| Seychelles wolf snake | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Lycognathophis Boulenger, 1893 [2] |
| Species: | L. seychellensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycognathophis seychellensis (Schlegel, 1837) [1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
The Seychelles wolf snake, Lycognathophis seychellensis, is a species of snake in the Colubridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Lycognathophis. The New Latin name, Lycognathophis, is derived from the Greek words λύκος (lykos) meaning "wolf", υνάθος (gnathos) meaning "jaw", and όψις (ophis) meaning "snake", referring to the snake's dentition.[5]
Contents |
It is endemic to Seychelles.[1]
Maxillary teeth large, subequal, 20-22; anterior mandibular teeth very large, much larger than the posterior. Head very distinct from neck; eye moderate, with vertically elliptic pupil; no loreal shield. Body elongate; dorsal scales keeled, with apical pits, in 17 rows. Tail long; anal divided; subcaudals paired. Ventrals 184-202; subcaudals 92-110.
Dorsally yellowish or grayish brown, uniform or with dark brown spots; dark streak on each side of head, passing through eye; upper lip yellowish, usually with brown dots; posteriorly four series of brown spots, confluent into stripes on tail. Ventrally yellowish, usually powdered or dotted with brown; a brown spot at each outer end of anterior ventrals.
Adults may attain 1 m (40 inches) in total length, with a tail 31 cm (12 inches) long.[6]
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]