The Gulf crayfish snake (Liodytes rigida sinicola) is a subspecies of nonvenomous snake endemic to the southeastern United States.
| Gulf crayfish snake | |
|---|---|
| |
| Regina rigida sinicola in Texas | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Liodytes |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | L. r. sinicola
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Liodytes rigida sinicola (Huheey, 1959)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Natrix rigida sinicola Huheey, 1959 | |
Description edit
It averages 20 inches (51 cm) when fully grown, with a record of 31.5 inches (80 cm). Its color is best described as chocolate brown.
Diet edit
This subspecies feeds almost entirely on crayfish.
Taxonomy edit
Close relatives of the Gulf crayfish snake are the glossy crayfish snake (Liodytes rigida rigida) and the Delta crayfish snake (Liodytes rigida deltae).
Further reading edit
- Huheey, James E. 1959. Distribution and Variation in the Glossy Water Snake, Natrix rigida (Say). Copeia 1959 (4): 303–311. (Natrix rigida sinicola)