Indian egg-eating snake | |
---|---|
Indian egg-eater at Amravati | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: |
Elachistodon Reinhardt, 1863 |
Species: | E. westermanni
|
Binomial name | |
Elachistodon westermanni
Reinhardt, 1863
| |
Synonyms [3] | |
The Indian egg-eating snake or Indian egg-eater (Elachistodon westermanni) is a rare species of egg-eating snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is also called Westermann's snake, reflecting its scientific name. [1] The snake belongs to the monotypic genus Elachistodon. [3]
The specific name, westermanni, is in honor of Dutch zoologist Geraldus Frederick Westermann (1807–1890). [4]
The Indian egg-eating snake is found in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Recent discoveries of the species come from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The preferred natural habitats of E. westermanni are forest and shrubland, at altitudes of 40–1,000 m (130–3,280 ft). [1]
E. westermanni is glossy brown to black, with bluish white flecks posteriorly and a middorsal creamy stripe from neck to tail tip. The head is brown with a black arrow mark. The ventrals are white with brown dots. Adults may attain a total length of 78 cm (31 inches), with a tail 11 cm (4+1⁄4 inches) long. [10]
The Indian egg-eating snake is a diurnal [1] or nocturnal, terrestrial species that shows remarkable dexterity in scaling vegetation. When provoked, it raises the anterior portion of the body, forming S-shaped coils as a defensive strategy. [9]
E. westermanni exclusively feeds on bird eggs that lack embryonic growth. It has special adaptations such as vertebral hypapophyses, projections of the cervical vertebrae, that jut into the oesophagus, are enamel-capped, and help in cracking eggs. [10] The only other snakes that share these egg-eating adaptations are in the genus Dasypeltis found in Africa. [11]
E. westermanni is oviparous. [3]
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of June 2024 (
link)
Indian egg-eating snake | |
---|---|
Indian egg-eater at Amravati | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: |
Elachistodon Reinhardt, 1863 |
Species: | E. westermanni
|
Binomial name | |
Elachistodon westermanni
Reinhardt, 1863
| |
Synonyms [3] | |
The Indian egg-eating snake or Indian egg-eater (Elachistodon westermanni) is a rare species of egg-eating snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is also called Westermann's snake, reflecting its scientific name. [1] The snake belongs to the monotypic genus Elachistodon. [3]
The specific name, westermanni, is in honor of Dutch zoologist Geraldus Frederick Westermann (1807–1890). [4]
The Indian egg-eating snake is found in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Recent discoveries of the species come from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The preferred natural habitats of E. westermanni are forest and shrubland, at altitudes of 40–1,000 m (130–3,280 ft). [1]
E. westermanni is glossy brown to black, with bluish white flecks posteriorly and a middorsal creamy stripe from neck to tail tip. The head is brown with a black arrow mark. The ventrals are white with brown dots. Adults may attain a total length of 78 cm (31 inches), with a tail 11 cm (4+1⁄4 inches) long. [10]
The Indian egg-eating snake is a diurnal [1] or nocturnal, terrestrial species that shows remarkable dexterity in scaling vegetation. When provoked, it raises the anterior portion of the body, forming S-shaped coils as a defensive strategy. [9]
E. westermanni exclusively feeds on bird eggs that lack embryonic growth. It has special adaptations such as vertebral hypapophyses, projections of the cervical vertebrae, that jut into the oesophagus, are enamel-capped, and help in cracking eggs. [10] The only other snakes that share these egg-eating adaptations are in the genus Dasypeltis found in Africa. [11]
E. westermanni is oviparous. [3]
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of June 2024 (
link)