The ring-headed dwarf snake is a pencil-thin species that grows to a maximum length of 60 cm (24 in) but most adults are considerably smaller than this. The skin is smooth and the edges of the scales are slightly darker than the centres. The upper surface of the body is a uniform yellowish-brown, greyish-brown or reddish-brown colour and the underparts are glossy white. The top of the head has a large black blotch inside which are either two whitish spots or a pale W-shaped mark. Round the neck is a crescent-shaped band of dark blotches separated from the head by a pale band.[2]
Subspeciesedit
Currently, three subspecies are recognized, namely Eirenis modestus modestus (MARTIN 1838), E. m. semimaculatus (BOETTGER 1876) from central and western Turkey (Anatolia), and E. m. cilicius (SCHMIDTLER 1993) from southern Turkey.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The ring-headed dwarf snake is native to the Greek Mediterranean islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Alzonisi, Kalymnos, Leros, Symi and Megisti and most of Turkey. Its range extends eastwards into the Caucasus Mountains, eastern Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its natural habitats are dry shrubby vegetation, cultivated fields, fallow areas and dry open woodland.[2]
Behaviouredit
During the day the ring-headed dwarf snake shelters under stones or in crevices, and several snakes may share the same hiding place. It emerges at twilight to hunt for spiders, insects, centipedes, scorpions and small lizards. Breeding takes place in summer when the female lays a clutch of three to eight relatively large eggs. The hatchlings are up to about 12 cm (4.7 in) long.[2]
Statusedit
The ring-headed dwarf snake has a wide range and is presumed to have a large total population. It seems to be an adaptable species able to tolerate a range of different habitat types, and no particular threats have been identified and for these reasons, the IUCN has listed it as being of "Least Concern".[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eirenis modestus.
Wikispecies has information related to Eirenis modestus.
^ abcdPetros Lymberakis, Varol Tok, Ismail H. Ugurtas, Murat Sevinç, Pierre-André Crochet, Göran Nilson, Steven Anderson,\nClaus Andrén (2009). "Eirenis modestus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T157292A5072508. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157292A5072508.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcArnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. p. 210. ISBN9780002199643.
^"Eirenis modestus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
April 08, 2024
eirenis, modestus, commonly, known, ring, headed, dwarf, snake, simply, dwarf, snake, species, snake, colubridae, family, native, several, greek, islands, turkey, syria, armenia, azerbaijan, israel, lebanon, southwestern, parts, russian, federation, samos, gre. Eirenis modestus commonly known as ring headed dwarf snake or simply the dwarf snake is a species of snake in the Colubridae family It is native to several Greek islands Turkey Syria Armenia Azerbaijan Israel Lebanon and southwestern parts of the Russian Federation Eirenis modestusAt Samos GreeceConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus EirenisSpecies E modestusBinomial nameEirenis modestus Martin 1838 1 Synonyms 1 Coluber nigricollisDvigubsky 1832 Contia modesta Martin 1838 Coronella modestaMartin 1838 Contents 1 Description 2 Subspecies 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 Status 6 ReferencesDescription editThe ring headed dwarf snake is a pencil thin species that grows to a maximum length of 60 cm 24 in but most adults are considerably smaller than this The skin is smooth and the edges of the scales are slightly darker than the centres The upper surface of the body is a uniform yellowish brown greyish brown or reddish brown colour and the underparts are glossy white The top of the head has a large black blotch inside which are either two whitish spots or a pale W shaped mark Round the neck is a crescent shaped band of dark blotches separated from the head by a pale band 2 Subspecies editCurrently three subspecies are recognized namely Eirenis modestus modestus MARTIN 1838 E m semimaculatus BOETTGER 1876 from central and western Turkey Anatolia and E m cilicius SCHMIDTLER 1993 from southern Turkey 3 Distribution and habitat editThe ring headed dwarf snake is native to the Greek Mediterranean islands of Lesbos Chios Samos Alzonisi Kalymnos Leros Symi and Megisti and most of Turkey Its range extends eastwards into the Caucasus Mountains eastern Georgia Armenia and Azerbaijan Its natural habitats are dry shrubby vegetation cultivated fields fallow areas and dry open woodland 2 Behaviour editDuring the day the ring headed dwarf snake shelters under stones or in crevices and several snakes may share the same hiding place It emerges at twilight to hunt for spiders insects centipedes scorpions and small lizards Breeding takes place in summer when the female lays a clutch of three to eight relatively large eggs The hatchlings are up to about 12 cm 4 7 in long 2 Status editThe ring headed dwarf snake has a wide range and is presumed to have a large total population It seems to be an adaptable species able to tolerate a range of different habitat types and no particular threats have been identified and for these reasons the IUCN has listed it as being of Least Concern 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eirenis modestus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Eirenis modestus a b c d Petros Lymberakis Varol Tok Ismail H Ugurtas Murat Sevinc Pierre Andre Crochet Goran Nilson Steven Anderson nClaus Andren 2009 Eirenis modestus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 e T157292A5072508 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 RLTS T157292A5072508 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b c Arnold E Nicholas Ovenden Denys W 2002 Field Guide Reptiles amp Amphibians of Britain amp Europe Collins amp Co p 210 ISBN 9780002199643 Eirenis modestus The Reptile Database Retrieved 2020 05 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eirenis modestus amp oldid 1194068189, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
