Western false smooth snake

The western false smooth snake or Iberian false smooth snake (Macroprotodon brevis) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.

Western false smooth snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Macroprotodon
Species:
M. brevis
Binomial name
Macroprotodon brevis
(Günther, 1862)
Distribution [1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Coronella brevis
    Günther, 1862
  • Macroprotodon maroccanus
    W. Peters, 1882
  • Macroprotodon cucullatus brevis
    — Bauer et al., 1995
  • Macroprotodon brevis
    — Carranza et al., 2004

Feeding habits

The species feeds exclusively on vertebrates, mainly reptiles, and mostly long-bodied prey which are burrowers or live under rocks.[3]

Some aspects of its morphology and feeding habits suggest that it is not nocturnal, but rather lives under rocks.[3]

Geographic range

M. brevis is found on the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.[2]

Habitat

The natural habitats of M. brevis include evergreen temperate forests and Mediterranean-style scrubland.[1]

Conservation status

M. brevis is threatened by habitat loss, largely the result of agriculture, and faces some threat from the wild boar.[1]

References
  1. Ulrich Joger, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Iñigo Martínez-Solano (2009). "Macroprotodon brevis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T61532A12508324. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61532A12508324.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Uetz, P. "Macroprotodon brevis ". Reptile Database. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. PLEGUEZUELOS, J (1994). Herpetological journal. London: British Herpetological society. pp. 98–105.

Further reading
  • Günther A (1862). "On new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Third Series 9: 52–59. (Coronella brevis, new species, p. 58).
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