''Oligodon ancorus'', commonly known as the northern short-headed snake, is a species of colubrid snake found on the islands of Luzon and Mindoro in the Philippines, and the island of

Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...

in Indonesia. However, whether the populations from Sumatra, described as ''Oligodon rhombifer'', belong to this species has been contested.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic status of ''Oligodon ancorus'' has been a matter of dispute. It was declared to be the same species as '' Oligodon rhombifer'' in 2008, but was revised to a different species in 2013, when a study found that ''O. rhombifer'' existed in

, where ''O. ancorus'' was not found.

Phylogeny

''Oligodon ancorus'' is a member of the genus '' Oligodon'', a genus common throughout central and tropical Asia. The genus belongs to the snake family

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...

, the largest snake family, with member species being found on every continent except Antarctica.

Habitat and ecology

''Oligodon ancorus'' is a lowland species, found between sea level and 600 meters above sea level. It is terrestrial, being found in coastal forests and mid-montane tropical forests. It has also been found in secondary growth.

Distribution

The snake is endemic to the Philippines, being found on Mindoro and Luzon islands.

Conservation

The range of ''O. ancorus overlaps with some protected regions on Luzon island. However, it has never been a very abundant species, and its population is threatened by deforestation, which has consumed most of its coastal habitat in the last 100 year. Its population is severely fragmented. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as " Near threatened."

References

External links

Oligodon ancorus
at the Reptile database
Images
of ''O. ancorus'' at venomland.org {{Taxonbar, from=Q3350502 ancorus Reptiles of Indonesia Reptiles of the Philippines Fauna of Sumatra Fauna of Luzon Fauna of Mindoro Reptiles described in 1858