Ithycyphus miniatus
| Ithycyphus miniatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Superkingdom: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
| Superclass: | Tetrapoda |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Infraclass: | Lepidosauromorpha |
| Superorder: | Lepidosauria |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Infraorder: | Caenophidia |
| Superfamily: | Elapoidea |
| Family: | Lamprophiidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudoxyrhophiinae |
| Genus: | Ithycyphus |
| Species: | I. miniatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ithycyphus miniatus (Schlegel, 1867) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Ithycyphus miniatus is a species of venomous lamprophiid snake native to Madagascar.[2]
Venom
It is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and extensive bleeding in humans.[3][2]
Behavior and diet
It is small and nocturnal and preys on grey mouse lemurs and other small mammals.[3][2]
In local folklore
Its name in Malagasy is fandrefiala, and it is greatly feared by many rural people of Madagascar, who believe it is able to hypnotize humans with its gaze.[4]
Taxonomy
It was given its binomial name by Hermann Schlegel in 1837.[5]
References
- ↑ Raxworthy, C.J. & Rakotondravony, H. (2011). "Ithycyphus miniatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ithycyphus miniatus at the Reptile Database
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mori A, Mizuta T. 2006. "Envenomation by the Madagascan colubrid snake, Ithycyphus miniatus". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases 12: 512-520.
- ↑ Wildmadagascar.org
- ↑ Schlegel H. 1837. Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale: xxviii + 251 pp. + Partie Descriptive: 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Coluber miniatus, new species, pp. 148-149 of Partie Descriptive). (in French).
Further reading
- Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Ithycyphus miniatus, p. 35).
- Duméril AMC, Bibron G, Duméril AHA. 1854. Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781-1536. (Dryophylax miniatus, p. 1120). (in French).