Philothamnus battersbyi

Philothamnus battersbyi
	adult
	juvenile
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Philothamnus
Species:	P. battersbyi
Binomial name
	Philothamnus battersbyi; Loveridge, 1951
Synonyms
	Philothamnus irregularis battersbyi ; Loveridge, 1951; Philothamnus battersbyi ; — Rasmussen, 1981;

Philothamnus battersbyi, also known commonly as Battersby's green snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to northeastern Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, battersbyi, is in honor of British herpetologist James Clarence Battersby (1901–1993).^[3]

Geographic range

P. battersbyi is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.^[2]

Habitat

P. battersbyi is found in a variety of natural habitats close to water, including forest, savanna, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes from sea level to 2,600 m (8,500 ft).^[1] It has also been found in polluted streams in major cities.^[1]

Description

The holotype of P. battersbyi, an adult female, has a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 76.2 cm (30.0 in) and a tail length of 28.3 centimetres (11.1 in).^[4]

Behavior

P. battersbyi is arboreal^[1]^[2] and diurnal.^[1]

Diet

P. battersbyi preys upon amphibians, which may include caecilians, frogs, and toads.^[1]

Reproduction

P. battersbyi is oviparous.^[2] Clutch size is 3–11 eggs. Some communal nesting has been observed, with as many as 40 adult females laying over 100 eggs together in one nest.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Howell K, Msuya CA, Ngalason W (2021). "Philothamnus battersbyi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T20878682A20878687.en. Accessed on 29 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Philothamnus battersbyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2020-06-06.
^ 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. (Philothamnus battersbyi, p. 19).
^ Loveridge (1951).

Chippaux J-P, Jackson K (1951). Snakes of Central and Western Africa. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 448 pp. ISBN 978-1421427195.
Lanza B (1990). "Amphibians and reptiles of the Somali Democratic Republic: check list and biogeography". Biogeographia 14: 407–465. (Philothamnus battersbyi, p. 439).
Loveridge A (1951). "On Reptiles and Amphibians from Tanganyika Territory Collected by C. J. P. Ionides". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 106 (4): 175–204. (Philothamnus irregularis battersbyi, new subspecies, pp. 190–191).
Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1472935618. (Philothamnus battersbyi, p. 485).

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[iucn-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Howell K, Msuya CA, Ngalason W (2021). "Philothamnus battersbyi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T20878682A20878687.en. Accessed on 29 December 2022.

[RDB-2] Philothamnus battersbyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2020-06-06.

[3] 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. (Philothamnus battersbyi, p. 19).

[4] Loveridge (1951).

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