The eastern trinket snake (Elaphe cantoris) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South Asia.
| Eastern trinket snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Elaphe |
| Species: | E. cantoris
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| Binomial name | |
| Elaphe cantoris (Boulenger, 1894)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology edit
The specific name, cantoris, is in honor of Danish zoologist Theodore Edward Cantor.[3]
Geographic range edit
E. cantoris is found in the Himalayas in Bhutan, India (Assam, Darjeeling, Sikkim), Myanmar, and Nepal.[1] The type locality is the Khasi and Garo Hills in Meghalaya.[2]
Habitat edit
The preferred natural habitat of E. cantoris is mountain forest at elevations of 1,000–2,300 m (3,300–7,500 ft).[4]
Description edit
E. cantoris is a large species, and may grow to a total length (including tail) of almost 2 m (6.6 ft). Dorsally, it has a brownish ground color, which is overlaid by a series of squarish dark brown blotches. Ventrally, it is yellowish anteriorly, becoming pinkish posteriorly.[4]
Behavior edit
Reproduction edit
E. cantoris is oviparous. In India, sexually mature females lay eggs in late July, with an average clutch size of 10 eggs.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b Tshewang S, Ghosh A, Wogan G (2021). "Elaphe cantoris ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T192117A2042341.en. Accessed on 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Species Elaphe cantoris at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Orthriophis cantoris, p. 47).
- ^ a b c Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Elaphe cantoris, p. 31).
Further reading edit
- Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Coluber cantoris, new species, p. 35).
- Chen X, Lemmon AR, Lemmon EM, Pyron RA, Burbrink FT (2017). "Using phylogenomics to understand the link between biogeographic origins and regional diversification in ratsnakes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 111: 206–218. (Elaphe cantoris).
- Helfenberger, Notker; Shah, Karan B.; Orlov, Nicolai L.; Guex, Gaston-Denis (2000). "Eine seltene Natter aus Nepal, Elaphe cantoris (Boulenger, 1894) (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) ". Sauria 22 (2): 3–10. (in German).
- Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Elaphe cantoris, new combination, pp. 152–153).
- Wallach V (1997). "A monograph of the colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe Fitzinger (book review)". Herpetological Review 28 (2): 110. (Gonyosoma cantoris, new combination).
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