Lycodon alcalai

Lycodon alcalai, also known as Alcala's wolf snake, is a species of colubrid[2] snake found on the islands of Batan and Sabtang in the Philippines.[1]

Lycodon alcalai
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species:
L. alcalai
Binomial name
Lycodon alcalai
Ota & Ross, 1994

Etymology and evolution

The species name alcalai was chosen to honor the naturalist A.C. Alcala, who made significant contributions to herpetology in the Philippines.[3] Lycodon alcalai is a member of the genus Lycodon, a genus of snakes commonly known as wolf snakes.[4] The genus belongs to the snake family Colubridae, the largest snake family, with member species being found on every continent except Antarctica.[5]

Description

Lycodon alcalai has a body that is rounded on the back and flattened on the belly. Its head is distinct from its neck, with a snout that extends further than its lower jaw. Its pupils are vertical ellipses. The rostral scale is large and triangular, and extends backwards for some distance. The back of the snake and the top of the head are dark brown in color, while the belly and bottom of the head are white or light cream yellow. A holotype for the species had a snout-to-vent length of 56 centimetres and a tail that was 22.7 centimetres long, giving a total length of 78.7 centimetres.[3] It is distinguished from other species in its genus by the lack of a keel or ridge on the scales on its back, as well as the absence of transverse light bands along the body and tail. It most closely resembles the related species Lycodon chrysoprateros.[3]

Habitat and ecology

Lycodon alcalai is oviparous, or egg-laying.[2] The species prefers lowland habitats, not being found more than 320 meters above sea level.[1] It is frequently found in shrubs or on the forest floor, as well as at the edge of the forest, and occasionally in adjacent agricultural fields. It is thought to feed on the eggs of other reptiles, by slitting them open with its blade-like teeth.[3]

Distribution and conservation

Lycodon alcalai is endemic to the Philippine islands of Batan and Sabtang. Recent records of the snake exist from Calayan island as well, and the species may also be found on other small islands in the region.[1] The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers Lycodon alcalai to be a species of least concern, based on a survey in 2007. The islands that it inhabits are well protected, have very few inhabitants, and do not experience anthropogenic environmental disturbances such as hunting or logging.[1]

References
  1. Brown, R.; Afuang, L. & Gonzalez, J.C. (2009). "Lycodon alcalai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T169861A6683423. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169861A6683423.en.
  2. Hallerman, Jakob; Uetz, Peter. "Lycodon alcalai". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. Ota, Hidetoshi; Ross, Charles A. (1 February 1994). "Four new species of Lycodon (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the northern Philippines". Copeia. 1994 (1): 159–174. doi:10.2307/1446682. JSTOR 1446682.
  4. "Wolf snake". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  5. Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 188–195. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
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