Scarce bridle snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species:
L. gracilis
Binomial name
Lycodon gracilis
(Günther, 1864)
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Odontomus gracilis Günther, 1864[3]
  • Odontomus fergusonii Haly, 1888
  • Hydrophobus gracilis (Günther, 1864)
  • Dryocalamus gracilis (Günther, 1864)

The scarce bridle snake (Lycodon gracilis) [4] is a species of snake found in South India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.[1][2]

Description

The holotype measures 53 cm (21 in) in length, including the 10 cm (4 in) tail. The holotype has 234 ventral scales, an entire anal scale, and 81–83 subcaudal scales. The ground colour is white. There are about 38 dark-brown crossbands, which are about 2–3 times as wide as the white interspaces. The interspaces are marbled with brown. The first crossband occupies the head. The lower parts are uniform white.[3]

Distribution

This species is known from scattered records, including just two specimens reported since 1888.[1] In India, it is known from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Orissa.[2] The Sri Lankan record is from Jaffna. Lastly, this species is known from False Island, off the Arakan coast of Myanmar.[1] The holotype was collected from the Anamallay Mountains by Richard Henry Beddome.[3]

Habitat

Lycodon gracilis occurs in moist and dry forests. Its Sri Lankan habitat has been described as "monsoon scrub jungle".[1]

Threats

This species could be threatened by habitat loss and degradation caused by agricultural and urban expansion. However, the impact of these threats is unknown as current records are lacking.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 de Silva, A. (2010). "Dryocalamus gracilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T177551A7455336. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T177551A7455336.en.
  2. 1 2 3 Lycodon gracilis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 14 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Günther, Albert C. L. G. (1864). The Reptiles of British India. Ray Society (Series) No. 35. London: R. Hardwicke. (Odontomus gracilis: p. 234)
  4. ↑ "Dryocalamus gracilis Scarce Bridal Snake". snakedatabase.org. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
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