''Pararhadinaea'' is a monotypic genus of snakes in the family

Pseudoxyrhophiidae The Pseudoxyrhophiidae is a family of elapoid snakes, found mostly in Madagascar. They were formerly placed as a subfamily of the Lamprophiidae, but have been more recently identified as a distinct family. It contains about 22 genera in two ...

. The only species is ''Pararhadinaea melanogaster'', sometimes known as the Madagascar burrowing snake. It is endemic to the island of Madagascar.

Description

It is a small snake with a maximum recorded size of less than 30 centimeters. The color pattern consists of a pale golden-brown ground color with a series of dark-brown and cream parallel longitudinal stripes. The ventral scales are very dark, almost black. The smooth scales show a strong green-blue

iridescence Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfl ...

. One

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 ...

(''P. melanogaster marojejyensis'') is currently recognized.

Geographic range

Endemic to Madagascar. Occurs in the northern parts of the island. The

type locality Type locality may refer to: * Type locality (biology) * Type locality (geology) See also * Local (disambiguation) * Locality (disambiguation) {{disambiguation ...

is Nosy Be. The single known

specimen Specimen may refer to: Science and technology * Sample (material), a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount * Biological specimen or biospecimen, an organic specimen held by a biorepository ...

of the subspecies, ''P. melanogaster marojejyensis'', was collected from the Marojejy National Park.

Habitat

The species has only been found within forested habitats including both Madagascar dry deciduous forests and Madagascar lowland forests at a few localities including Nosy Be,

Ankarana Special Reserve Ankarana Special Reserve in northern Madagascar was created in 1956. It is a small, partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone. With an average annual rainfall of about , the underlying rocks have been e ...

, and Daraina Conservation Site and some unprotected forest fragments near the village of Tsarakibany.

Conservation status

''Pararhadinaea melanogaster'' is listed as Vulnerable by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

Red List of Threatened Species because "its extent of occurrence is less than 6,500 km², it is presently known from only seven locations, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat resulting from agricultural conversion". It is considered a rare species as, since its discovery, only nine specimens have been officially recorded.

Behaviour

Almost nothing is known of the behaviour of this species. It is very secretive and seems to spend most of the day hiding amongst leaf litter, under logs and possibly even below the ground.

Feeding

The diet is likely to consist of small invertebrates.

Reproduction

Nothing is known of the breeding behaviour of this species. It is presumed to lay eggs.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q925008 Reptiles described in 1898 Pseudoxyrhophiidae Taxa named by Oskar Boettger Endemic fauna of Madagascar Reptiles of Madagascar Monotypic snake genera