Dolichophis jugularis
Dolichophis jugularis preying on a sheltopusik
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dolichophis
Species:
D. jugularis
Binomial name
Dolichophis jugularis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[2]
  • Coluber jugularis
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Zamenis viridiflavus var. asiana
    Boettger, 1880
  • Hierophis jugularis
    — Schätti, 1988
  • Dolichophis jugularis
    — Nagy et al., 2004

Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.

Geographic range

Dolichophis jugularis is found in Cyprus, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Syria, and Turkey.[2]

Habitat

D. jugularis is found in a variety of habitats including forest, shrubland, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1]

Description

Dorsally, adults are black, but juveniles are tan with darker small blotches. The juvenile pattern disappears when the snake reaches the age of three to four years.[2]

Reproduction

D. jugularis is oviparous.[1][2] Clutch size is 7–11 eggs.[1]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Dolichophis jugularis asianus (Boettger, 1880)
  • Dolichophis jugularis cypriacus (Zinner, 1972)
  • Dolichophis jugularus jugularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Baha El Din, S.; Crochet, P.-A.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Kaya, U.; Lymberakis, P.; Disi, A.M.; Sadek, R.; Sevinç, M.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Werner, Y.L. (2012). "Dolichophis jugularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T157294A749921. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T157294A749921.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Species Dolichophis jugularis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

  • Arnold EN, Burton JA (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Coluber jugularis, pp. 196–197 + Plate 35 + Map 109).
  • Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Coluber jugularis, new species, p. 225). (in Latin).



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