Mimophis mahfalensis
Mimophis mahfalensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Psammophiidae |
Genus: | Mimophis |
Species: | M. mahfalensis
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Binomial name | |
Mimophis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867)
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Synonyms[1][2] | |
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Mimophis mahfalensis, also known as the common big-eyed snake,[3] is a species of snake in the family Psammophiidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar[1][2] and occurs in the central and southern parts of the island. What had been considered a northern population has been split off as a separate species, Mimophis occultus.[2]
Subspecies
[edit]Two subspecies are recognized as being valid.[2]
- Mimophis mahfalensis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867)
- Mimophis mahfalensis madagascariensis Günther, 1868
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Mimophis.
Description
[edit]M. mahfalensis may attain a total length of 76 cm (30 in), including a tail length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in).[4]
Habitat
[edit]The preferred natural habitats of M. mahfalensis are forest, savanna, and shrubland, and it has also been found in disturbed and artificial habitats.[1]
Diet
[edit]M. mahfalensis preys upon frogs, lizards, and snakes.[1]
Reproduction
[edit]M. mahfalensis is oviparous.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Vences, M. (2011). "Mimophis mahfalensis ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T172997A6955260. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172997A6955260.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Mimophis mahfalensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 December 2018.
- ^ Rosa, Gonçalo M.; Castelo Branco, João; Couto, Henrique; Eusebio Bergò, Paolo; Andreone, Franco (2016). "Mimophis mahfalensis (common big-eyed snake) predation on Furcifer major (giant carpet chameleon) in Isalo, Madagascar". The Herpetological Bulletin (138): 40–41.
- ^ Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III. Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Mimophis mahfalensis, p. 171–172).
Further reading
[edit]- Aprea G, Odierna G, Andreone F, Glaw F, Vences M (2003). "Unusual karyotype in the Malagasy colubrid snake Mimophis mahfalensis ". Amphibia-Reptilia 24 (2): 215–219.
- Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. ISBN 978-3929449-03-7.
- Grandidier A (1867). "Liste des reptiles nouveaux découverts, en 1866, sur la côte sud-ouest de Madagascar ". Revue et Magazine de Zoologie (Paris), 2e Série 19: 232–234. (Psammophis mahfalensis, new species, p. 234. (in French and Latin).
- Günther A (1868). "Sixth Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Fourth Series 1 (6): 413–429 + Plates XVII–XIX. (Mimophis madagascariensis, new species, pp. 421–422 + Plate XVIII).