Oriental odd-tooth snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species:
L. orientalis
Binomial name
Lycodon orientalis
(Hilgendorf, 1880)
Synonyms
  • Ophites orientalis Hilgendorf, 1880
  • Ophites japonicus Günther, 1880

The Oriental odd-tooth snake (Lycodon orientalis), sometimes called the Japanese odd-tooth snake, is a species endemic to Japan, belonging to the family Colubridae. It is found in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, the Goto Islands, Iki Island, Izu Ōshima, the Oki Islands, Sado Island, Tanegashima, and Yakushima. It has also been reported in Shiashkotan, one of the Chishima Islands.[2]

The snake was first described in 1880 by both Hilgendorf[3] and Günther[4] However, according to Stejneger[5] the description by Hilgendorf was published before that of Günther.

Description and habitat

The full-length snake is about 30–70 cm and has black stripes with a lighter coloured underside. They live in the forest, mainly in the forest floor, and prey upon other snakes, frogs and lizards, such as Achalinus spinalis, the Japanese common toad (Bufo japonicus), Takydromus tachydromoides, and Plestiodon japonicus.

References

  1. ↑ Kidera, N.; Ota, H. (2017). "Lycodon orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T48889843A48889862. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T48889843A48889862.en. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Hilgendorf, 1880. Bemerkungen über die von ihm in Japan gesammelten Schlangen nebst Beschreibungen zweier neuer Schlangenarten. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, 1880, n. 8, p.111-121 (original text).
  4. ↑ Günther, 1880 : Description of Ophites japonicus, a new snake from Japan. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 5, vol. 6, p. 462 (original text).
  5. ↑ Stejneger, 1907 : Herpetology of Japan and adjacent territory. Bulletin - United States National Museum, vol. 58, p. 373 (original text).
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