Lycophidion
Lycophidion is a genus of nonvenomous lamprophiid snakes commonly referred to as the wolf snakes.
Lycophidion capense, cape wolf snake, Waterberg, Limpopo.
| Lycophidion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lycophidion variegatum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Lamprophiidae |
| Subfamily: | Lamprophiinae |
| Genus: | Lycophidion Fitzinger, 1843 |
| Species | |
|
23 species, see text. | |
Description and behavior
Wolf snakes are small snakes which forage at night for sleeping lizards.[2] They have flat heads and large recurved teeth that are assumed to aid them in their extraction of lizards from their lairs.[3]
Reproduction
All species in the genus Lycophidion are oviparous and lay between 3 and 10 eggs.[3]
Lycophidion multimaculatum, the Spotted Wolf Snake, from Northern Namibia/Southwestern Zambia
Species
The following species are recognized as being valid.[1]
- Lycophidion acutirostre Günther, 1868
- Lycophidion albomaculatum Steindachner, 1870
- Lycophidion capense (A. Smith, 1831)
- Lycophidion chirioi Trape, 2021
- Lycophidion depressirostre Laurent, 1968
- Lycophidion hellmichi Laurent, 1964
- Lycophidion irroratum (Leach, 1819)
- Lycophidion jacksoni (Boulenger, 1893) — western Jackson's wolf snake
- Lycophidion laterale Hallowell, 1857
- Lycophidion meleagre Boulenger, 1893
- Lycophidion multimaculatum Boettger, 1888
- Lycophidion namibianum Broadley, 1991
- Lycophidion nanum (Broadley, 1958)
- Lycophidion nigromaculatum (W. Peters, 1863)
- Lycophidion ornatum Parker, 1936
- Lycophidion pembanum Laurent,1968
- Lycophidion pygmaeum Broadley, 1996
- Lycophidion semiannule W. Peters, 1854
- Lycophidion semicinctum A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
- Lycophidion taylori Broadley & Hughes, 1993
- Lycophidion tchadensis Trape, 2021 — Chad wolf snake
- Lycophidion uzungwense Loveridge, 1932
- Lycophidion variegatum Broadley, 1969
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion.
References
- Uetz, Peter. "Search results - Lycophidion ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- Marais, Johan (2004). A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa (New ed.). Cape Town: Struik. ISBN 978-1868729326.
- Alexander, Graham; Marais, Johan (2007). A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa (3. impression. ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 94. ISBN 9781770073869. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
Further reading
- Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Lycophidion, p. 76).
- Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Lycophidion, new genus, p. 27). (in Latin).
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