Madagascarophis

Taxobox
name = "Madgascarophis"

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image_caption = Malagasy Cat-eyed Snake, "Madagascarophis colubrinus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Madagascarophis"
genus_authority = Mertens, 1952

"Madgascarophis" is a genus of small, mildly venomous colubrid snakes native to the island of Madagascar. They are commonly referred to as Malagasy Cat-eyed Snakes. There are four species in the genus.

Species

*"Madagascarophis citrinus" (Boettger, 1877)
*"Madagascarophis colubrinus":*"Madagascarophis colubrinus colubrinus" (Schlegel, 1837):*"Madagascarophis colubrinus insularis" (Domergue, 1987):*"Madagascarophis colubrinus occidentalis" (Domergue, 1987):*"Madagascarophis colubrinus pastoriensis" (Domergue, 1987):*"Madagascarophis colubrinus septentrionalis" (Domergue, 1987)
*"Madagascarophis meridionalis" (Domergue, 1987)
*"Madagascarophis ocellatus" (Domergue, 1987)

Description

"Madgascarophis" species are small snakes, rarely exceeding 100 cm in adult size. They are highly variable in color, greys, browns, yellows, greens, and oranges with darker colored blotches. They have large eyes with vertical pupils.

Behavior

Malagasy cat-eyed snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the island of Madagascar, from montane regions to rain forest. Primarily nocturnal and terrestrial but capable of climbing and are strong swimmers. They feed on a variety of things, including chameleons and rodents. Their venom is mild and often not powerful enough to subdue their chosen prey items, so they also employ constriction as necessary.

In captivity

"Madagascarophis colubrinus" and "Madagascar occellatus" are frequently imported for the exotic pet trade, and for educational research. The [http://www.uttyler.edu/biology/orc.htm Ophidian Research Colony] of the University of Texas at Tyler is known to keep a breeding group of "M. colubrinus".

References

*EMBL genus|genus=Madagascarophis