- Tropidophis melanurus
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Tropidophis melanurus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Tropidophiidae Genus: Tropidophis Species: T. melanurus Binomial name Tropidophis melanurus
(Schlegel, 1837)Synonyms - Boa melanura - Schlegel, 1837
- Tropidophis melanurus - Bibron In de la Sagra, 1840
- Notophis bicarinatus - Hallowell, 1856
- Ungalia melanura - Cope, 1868
- Ungalia melanura - Boulenger, 1893
- U[ngalia]. melanura - Cope, 1868
- Tropidophis melanurus melanurus - Schwartz & Thomas, 1960[1]
- Common names: dusky dwarf boa,[2] Cuban wood snake, Cuban giant dwarf boa.
Tropidophis melanurus is a non-venomous dwarf boa species found mainly in Cuba. Currently, 3 subspecies are recognized, including the typical form described here.[2]
Contents
Description
Adults grow to an average of 32 to 39 in (80 to 100 cm) in length.[3]
Geographic range
Found in Cuba, as well as on some nearby islands, including Cayos de San Felipe (Cayo Real), Isla de la Juventud and Navassa Island. The type locality given is "l'île de Cuba."[1]
Feeding
Under natural circumstances, the diet consists of lizards and amphibians, although specimens in captivity can be switched to rodents.
Subspecies
Subspecies[2] Taxon author[2] Common name Geographic range T. m. dysodes Schwartz & Thomas, 1960 Type locality: "one km N. of La Coloma, Pinar del Río Province, Cuba. T. m. ericksoni Schwartz & Thomas, 1960 Type locality: "Bibijagua, Isla de Piños, Habana Province, Cuba." T. m. melanurus (Schlegel, 1837) Type locality: "l'île de Cuba." See also
- List of tropidophiid species and subspecies
- Tropidophiidae by common name
- Tropidophiidae by taxonomic synonyms
References
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b c d "Tropidophis melanurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174333. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
- ^ Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. 624 pp. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.
External links
- Tropidophis melanurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 September 2007.
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