Liophidium pattoni

Liophidium pattoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Family:Lamprophiidae
Genus:Liophidium
Species: L. pattoni
Binomial name
Liophidium pattoni
Vieites, Ratsoavina, Randrianiaina, Nagy, Glaw & Vences, 2010

Liophidium pattoni is a species of snake of the family Lamprophiidae. Little is known about the snake, as it was recently discovered in 2010.

Underside

Geographic range

The snake is found in Madagascar.The species is known in two sites in Madagascar, the Masoala peninsula and the Makira Plateau.[2] From the observation of the species found in Madagascar, they were found in the vegetation area of the primary rainforest. [3]

The Masoala peninsula of Madagascar (inset) where L. pattoni occurs.

Phylogeny

Liophidium pattoni is a part of the Liophidium family, which is a genus of lamprophiid snakes. Which means the Liophidium pattoni is harmless to humans. There are nine Liophidium snakes that are endemic Madagascar. The newly discovered species of Liophidium pattoni makes it the tenth Liophidium snake endemic to Madagascar. They are closely related to the Liophidium rhodogaster.[3]

Description

Liophidium pattoni have unique color and patterns. Thin snake with black dorsal side with discontinuous pink stripes but fades body in to blue-gray almost white. The ventral side of the snake is bright yellow but a bright pink stripe at the tail.  The ventral side also has black crescent shaped scales. An adult male can be 416.5 mm long and have a Snout-vent length of 329mm, and head length of 12.4 mm.[3]

Diet

Liophidium pattoni hunt through the rainforest for ground animals, such as small lizards like a Madagascar skink. [3]   

References

  1. ↑ "Liophidium pattoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2011. 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Red list "Liophidium pattoni"".
  3. 1 2 3 4 Vieities, David (February 20, 2010). "A rhapsody of colours from Madagascar: discovery of a remarkable new snake of the genus Liophidium and its phylogenetic relationships" (PDF). Salamandra. 46: 10.

See also

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