Tropidophis greenwayi
| Tropidophis greenwayi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Tropidophiidae |
| Genus: | Tropidophis |
| Species: | T. greenwayi |
| Binomial name | |
| Tropidophis greenwayi Barbour & Shreve, 1936 | |
| Synonyms | |
- Common names: Caicos Islands dwarf boa.[2]
Tropidophis greenwayi is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to the Caicos Islands. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[3]
Etymology
The specific name, greenwayi, is in honor of American ornithologist James Cowan Greenway.[4]
Description
Adults reach maturity at lengths of 225 mm (8.9 in) in males and 250–265 mm (9.8–10.4 in) in females. The maximum size is 38 cm (15 in).[2]
Geographic range
Tropidophis greenwayi is found in the West Indies in the Caicos Islands, particularly on the islands of Ambergris Cay, Long Cay, Middle Caicos, Middleton Cay, North Caicos, South Caicos, and probably also on Providenciales. The type locality given is "Ambergris Cay, Caicos Islands, Bahamas".[1]
Habitat
T. greenwayi occurs in the rocky limestone areas of the cays.[2]
Conservation
Because of its restricted island distribution, T. greenway is susceptible to extirpation. Unless wildlife protection laws are enforced, the relatively secretive nature of this snake may be its only protection against extinction.[2]
Feeding
The diet consists mainly of anoles and geckos.[2]
Subspecies
| Subspecies[3] | Taxon author[3] | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropidophis greenwayi greenwayi | Barbour & Shreve, 1936 | Type locality: Ambergris Cay. | |
| Tropidophis greenwayi lanthanus | Schwartz, 1963 | Type locality: South Caicos. | |
See also
- List of tropidophiid species and subspecies
- Tropidophiidae by common name
- Tropidophiidae by taxonomic synonyms
References
- 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- 1 2 3 4 5 Iverson JB. 1986. "Notes on the Natural History of the Caicos Islands dwarf boa, Tropidophis greenwayi ". Carib. J. Sci. 22 (3-4): 191-198. PDF at University of Puerto Rico. Accessed 22 September 2007.
- 1 2 3 "Tropidophis greenwayi ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- ↑ 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. (Tropidophis greenwayi, p. 107).
Further reading
- Barbour T, Shreve B. 1936. "New Races of Tropidophis and of Ameiva from the Bahamas". Proc. New England Zool. Club 16: 1-3. (Tropidophis pardalis greenwayi, new subspecies, p. 2).
- Schwartz A. 1963. "A new subspecies of Tropidophis greenwayi from the Caicos Bank". Breviora (194): 1-6. (Tropidophis greenwayi lanthanus, new subspecies).
- Schwartz A, Marsh RJ. 1960. "A review of the pardalis-maculatus complex of the boid genus Tropidophis of the West Indies". Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 123 (2): 50-84.
- Schwartz A, Thomas R. 1975. A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Tropidophis greenwayi, pp. 192-193).
External links
- Tropidophis greenwayi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2007.