Dasypeltis medici
| Dasypeltis medici | |
|---|---|
| Dasypeltis medici in the Prague Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Dasypeltis |
| Species: | D. medici
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dasypeltis medici (Bianconi, 1859)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Dasypeltis medici, also known commonly as the East African egg-eater, the eastern forest egg-eater, and the rufous egg eater, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Etymology
The specific name, medici, is in honor of Italian physiologist Michele Medici.[3]
Geographic range
Dasypeltis medici is found in Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[2]
Habitat
The preferred habitat of Dasypeltis medici is lowland evergreen forest,[4] at elevations from near sea level to 2,500 m (8,200 ft).[1]
Description
Dasypeltis medici may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 76 cm (30 in) for females, and 60 cm (24 in) for males.[4]
Diet
Dasypeltis medici, like all species in the genus Dasypeltis, feeds exclusively on birds' eggs. It can swallow an egg three times the size of its head. The egg is slit open by vertebral hypapophyses which extend into the esophagus. The collapsed empty shell is regurgitated.[5]
Reproduction
Dasypeltis medici is oviparous.[2] An adult female may lay a clutch of 6–28 elongate eggs, each egg measuring 24 mm × 8 mm (0.94 in × 0.31 in).[4]
References
- ^ a b Spawls, S.; Branch, W.R.; Wagner, P. (2021). "Dasypeltis medici ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T13265127A13265135. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265127A13265135.en. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Species Dasypeltis medici at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Dasypeltis medici, p. 175).
- ^ a b c Branch, Bill (2004). 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. (Dasypeltis medici, p. 96 + Plate 15).
- ^ Branch (2004). (Genus Dasypeltis, p. 95).
Further reading
- Bianconi, "J. Jos." (1859). Specimina Zoologica Mosambicana, Fasciculus XII. pp. 497–506 + Plates 25–27. (Dipsas medici, new species, pp. 501–502 + Plate 26). (in Latin).
- Paterna, Alessandro (2017). "Reproduction Cycle of the Eastern Egg-Eater Snake Dasypeltis medici medici (Bianconi, 1859) in Captivity". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 24 (3): 228–234.
- Pietersen, D.; Pietersen, E. (2001). "Geographical Distribution. Colubridae. Dasypeltis medici medici ". African Herp News (32): 25.
- Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Hinkel, H.; Menegon, M. (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. ISBN 978-1-399-40481-5. 624 pp. (Dasypeltis medici, pp. 519–520).