Forest sharp-tailed snake

Contia longicaudae
Scientific classification
Family: Lamprophiidae
Genus: Contia
Species: C. longicaudae
Binomial name
Contia longicaudae
Feldman & Hoyer, 2010[1]
Synonyms

Contia longicauda

The forest sharp-tailed snake (Contia longicaudae) is a species of colubrid snake found in the West Coast of the United States.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The forest sharp-tailed snake is not as widespread as its relative Contia tenuis (sharp-tailed snake). The forest sharp tailed snake is found in shaded wet forests along the West Coast of the United States. The forest sharp tailed snake went unnoticed for a long time due to its vast similarities to Contia tenuis and because of the secretive nature of sharp tailed snakes, and also of their seasonally limited amount of activity.[1]

Identification

The easiest way to set the two species apart is by looking at the tail length and the caudal scales. The forest sharp tailed snake has a longer tail than Contia tenuis and more caudal scales. Specifically, the forest sharp tailed snake has 43 to 58 caudal scales, whereas Contia tenuis has 24 to 42 scales.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Feldman, C. R.; Hoyer, R. F. (2010). "A new species of snake in the genus Contia (Squamata: Colubridae) from California and Oregon". Copeia 2010 (2): 254–267. doi:10.1643/CH-09-129.
  2. 1 2 Contia longicaudae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 May 2013.
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