- Antilles Racer
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Antilles Racer Antilles Racer in Rosalie, Dominica. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Alsophis Species: A. antillensis
Schlegel, 1837Binomial name Alsophis antillensis Subspecies - A. a. antillensis
- A. a. manselli
- A. a. sibonius
Synonyms Psammophis antillensis
Dromicus antillensis
Dromicus leucomelasThe Antilles Racer (Alsophis antillensis) is a species of snake found in the Caribbean, on the Lesser Antilles islands of Montserrat, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. It is common only on Dominica, where it can be found in all areas except the highest elevations, possibly due to the absence of the mongoose on that island.
It can reach nearly a meter in length. It feeds on lizards and small rodents. It rarely bites humans, but may release a foul-smelling (though harmless) cloacal secretion when disturbed.
The Dominican population is alternately described as an endemic subspecies A. a. sibonius, or as an endemic species, A. sibonius. It has a brown ground color, with lighter brown or white splotches that may alternate to form a zig-zag pattern. A. a. manselli is restricted to Montserrat. Populations on Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante have possibly been extirpated.
References
- Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S.; Hypolite, Eric; James, Arlington (2007), "A report on the status of the herpetofauna of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies", Appl. Herpetol. 4: 177–94
- Malhotra, Anita; Thorpe, Roger S. (1999), Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean, Macmillan Education Ltd., p. 27, 38–39, 75, 84, 87, 88, 122, ISBN 0-333-69141-5
- Powell, Robert; Henderson, Robert W. (2005), "Conservation Status of Lesser Antillean Reptiles", Iguana 12 (2): 63–77
External links
- Media related to Alsophis antillensis at Wikimedia Commons
- Alsophis antillensis at the Encyclopedia of Life
- Alsophis antillensis at the Reptile Database
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