L. capensis is a medium to large snake. With an average total length (including tail) of about 120 centimetres (3 ft 11 in), specimens of 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) total length have been recorded. It has a very flat head, and its body is strikingly triangular in cross-section.
The Cape file snake's dorsal scales are strongly keeled with extensive pink-purple bare skin between the scales. Its colour is mostly grey to grey-brown, but occasionally dark olive to purple-brown. The prominent vertebral stripe is white to yellow, while the belly is ivory white to cream.
The dorsal scales, in addition to the strong primary keel, have secondary keels and tubercles, but no apical pits. The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows on the neck). The ventrals number 203-241. The anal plate is undivided. The subcaudals number 45-61, and are divided (in two rows).[2]
HabitatEdit
The preferred natural habitats of L. capensis are shrubland, savanna, and coastal forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).[1]
DietEdit
Though it is not venomous, the Cape file snake is a highly successful predator of other snakes, easily following a scent trail and apparently immune to all venom. It also preys on small vertebrates.[citation needed]
DefenseEdit
Rarely attempting to bite when captured, L. capensis may defecate in self-defence.[4]
ReproductionEdit
L. capensis is oviparous. In the summer, an adult female may lay one or two clutches of eggs. Clutch size varies from 5-13. The eggs are large, 47–55 mm (about 2 inches) long, by 20–31 mm (about 1 inch) wide. Each hatchling is 39–42 cm (about 16 inches) in total length (including tail).[4]
^ abBoulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Simocephalus capensis, p. 345).
^Species Limaformosa capensis at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
^ abBranch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN0-88359-042-5. (Mehelya capensis, pp. 78-79 + Plate 25).
Further readingEdit
Broadley DG, Tolley KA, Conradie W, Wishart S, Trape J-F, Burger M, Kusamba C, Zassi-Boulou A-G, Greenbaum E (2018). "A phylogeny and genus-level revision of the African file snakes Gonionotophis Boulenger (Squamata: Lamprophiidae)". African Journal of Herpetology67: 43–60. (Limaformosa capensis, new combination).
Smith A (1847). Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa; Consisting Chiefly of Figures and Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected during an Expedition into the Interior of South Africa, in the Years 1834, 1835, and 1836; Fitted Out by "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa:" together with a Summary of African Zoology, and an Inquiry into the Geographical Ranges of Species in that Quarter of the Globe. Volume III. Reptilia. Part 26. London: Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. (Smith, Elder and Co., printers). (Heterolepis capensis, Plate LV).
August 29, 2023
cape, file, snake, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2022, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Cape file snake news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Cape file snake Limaformosa capensis is a species of large non venomous snake endemic to Africa belonging to the family Lamprophiidae Cape file snakeLimaformosa capensisConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily LamprophiidaeGenus LimaformosaSpecies L capensisBinomial nameLimaformosa capensis A Smith 1847 SynonymsHeterolepis capensis A Smith 1847 Simocephalus capensis Boulenger 1893 2 Mehelya capensis Rasmussen 1981 Gonionotophis capensis Kelly et al 2011 Limaformosa capensis Broadley et al 2018 3 Contents 1 Geographic range 2 Description 3 Habitat 4 Diet 5 Defense 6 Reproduction 7 References 8 Further readingGeographic range EditL capensis is found from Natal northwards through the former Transvaal and Zimbabwe and westwards to the Caprivi Strip and Namibia thence northwards to Cameroon and Somalia citation needed Description EditL capensis is a medium to large snake With an average total length including tail of about 120 centimetres 3 ft 11 in specimens of 165 cm 5 ft 5 in total length have been recorded It has a very flat head and its body is strikingly triangular in cross section The Cape file snake s dorsal scales are strongly keeled with extensive pink purple bare skin between the scales Its colour is mostly grey to grey brown but occasionally dark olive to purple brown The prominent vertebral stripe is white to yellow while the belly is ivory white to cream The dorsal scales in addition to the strong primary keel have secondary keels and tubercles but no apical pits The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody in 17 rows on the neck The ventrals number 203 241 The anal plate is undivided The subcaudals number 45 61 and are divided in two rows 2 Habitat EditThe preferred natural habitats of L capensis are shrubland savanna and coastal forest at altitudes from sea level to 1 500 m 4 900 ft 1 Diet EditThough it is not venomous the Cape file snake is a highly successful predator of other snakes easily following a scent trail and apparently immune to all venom It also preys on small vertebrates citation needed Defense EditRarely attempting to bite when captured L capensis may defecate in self defence 4 Reproduction EditL capensis is oviparous In the summer an adult female may lay one or two clutches of eggs Clutch size varies from 5 13 The eggs are large 47 55 mm about 2 inches long by 20 31 mm about 1 inch wide Each hatchling is 39 42 cm about 16 inches in total length including tail 4 References Edit a b Msuya CA Spawls S Ngalason W Howell K 2021 Limaformosa capensis The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 https dx doi org 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 2 RLTS T110133929A42583020 en Accessed on 06 May 2022 a b Boulenger GA 1893 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum Natural History Volume I Containing the Families Colubridae Aglyphae part London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History Taylor and Francis printers xiii 448 pp Plates I XXVIII Simocephalus capensis p 345 Species Limaformosa capensis at The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b Branch Bill 2004 Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa Third Revised edition Second impression Sanibel Island Florida Ralph Curtis Books 399 pp ISBN 0 88359 042 5 Mehelya capensis pp 78 79 Plate 25 Further reading EditBroadley DG Tolley KA Conradie W Wishart S Trape J F Burger M Kusamba C Zassi Boulou A G Greenbaum E 2018 A phylogeny and genus level revision of the African file snakes Gonionotophis Boulenger Squamata Lamprophiidae African Journal of Herpetology 67 43 60 Limaformosa capensis new combination Smith A 1847 Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa Consisting Chiefly of Figures and Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected during an Expedition into the Interior of South Africa in the Years 1834 1835 and 1836 Fitted Out by The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa together with a Summary of African Zoology and an Inquiry into the Geographical Ranges of Species in that Quarter of the Globe Volume III Reptilia Part 26 London Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty s Treasury Smith Elder and Co printers Heterolepis capensis Plate LV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cape file snake amp oldid 1132905581, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
