Lycophidion Explained

Lycophidion is a genus of nonvenomous lamprophiid snakes commonly referred to as the wolf snakes. there are 23 recognized species in the genus.

Description and behavior

Wolf snakes are small snakes which forage at night for sleeping lizards. They have flat heads and large recurved teeth that are assumed to aid them in their extraction of lizards from their lairs.

Reproduction

All species in the genus Lycophidion are oviparous and lay between 3 and 10 eggs.

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.

• Lycophidion acutirostre
• Lycophidion albomaculatum
• Lycophidion capense
• Lycophidion chirioi
• Lycophidion depressirostre
• Lycophidion hellmichi
• Lycophidion irroratum
• Lycophidion jacksoni – western Jackson's wolf snake
• Lycophidion laterale
• Lycophidion meleagre
• Lycophidion multimaculatum
• Lycophidion namibianum
• Lycophidion nanum
• Lycophidion nigromaculatum
• Lycophidion ornatum
• Lycophidion pembanum
• Lycophidion pygmaeum
• Lycophidion semiannule
• Lycophidion semicinctum
• Lycophidion taylori
• Lycophidion tchadensis – Chad wolf snake
• Lycophidion uzungwense
• Lycophidion variegatum

Nota bene

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion.

Further reading

• Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (Genus Lycophidion, p. 76).
• Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Lycophidion, new genus, p. 27). (in Latin).