Lycodon ruhstrati
| Lycodon cardamomensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Lycodon |
| Species: | L. ruhstrati |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycodon ruhstrati Fischer, 1886 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ophites ruhstrati | |
Lycodon rustrati, also known as Ruhstrat's wolf snake,[1] the mountain wolf snake, or the Formosa wolf snake,[2] is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake found in Taiwan, southern and eastern China, and northern Vietnam.[1]
Etymology
The species name rustrati was chosen to honor Ruhstrat, who collected the type specimens of the species in southern Taiwan.[2]
Description
The color pattern of this species is highly variable, although it tends to carry several clear bands on its back. The largest specimen found prior to 2008 had a length of 94 centimeters.[3]
Reproduction
L. ruhstrati is oviparous, or egg-laying, with females laying four eggs in each clutch.[1]
Phylogeny & taxonomy
Lycodon ruhstrati is a member of the genus Lycodon, a genus of snakes commonly known as wolf snakes.[4] The genus belongs to the snake family Colubridae, the largest snake family, with member species being found on every continent except Antarctica.[5]
The genus has at times been placed in the genus Oligodon, but this classification is under dispute.[1]
The species Lycodon multifasciatus was previously listed as a sub-species of L. ruhstrati, being classified as Lycodon ruhstrati multifasciatus in 1931. In 2009 it was classified as a separate species.[2]
The species Dinodon futsingensis, first described in 1928, was synonymised with Lycodon ruhstrati in 1929. However, in 2009 it was recognized as a separate species, and named Lycodon futsingensis.[6]
In 2013, the genetic sequence of the snake was used as part of a study which suggested combining the genera Lycodon and Dinodon.[6]
Subspecies
L. ruhstrati currently has two subspecies; Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati, the nominate subspecies first described from Taiwan, and Lycodon ruhstrati abditus described from Vietnam.[2]
Habitat & ecology
L. ruhstrati is a montane species and is found on slopes, in caves, and beneath stones in mountain streams. It is also found in agricultural land and both natural and plantation forests in the foothills.[1]
The snake is known to predate upon the brown anole, Anoles sagrei,[7] as well as upon Japalura swinhonis.[8]
Distribution
L. ruhstrati occurs in the Tranninh Plateau of Laos, in northern Vietnam, and a number of locations in southern China. It has been found in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guanxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Zhejiang.[3]
The subspecies Lycodon ruhstrati multifasciatus was also been found in Japan's Ryukyu islands; however, this subspecies was subsequently reclassified as a separate species.[3]
Conservation
L. ruhstrati is classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, because it is presumed to have a large population and to be distributed over a large area. It is also not thought to be declining very fast.[1] No steps are currently being taken to specifically conserve this species, although it is thought to be found in a number of protected areas.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 China Snakes Working Group (2011). "Lycodon ruhstrati". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Hallerman, Jakob; Uetz, Peter. "Lycodon ruhstrati". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- 1 2 3 Vogel, Gernot; Brachtel, Norbert (2008). "Contribution to the knowledge of Lycodon ruhstrati (Fischer, 1886) in Vietnam – taxonomy and biology of a little-known species". Salamandra 44 (4): 207–224. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- ↑ "Wolf snake". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- ↑ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G., ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 188–195. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
- 1 2 Guo, Peng; Zhao, Liang; Liu, Qin; Li, Cao; Pyron, R. Alexander; Jiang, Ke; Burbrink, Frank T. (2013). "Lycodon and Dinodon: One genus or two? Evidence from molecular phylogenetics and morphological comparisons". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 68: 144–149. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.008.
- ↑ Norval, G.; Mao, J.J (2008). "An instance of arboricolous predation by a Mountain Wolf Snake (Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati [FISCHER], 1886]) on a Brown anole (Norops sagrei DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1837)". Sauria 30 (1): 59–62.
- ↑ Norval, G.; Mao, J.J (2008). "An instance of Japalura swinhonis as prey of Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati in Chiayi County, Taiwan". Sauria 30 (3): 43–45.