Dolichophis jugularis

Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.

Dolichophis jugularis
Dolichophis jugularis preying on a sheltopusik
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dolichophis
Species:
D. jugularis
Binomial name
Dolichophis jugularis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[2]
  • Coluber jugularis
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Zamenis viridiflavus var. asiana
    Boettger, 1880
  • Hierophis jugularis
    — Schätti, 1988
  • Dolichophis jugularis
    — Nagy et al., 2004

Geographic range

Dolichophis jugularis is found in Cyprus, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Syria, and Turkey.[2]

Habitat

D. jugularis is found in a variety of habitats including forest, shrubland, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1]

Description

Dorsally, adults are black, but juveniles are tan with darker small blotches. The juvenile pattern disappears when the snake reaches the age of three to four years.[2]

Reproduction

D. jugularis is oviparous.[1][2] Clutch size is 7–11 eggs.[1]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Dolichophis jugularis asianus (Boettger, 1880)
  • Dolichophis jugularis cypriacus (Zinner, 1972)
  • Dolichophis jugularus jugularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

References
  1. Baha El Din, S.; Crochet, P.-A.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Kaya, U.; Lymberakis, P.; Disi, A.M.; Sadek, R.; Sevinç, M.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Werner, Y.L. (2012). "Dolichophis jugularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T157294A749921. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T157294A749921.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Species Dolichophis jugularis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Coluber jugularis, pp. 196–197 + Plate 35 + Map 109).
  • Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Coluber jugularis, new species, p. 225). (in Latin).



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.