The Gulf crayfish snake (''Liodytes rigida sinicola'') is a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of nonvenomous snake
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the southeastern
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
Description
It averages 20 inches (51 cm) when fully grown, with a record of 31.5 inches (80 cm). Its color is best described as chocolate brown.
Diet
This subspecies feeds almost entirely on crayfish.
Taxonomy
Close relatives of the Gulf crayfish snake are the
glossy crayfish snake
The glossy crayfish snake (''Liodytes rigida rigida'') is a subspecies of nonvenomous snake endemic to the southeastern United States. Its scientific name, ''rigida'', derives from the fact that it is comparatively stiff.
Description
It is a shi ...
(''Liodytes rigida rigida'') and the Delta crayfish snake (''Liodytes rigida deltae'').
Further reading
* Huheey, James E. 1959. Distribution and Variation in the Glossy Water Snake, ''Natrix rigida'' (Say). Copeia 1959 (4): 303–311. (''Natrix rigida sinicola'')
External links
* http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/Reginarsinicola.htm
* http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/jd/jdweb/Herps/species/USsnakes/Regrigsin.htm
* http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/regina.rigida.html
* http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/ReginaRigida
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5617559
Reptiles of the United States
Liodytes