Lycodon gammiei

Lycodon gammiei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Lycodon
Species: L. gammiei
Binomial name
Lycodon gammiei
(Blanford, 1878)
Synonyms
  • Ophites gammiei
    Blanford, 1878
  • Lycodon gammiei
    Boulenger, 1890
  • Dinodon gammiei
    Wall, 1923[1]

Lycodon gammiei, commonly known as Gammie's wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to northern India.

Etymology

The specific name, gammiei, is in honor of naturalist James Alexander Gammie (1839–1924), who managed a Cinchona plantation in Darjeeling from 1865 to 1897.[2]

Geographic range

In India Lycodon gammiei is found in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and in Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal.[1]

Description

At first glance, Gammie's wolf snake resembles the venomous kraits. Its body is surrounded by alternating dark and light rings with irregular margins. Its head is dark olive, and there are light spots in the center of most head shields. It has an imperfect pale collar, and the underside of the head and neck are whitish. Adults are about 80 cm (32 in.) in total length (including tail).[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Lycodon gammiei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 June 2015.
  2. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Dinodon gammiei, p. 97).
  3. Boulenger GA. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Lycodon gammiei, p. 358).

Further reading

External links


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