Calamaria schlegeli
| Calamaria schlegeli | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Calamaria |
| Species: | C. schlegeli |
| Binomial name | |
| Calamaria schlegeli Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 | |
 | |
Calamaria schlegeli is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is known commonly as the red-headed reed snake,[1] white-headed reed snake,[2] and pink-headed reed snake.[3] It is native to Southeast Asia, where it occurs in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.[1]
Identification
The key identification characters are modified maxillary teeth and scale characteristics. The third and fourth upper lip scales touch the eye. The mental scale does not touch the anterior chin shields. The nasal scales are oriented laterally. There is considerable geographic variation. Preocular scales are present in snakes from Singapore and Malaya but absent in those from Java and sometimes present on those from Borneo and Sumatra.[4][5]
This nonvenomous red-headed snake is sometimes confused with the red-headed blue Malayan coral snake (Calliophis bivirgat), which is venomous.[3]
Biology
This species lives in forest undergrowth. It sometimes emerges on paths and in yards and gardens.[1] It burrows for cover and feeds on small prey such as worms and insects.[3]
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Calamaria schlegeli. |
- 1 2 3 Iskandar, D. & Grismer, L. 2012. Calamaria schlegeli. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 18 February 2016.
- ↑ Calamaria schlegeli. Reptile Database.
- 1 2 3 Calamaria schlegeli. Ecologyasia.
- ↑ Inger, RF; H. Marx (1965). "The systematics and evolution of the Oriental Colubrid snakes of the genus Calamaria". Fieldiana Zoology 49: 1–304.
- ↑ De Rooij, Nelly (1917). The Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Volume 2. Leiden: E.J.Brill. p. 173.