Macroprotodon cucullatus
| False Smooth Snake | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Macroprotodon |
| Species: | M. cucullatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Macroprotodon cucullatus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Coluber cucullatus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827 |
|
The False Smooth Snake (Macroprotodon cucullatus) is a species of snake in the Colubridae family.
Geographic distribution
It is found in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia.
Description
Macroprotodon cucullatus is a small snake, usually not exceeding 55 cm (21½ inches) in total length. As the common name implies, the dorsal scales are smooth, and are arranged in 19-23 rows. Dorsally it is tan or gray, with small brown spots, or with darker and lighter streaks. Ventrally it is yellow to coral-red, uniform or spotted with black, the spots sometimes confluent at the midline.[1] It has a blackish collar which may extend to the top of the head. There is usually a dark streak from the nostril to the corner of the mouth, passing under or through the eye. The eye is rather small, and the pupil, when seen contracted in bright light, is oval. The snout is flattened, and the rostral is wide and low, barely visible from above. The 6th upper labial extends upward and contacts the parietal. There is usually one anterior temporal.[2]
Habitat
Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, freshwater spring, rocky areas, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.
References
- Busack, S.D. and C.J. McCoy. 1990. Distribution variation and biology of Macroprotodon cucullatus (Reptilia: Colubridae: Boiginae). Annals of Carnegie Museum. 59(4):261-286.
- Corti, C., Mellado, V.P., Geniez, P. &El Din, S.B. 2005.
- Macroprotodon cucullatus.
- 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 July 2007.
- Macroprotodon cucullatus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) (Spanish)
- List of reptiles of Italy
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