Tropidoclonion

lined snake
Texas lined snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Genus: Tropidoclonion
Species: T. lineatum
Binomial name
Tropidoclonion lineatum
(Hallowell, 1856)
Synonyms

Tropidoclonion is a genus of small colubrid snakes known as lined snakes. There is a single species Tropidoclonion lineatum in the genus, with four subspecies.

Contents

Subspecies

Geographic range

Lined snakes are found throughout the central United States from Illinois to Texas. They prefer grassland areas with soft, moist soils.

Description

Lined snakes are olive green to brown with a distinctive tan or yellow stripe down their backs from head to tail. They have similar stripes down each side on scale rows 2 & 3.[1] On the belly they have a double row of clean-cut black half-moon spots running down the middle.[2]They have a narrow head and small eyes. Adult size is typically less than 35 cm (14 in.).

Behavior

Lined snakes are semi-fossorial, spending most of their time hiding under rocks, leaf litter, logs, or buried in the soil. The majority of their diet consists of earthworms.

Reproduction

They are ovoviviparous, the young being born in August. The average brood is 7 to 8.[3] The newborn juveniles are 10-12 cm (4-4¾ in.) long at birth.[4]

References

  1. ^ Schmidt, K.P. and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Son's. New York.
  2. ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
  3. ^ Force, E.R. 1931. Habits and Birth of the Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell). Copeia, 1931, pp. 51-53.
  4. ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.

External links