Tropidophis melanurus explained
Tropidophis melanurus, commonly known as the dusky dwarf boa, Cuban wood snake, or Cuban giant dwarf boa, is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to Cuba. There are three subspecies that are recognized as being valid, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Description
Adults of T. melanurus grow to an average of 32inchesto39inchesin (toin) in total length (including tail).[1]
Geographic range
T. melanurus is found in Cuba, as well as on some nearby islands, including Cayos de San Felipe (Cayo Real), and Isla de la Juventud. The type locality given is "l'île de Cuba."
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of T. melanurus is forest.
Diet
T. melanurus preys upon amphibians (frogs), reptiles (lizards), birds, and mammals (rodents).
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of T. melanurus is unclear: it has been described as oviparous, and as ovoviviparous.[2]
Subspecies
| Subspecies | Taxon author | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|
| Tropidophis melanurus dysodes | Schwartz & Thomas, 1960 | | Type locality "one km N. of La Coloma, Pinar del Río Province, Cuba.
|
| Tropidophis melanurus ericksoni | Schwartz & Thomas, 1960 | | Type locality: "Bibijagua, Isla de Piños, Habana Province, Cuba." |
| Tropidophis melanurus melanurus | (Schlegel, 1837) | | Type locality: "l'île de Cuba." |
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Etymology
The subspecific name, ericksoni, is in honor of Edwin B. Erickson who assisted Schwartz in fieldwork in 1957.[3]
Further reading
- Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Ungalia melanura, pp. 111–112).
- Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale. xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive. 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Boa melanura, new species, pp. 399–401). (in French).
- Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. 720 pp. . (Tropidophis melanurus, p. 638).
- Schwartz A, Thomas R (1960). "Four New Snakes (Tropidophis, Dromicus, Alsophis) from Isla de Pinos and Cuba". Herpetologica 16 (2): 73–90. (Tropidophis melanurus dysodes, new subspecies; T. m. ericksoni, new subspecies).
- Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Tropidophis melanurus, p. 194).
Notes and References
- Burnie, David; Wilson, Don E. (2001). Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 pp. .
- Species "Tropidophis melanurus " at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- [Albert Schwartz (zoologist)|Schwartz A]
