Texas lined snake
The Texas lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum) is a subspecies of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the United States.
| Texas lined snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Tropidoclonion |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | T. l. texanum |
| Trinomial name | |
| Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum Ramsey, 1953 | |
Geographic range
The Texas lined snake is found in the southcentral United States, primarily in the state of Texas.[1]
Habitat
T. l. texanum is a relatively common fossorial subspecies, and spends most of its time buried in leaf litter.
Diet
The Texas lined snake preys upon earthworms.[1]
Description
T. l. texanum is typically olive green to dark brown in color, with a distinctive yellow or cream-colored stripe down the center of the back. It has a small head and small eyes. It differs from other subspecies of T. lineatum by having fewer subcaudals: 33 or fewer in females, 40 or fewer in males.[2]
References
- Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Tropidoclonion lineatum and T. l. texanum, pp. 166-167 + Plate 24 + Map 123).
- Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum, p. 152).
Further reading
- Ramsey LW (1953). "The Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell)". Herpetologica 9 (1): 7-24. (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum, new subspecies).