Trachischium fuscum

Trachischium fuscum, also known as the blackbelly worm-eating snake[1] or the Darjeeling slender snake,[2] is a species of colubrid snake, which is endemic to Asia. The specific name, fuscum, is Latin for "dusky" or "dark brown".[3]

Trachischium fuscum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Trachischium
Species:
T. fuscum
Binomial name
Trachischium fuscum
(Blyth, 1854)
Synonyms[1]
  • Calamaria fusca Blyth, 1854
  • Calamaria obscura-striata Blyth, 1854
  • Trachischium rugosum Günther, 1858
  • Trachischium fuscum
    – Günther, 1860
  • Ablabes gilgiticus
    Annandale, 1905
  • Eminophis lineolata
    Werner, 1924
  • Trachischium fuscum
    – M.A. Smith, 1943

Geographic range

It is found in Nepal and Northeast India (Assam, Sikkim).[1]

Description

As the common name implies, the venter is black or dark brown. The dorsum is also black or dark brown, and may have lighter longitudinal streaks. The dorsal scales are in 13 rows. Males have keeled scales on their sides in the anal region. Adults may attain 51 cm (20 inches) in total length, with a tail 6 cm (2¼ inches) long.[4]

References
  1. Trachischium fuscum at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 December 2018.
  2. Das, Indraneil. 2002. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of India. Ralph Curtis Books. Sanibel Island, Florida. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5 (Trachischium fuscum, p. 46.)
  3. Mish, F.C., Editor in Chief. 2004. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Merriam-Webster. Springfield, Massachusetts. p. 388.
  4. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.-XXVIII. (Trachischium fuscum, pp. 297-299.)

Further reading
  • Blyth, Edward. 1855. Notices and descriptions of various reptiles, new or little known [part 2]. Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta, 23 (3): 287-302 [1854].


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