Trimorphodon

Trimorphodon

Taxobox
name = Lyre Snakes



image_caption = Texas Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Trimorphodon"
genus_authority = Cope, 1861

"Trimorphodon" is a genus of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes. They are commonly known as lyre snakes, named after the distinctive V shaped pattern on their head that is said to resemble the shape of a lyre. In Mexico, they are commonly called "víbora de uña," or "nail viper." [ [http://www.creativodesconocido.com/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=3&Itemid=68 SOS SIERRA LOS HUICHOLES, JALISCO] . Under "Listado de Fauna"] The word "Trimorphodon" is a combination of three Greek words, 'tri' - three, 'morph' - shape, and 'odon' - teeth, which refers to the three distinct kinds of teeth that lyre snakes have: recurved anterior teeth; shorter middle teeth, and large grooved fangs at the rear of the jaw. There are two distinct species in the genus "Trimorphodon", with seven subspecies.

Range

"Trimorphodon biscutatus" ranges throughout the southwestern United States, from Texas to California as well as into northern Mexico. "Trimorphodon tau" ranges through most of Mexico, and down into Central America, in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and as far south as Costa Rica. They are primarily found in rocky crevices and outcroppings.

Description

Lyre snakes usually grow to about 1m at adult size. They have a broad head with a narrow neck and large eyes with vertical pupils. They are tan or brown in color, with distinctive black or dark brown bands that have lighter colored borders.

Behavior

"Trimorphodon" species are primarily nocturnal, and feed on lizards, rodents and even bats. They are a very secretive species, and excellent climbers. They live inside rock crevices and canyon walls where humans cannot easily find them, which makes research difficult. They are oviparous, laying clutches of 10 or more eggs. Hybridization between species is not unknown in the areas where their range overlaps. Their venom is not considered to be dangerous to humans.

Species

*Western Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus"
**"Trimorphodon biscutatus biscutatus" (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
**Sonoran Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda" (Cope, 1886)
**Baja California Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes" (Cope, 1860)
**"Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex" (Smith, 1941)
**Texas Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii" (Cope, 1886)
*Mexican Lyre Snake, "Trimorphodon tau"
**"Trimorphodon tau latifascia" (Peters, 1869)
**"Trimorphodon tau tau" (Cope, 1870)

References

*EMBL genus|genus=Trimorphodon
* [http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.b.lyrophanes.html CaliforniaHerps.com Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes - Baja California Lyresnake]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Trimorphodon — Trimorphodon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trimorphodon — Trimorphodon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trimorphodon — noun lyre snakes • Syn: ↑genus Trimorphodon • Hypernyms: ↑reptile genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Colubridae, ↑family Colubridae • Member Meronyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Trimorphodon biscutatus — Trimorphodon biscutatus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trimorphodon biscutatus — Trimorphodon biscutatus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trimorphodon biscutatus — Taxobox name = Western Lyre Snake image caption = Texas Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Squamata subordo = Serpentes familia = Colubridae genus = Trimorphodon species …   Wikipedia

  • Trimorphodon biscutatus — Küsten Lyraschlange Küsten Lyraschlange (Trimorphodon biscutatus) verschlingt Frosch Systematik Überfamilie …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii — Taxobox name = Texas Lyre Snake regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Squamata subordo = Serpentes familia = Colubridae genus = Trimorphodon species = T. biscutatus subspecies = T. b. vilkinsonii trinomial = Trimorphodon… …   Wikipedia

  • Trimorphodon lambda — noun of desert regions of southwestern North America • Syn: ↑Sonoran lyre snake • Hypernyms: ↑lyre snake …   Useful english dictionary

  • genus Trimorphodon — noun lyre snakes • Syn: ↑Trimorphodon • Hypernyms: ↑reptile genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Colubridae, ↑family Colubridae • Member Meronyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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