The specific name, swinhonis, is in honour of Robert Swinhoe, a British diplomat and naturalist stationed in China in mid-19th century,[4] who collected the holotype.[2]
Descriptionedit
R. swinhonis can reach a maximum total length (including tail) of 70 cm (28 in). It has 15–17 rows of keeled dorsal scales. The head is oval, the body is moderately stout, and the tail is moderately long. The medium to large eye has a dark grey-brown iris and a round, jet black pupil surrounded by a grey ring. The body is dorsally dark grey-brown with ill-defined or fairly prominent square areas of black. The underside is cream to light grey and is mottled with deposits of coarse dark pigment. The head is uniform dark olive grey to olive brown above, while the sides are lighter. There is an oblique black band below the eye as well as a larger black band on the side of head, above the corner of mouth. The nape bears a distinct, thick, and black backward-pointing chevron. The anal scale is divided and the subcaudal scales are paired.[3]
Defensive behaviouredit
R. swinhonis is non-venomous and docile; when threatened it may expand its throat and neck transversely, but is unlikely to bite. It has nuchal glands that secrete a brown liquid; this may act as a predator deterrent, although its precise function remains unknown.[3]
Reproductionedit
Reproduction in R. swinhonis is through oviparity.[2] Each clutch contains 6–15 eggs.[3]
Geographic range and habitatedit
R. swinhonis occurs throughout Taiwan at elevations of 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft) above sea level. It is a diurnal snake that lives on the forest floor, bushlands, and other humid environments.[3] They also occur in agricultural fields.[1]
R. swinhonis is an uncommon species.[1][3] It is not facing significant threats, occurs in protected areas, and enjoys Class III protection.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgLau, M. (2012). "Rhabdophis swinhonis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192021A2029160. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192021A2029160.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abcdeRhabdophis swinhonis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 November 2017.
^ abcdefgBreuer, Hans; Murphy, William Christopher (2009–2010). . Snakes of Taiwan. Archived from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
^ abBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Rhabdophis swinhonis, p. 258.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhabdophis swinhonis.
Wikispecies has information related to Rhabdophis swinhonis.
Boulenger 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. (Tropidonotus swinhonis, p. 218).
Günther A (1868). "Sixth Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Fourth Series1: 413–429. (Tropidonotus Swinhonis, new species, p. 420 + Plate XIX, figure F).
Stejneger L (1907). Herpetology of Japan and Adjacent Territory. United States National Museum Bulletin 58. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xx + 577 pp. (Natrix swinhonis, new combination, pp. 293–294, Figure 256).
Stejneger L (1911). "The Batrachians and Reptiles of Formosa". Proceedings of the United States National Museum38: 91–114. (Natrix swinhonis, p. 103).
April 11, 2024
rhabdophis, swinhonis, species, snake, subfamily, natricinae, family, colubridae, species, endemic, taiwan, also, known, commonly, taiwan, keelback, swinhoe, grass, snake, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakin. Rhabdophis swinhonis is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae The species is endemic to Taiwan 1 2 It is also known commonly as the Taiwan keelback 1 2 and Swinhoe s grass snake 3 4 Rhabdophis swinhonisConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus RhabdophisSpecies R swinhonisBinomial nameRhabdophis swinhonis Gunther 1868 Synonyms 2 Tropidonotus Swinhonis Gunther 1868 Tropidonotus swinhoei Boettger 1888 emendation Natrix swinhonis Stejneger 1907 Rhabdophis swinhonis Malnate 1960 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Defensive behaviour 4 Reproduction 5 Geographic range and habitat 6 Diet 7 Conservation 8 References 9 Further readingEtymology editThe specific name swinhonis is in honour of Robert Swinhoe a British diplomat and naturalist stationed in China in mid 19th century 4 who collected the holotype 2 Description editR swinhonis can reach a maximum total length including tail of 70 cm 28 in It has 15 17 rows of keeled dorsal scales The head is oval the body is moderately stout and the tail is moderately long The medium to large eye has a dark grey brown iris and a round jet black pupil surrounded by a grey ring The body is dorsally dark grey brown with ill defined or fairly prominent square areas of black The underside is cream to light grey and is mottled with deposits of coarse dark pigment The head is uniform dark olive grey to olive brown above while the sides are lighter There is an oblique black band below the eye as well as a larger black band on the side of head above the corner of mouth The nape bears a distinct thick and black backward pointing chevron The anal scale is divided and the subcaudal scales are paired 3 Defensive behaviour editR swinhonis is non venomous and docile when threatened it may expand its throat and neck transversely but is unlikely to bite It has nuchal glands that secrete a brown liquid this may act as a predator deterrent although its precise function remains unknown 3 Reproduction editReproduction in R swinhonis is through oviparity 2 Each clutch contains 6 15 eggs 3 Geographic range and habitat editR swinhonis occurs throughout Taiwan at elevations of 500 1 000 m 1 600 3 300 ft above sea level It is a diurnal snake that lives on the forest floor bushlands and other humid environments 3 They also occur in agricultural fields 1 Diet editThe main prey of R swinhonis is frogs 1 3 Conservation editR swinhonis is an uncommon species 1 3 It is not facing significant threats occurs in protected areas and enjoys Class III protection 1 References edit a b c d e f g Lau M 2012 Rhabdophis swinhonis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012 e T192021A2029160 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2012 1 RLTS T192021A2029160 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b c d e Rhabdophis swinhonis at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 19 November 2017 a b c d e f g Breuer Hans Murphy William Christopher 2009 2010 Rhabdophis swinhonis Snakes of Taiwan Archived from the original on 24 November 2019 Retrieved 19 November 2017 a b 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 Rhabdophis swinhonis p 258 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhabdophis swinhonis nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Rhabdophis swinhonis 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 Tropidonotus swinhonis p 218 Gunther A 1868 Sixth Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum Annals and Magazine of Natural History Fourth Series 1 413 429 Tropidonotus Swinhonis new species p 420 Plate XIX figure F Stejneger L 1907 Herpetology of Japan and Adjacent Territory United States National Museum Bulletin 58 Washington District of Columbia Smithsonian Institution xx 577 pp Natrix swinhonis new combination pp 293 294 Figure 256 Stejneger L 1911 The Batrachians and Reptiles of Formosa Proceedings of the United States National Museum 38 91 114 Natrix swinhonis p 103 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhabdophis swinhonis amp oldid 1190945707, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,