Savanna vine snake
| Savanna vine snake | |
|---|---|
_(6011690147).jpg) | |
| Thelotornis capensis | |
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| threat display | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Thelotornis |
| Species: | T. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Thelotornis capensis A. Smith, 1849 | |
The savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis), also known commonly, as the southern vine snake, is a species of highly venomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. There are two recognized subspecies.
Geographic distribution
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Thelotornis capensis are forest, savanna, and shrubland.[1]
Behavior
Description
Thelotornis capensis is slender and has a long tail. The longest museum specimen is a male with a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 106 cm (42 in), a tail 62 cm (24 in) long, and a combined total length of 168 cm (66 in).[2][3]
Venom
Thelotornis capensis is venomous.[3] Venom is delivered by large grooved teeth at the rear of the upper jaw.[2] German herpetologist Robert Mertens died as the result of being bitten by this species.
Reproduction
Thelotornis capensis is oviparous.[1][2][3] Clutch size is 4–13 eggs.[1] The eggs are elongated and rather small, each measuring on average 36 mm (1.4 in) long and 16 mm (0.63 in) wide.[2]
Subspecies
Two subspecies of Thelotornis capensis are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Thelotornis.
Etymology
The subspecific name, oatesi, honors British naturalist Frank Oates.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Spawls, S. (2021). "Thelotornis capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T164904938A120632972. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T164904938A120632972.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Branch, William R. (1994). "Thelotornis capensis". Bill Branch's Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. pp. 100–101 + Plates 18 & 31. ISBN 978-1-86825-575-7.
- 1 2 3 4 Species Thelotornis capensis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). "Oates, F.". The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. JHU Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
Further reading
- Smith, A (1849). "Thelotornis capensis, new species". Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa ... Reptilia. London: Smith, Elder, and Co.