Texas lyre snake
The Texas lyre snake (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii) is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
| Texas lyre snake | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Trimorphodon |
| Species: | T. vilkinsonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Trimorphodon vilkinsonii Cope, 1886 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Etymology
The epithet vilkinsonii is in honor of amateur American naturalist Edward Wilkinson, who collected the first specimen near the city of Chihuahua.[3][4]
Geographic range
T. vilkinsonii is found in the United States in the Big Bend region of Texas and southern New Mexico, and in Mexico in northeastern Chihuahua.
Description
The Texas lyre snake is a medium-sized snake, attaining a total length (including tail) of approximately 1 meter (39 inches) at adult size.[5] It is brown, tan or gray with 17-24 dark brown blotches down the back. It has large eyes with vertical pupils. The common name, "lyre snake", refers to a distinctive V-shaped pattern on the head which resembles the shape of a lyre. However, this particular subspecies (T. b. vilkinsonii ) has no V mark on the head.[6]
Behavior
Lyre snakes of the genus Trimorphodon are nocturnal, spending most of their time hiding in rock crevices, emerging to feed mainly on lizards,[7] and also on small rodents, frogs, bats and birds.[8] Their venom is not considered to be harmful to humans. Also, if their venom is not fatal to their prey, they may kill by constriction.[9]
Conservation
The Texas lyre snake was formerly listed as Threatened in Texas, but was removed from the list in 2020. This species is secretive and often difficult to find, but is seemingly common throughout its habitat, much of which is in protected or private land.
References
- Frost DR, Hammerson GA, Santos-Barrera G (2007). "Trimorphodon vilkinsonii ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T63997A12728524. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63997A12728524.en. Downloaded on 14 October 2018.
- "Trimorphodon vilkinsonii ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained.
- 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. (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii, p. 286).
- Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Trimorphodon vilkinsoni, pp. 876-879, Figure 251 + Map 61 on p. 869).
- Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback), ISBN 0-307-47009-1 (hardcover). (Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsoni, pp. 176-177).
- Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii, pp. 264-265).
- Conant, Roger (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsoni, pp. 218-219 + Plate 32 + Map 171).
- Rodman GB Jr (1939). "Habits of Trimorphodon vandenburghi in Captivity". Copeia 1939 (1): 50.
Further reading
- Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii, p. 677 + Plate 568).
- Cope ED (1886). "Thirteenth Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 23: 271–287. (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii, new species, pp. 285–286).
- Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Trimorphodon vilkinsonii, pp. 400–401 + Plate 38).