Ithycyphus miniatus
| Ithycyphus miniatus | |
|---|---|
| File:Ithycyphus miniatus.jpeg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pseudoxyrhophiidae |
| Genus: | Ithycyphus |
| Species: | I. miniatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ithycyphus miniatus (Schlegel, 1837)
| |
| File:MDG orthographic.svg | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Ithycyphus miniatus is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The species is native to Madagascar.[2]
Geographic range
[edit | edit source]I. miniatus is found in northwestern Madagascar.[1]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]The preferred natural habitats of I. miniatus are forest and shrubland at lower altitudes.[1]
Venom
[edit | edit source]I. miniatus is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and, possibly, extensive bleeding in humans.[2][3]
Behavior and diet
[edit | edit source]I. miniatus is small and nocturnal and preys on grey mouse lemurs and other small mammals.[2][3]
In local folklore
[edit | edit source]The common name of I. miniatus in Malagasy is fandrefiala, and it is greatly feared by many rural people of Madagascar, who believe it is able to hypnotize humans with its gaze.[4]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]I. miniatus was originally described and named by Hermann Schlegel in 1837.[5]
References
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- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Mori A, Mizuta T (2006). "Envenomation by the Madagascan colubrid snake, Ithycyphus miniatus". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases 12: 512-520.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale: xxviii + 251 pp. + Partie Descriptive: 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Coluber miniatus, new species, pp. 148-149 of Partie Descriptive). (in French).
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Ithycyphus miniatus, p. 35).
- Duméril AMC, Bibron G, Duméril AHA (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. (Dryophylax miniatus, p. 1120). (in French).
- Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar: Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Jan G (1863). Elenco sistematico degli ofidi descritti e disegnati per l'iconografia generale. Milan: A. Lombardi. vii + 143 pp. (Philodryas miniatus, p. 84). (in Italian).
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