Langaha madagascariensis

Langaha madagascariensis
	Female L. madagascariensis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Genus:	Langaha
Species:	L. madagascariensis
Binomial name
	Langaha madagascariensis; Bonnaterre, 1790
Synonyms
	Langaha nasuta Shaw, 1802; Langaha crista-galli Duméril & Bibron 1854; Langaha ensifera Duméril & Bibron 1854; Langaha intermedia Boulenger 1888[2];

Langaha madagascariensis (formerly Langaha nasuta, commonly known as the Madagascar or Malagasy leaf-nosed snake) is a medium-sized highly cryptic arboreal species. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in deciduous dry forests and rain forests, often in vegetation 1.5 to 2 meters above the ground.[1][3]

Description

Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes can grow up to 1 meter in length.[3] There is considerable sexual dimorphism within the species; the males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow with a long tapering snout, while the females are mottled grey with a flattened, leaf shaped snout.[4] The function of their appendage is unknown, but obviously also serves as camouflage.[3]

It is largely a sit-and-wait predator. It may show curious resting behaviour, hanging straight down from a branch. Prey items include arboreal and terrestrial lizards.[5]

Leaf-nosed snakes are oviparous with clutch sizes ranging from 5 to 11 eggs.[3]

Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes are generally calm and reluctant to bite unless provoked. Envenomation by the snake causes severe pain in humans, but is not deadly.[6]

References

Raxworthy, C.J. (2011). "Leaf Nosed Snake". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url
Langaha madagascariensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 May 2015.
Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln: M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7.
Andrew Durso (February 7, 2013). "Malagasy Leaf-nosed Snakes". Life is Short, but Snakes are Long. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Tingle, Jessica L. (2012). "Field observations on the behavioral ecology of the Madagascan leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7 (3): 442–448.
D'Cruze, Neil C. (2008). "Envenomation by the Malagasy colubrid snake Langaha madagascariensis". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 14 (3): 546–551. doi:10.1590/S1678-91992008000300014.

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[IUCN-1] Raxworthy, C.J. (2011). "Leaf Nosed Snake". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url

[reptile-database.org-2] Langaha madagascariensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 May 2015.

[glaw2007-3] Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln: M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7.

[4] Andrew Durso (February 7, 2013). "Malagasy Leaf-nosed Snakes". Life is Short, but Snakes are Long. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[5] Tingle, Jessica L. (2012). "Field observations on the behavioral ecology of the Madagascan leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7 (3): 442–448.

[6] D'Cruze, Neil C. (2008). "Envenomation by the Malagasy colubrid snake Langaha madagascariensis". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 14 (3): 546–551. doi:10.1590/S1678-91992008000300014.