itself, "hisses" by rapidly rubbing together the rough, keeled scales on the side of its body, and strikes with its mouth kept wide open. [7]
D. scabra is oviparous. In summer, a sexually mature female may lay one or two clutches of 6–25 eggs each. The eggs measure 36 mm × 18 mm (1.42 in × 0.71 in). Hatchlings are 21–24 cm (8.5–9.5 in) in total length. [5]
Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies. [8]
The subspecific name, loveridgei, is in honor of British herpetologist Arthur Loveridge.
Leptophis ahaetulla, commonly known as the lora or parrot snake, is a species of medium-sized slender snake of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America and northern South America.
Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the forest flame snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America. There are three recognized subspecies.
Erythrolamprus aesculapii, also known commonly as the Aesculapian false coral snake, the South American false coral snake, and in Portuguese as bacorá, or falsa-coral, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.
Dasypeltis is a genus of colubrid snakes. It is one of only two taxonomic groups of snakes known to have adapted to feed exclusively on eggs. Dasypeltis are non-venomous and found throughout the continent of Africa, primarily in forested or wooded habitats that are also home to numerous species of birds.
Causus maculatus is viper species found mainly in West- and Central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include forest rhombic night adder, West African night adder and spotted night adder. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.
Causus rhombeatus, commonly known as the rhombic night adder, is a viper species endemic to subsaharan Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.
Causus bilineatus is a viper species endemic to south central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include lined night adder, two-lined night adder, and two-striped night adder. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.
The horseshoe whip snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
Eryx colubrinus, the Egyptian or Kenyan sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Northern and Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized.
In the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, Carl Linnaeus described the Amphibia as:
Animals that are distinguished by a body cold and generally naked; stern and expressive countenance; harsh voice; mostly lurid color; filthy odor; a few are furnished with a horrid poison; all have cartilaginous bones, slow circulation, exquisite sight and hearing, large pulmonary vessels, lobate liver, oblong thick stomach, and cystic, hepatic, and pancreatic ducts: they are deficient in diaphragm, do not transpire (sweat), can live a long time without food, are tenatious of life, and have the power of reproducing parts which have been destroyed or lost; some undergo a metamorphosis; some cast (shed) their skin; some appear to live promiscuously on land or in the water, and some are torpid during the winter.
Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.
Dasypeltis atra, commonly known as the African egg-eating snake or montane egg-eater, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Dasypeltis fasciata, commonly known as the Central African egg-eating snake or the western forest eggeater, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa. It is one of 13 species in the genus Dasypeltis, and is occasionally kept in captivity as an exotic pet along with other members of its genus, particularly D. scabra and D. medici.
Dasypeltis loveridgei, commonly known as the dwarf egg-eater, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in South Africa and Namibia.
| Authority control databases: National |
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