Muhtarophis Explained

Muhtarophis barani, also known commonly as Baran's black-headed dwarf snake, is a species of snake in the monotypic genus Muhtarophis in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae.^[1] The species is endemic to the Amanos Mountains of Turkey, and was discovered in 2007.^{[2] [3]}

Etymology

The generic name, Muhtarophis, is in honor of Turkish herpetologist Muhtar Başoğlu (with the suffix -ophis meaning "snake").^[4]

The specific name, barani, is in honor of Turkish herpetologist of the Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir.^{[5] [6]}

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of M. barani are shrubland and rocky areas, at an altitude of 1300m (4,300feet).

Description

M. barani has 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody, and 163–173 ventral scales. The head is oblique-shaped anteriorly. There is a distinctive black blotch under the eye, running into a narrow stripe. The dorsal surface of the body is colored reddish brown, with no spots.^[5]

Reproduction

M. barani is oviparous.^[5]

Further reading

• Avci A, Ilgaz Ç, Rajabizadeh M, Yilmaz C, Üzüm N, Andriaens D, Kumlutaş Y, Olgun K (2015). "Molecular phylogeny and micro CT-scanning revealed extreme cryptic biodiversity in kukri snake Muhtarophis gen. nov., a new genus for Rhynchocalamus barani (Serpentes: Colubridae)". Russian Journal of Herpetology 22 (3): 159–174.
• Olgun K, Avci A, Ilgaz Ç, Üzüm N, Yilmaz C (2007). "A new species of Rhynchocalamus (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae) from Turkey". Zootaxa 1399: 57–68. (Rhynchocalamus barani, new species).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Amanos Dwarf Snake . AdaMerOs Herptil Türkiye . 11 March 2017.
2. Web site: Molecular Phylogeny and Micro CT-Scanning Revealed Extreme Cryptic Biodiversity in Kukri Snake, A New Genus for Rhynchocalamus barani (Serpentes: Colubridae). 30 September 2015 . Novataxa . 11 March 2017.
3. An integrative systematic revision and biogeography of Rhynchocalamus snakes (Reptilia, Colubridae) with a description of a new species from Israel. 5183090. 28028461. 10.7717/peerj.2769. 4. PeerJ. e2769. Tamar K, Šmíd J, Göçmen B, Meiri S, Carranza S. 2016 . free .
4. [Azız Avci|Avci]
5. Web site: Muhtarophis barani OLGUN, AVCI, ILGAZ, ÜZÜM & YILMAZ, 2007 . The Reptile Database . 11 March 2017.
6. [Richard Allen "Bo" Crombet-Beolens|Beolens B]