''Lycodon chrysoprateros'', also known as Ross' wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake found on the island of Dalupiri in the Philippines.

Etymology

The species name ''chrysoprateros'' is derived from the Greek words ''chrys'', which means "gold," and ''prater'' which means "trader." The name was chosen by the biologists who described the snake to recognize H.G. Jarecki, the former chairman of the Mocatta Metals Corporation, who supported their work.

Description

The head of ''Lycodon chrysoprateros'' is distinct from the neck, and slightly flattened. It has pupils which are nearly circular, and its snout projects further forward than its lower jaw. The body is nearly cylindrical, being more rounded on the back and flattened on the belly. The rostral scale is large and triangular, extending backwards, and visible from above the snake. The dorsal surface of the snake is dark brown, without any patterning, and the ventral surface is ivory-yellow. A holotype for the species had a snout-to-vent length of 51.5 centimeters, and a tail-length of 21.2 centimeters, giving it a total length of 72.7 centimeters. Unlike other related species found in the area, it has no patterning on its back.

Reproduction

''Lycodon chrysoprateros'' is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...

, or egg-laying.

Phylogeny

''L. chrysoprateros'' is a member of the genus ''

Lycodon ''Lycodon'' is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as wolf snakes. The New Latin name ''Lycodon'' is derived from the Greek words λύκος (''lykos'') meaning wolf and οδόν (''odon'') meaning tooth, and refers to the fang-like ant ...

'', a genus of snakes commonly known as wolf snakes. 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

The habitat and ecology of the species are poorly known. The three specimens used to describe the species were captured along a trail in the forest, and the species is known to be terrestrial.

Distribution

The species is definitively known only from

Dalupiri Island Dalupiri Island may refer to any of the following islands in the Philippines: * Dalupiri Island (Samar) in Northern Samar province *Dalupiri Island (Cagayan) Dalupiri Island is an island in the Babuyan Islands in Luzon Strait north of Luzon Isla ...

in the Babuyan island group in the Philippines, where it was first observed in 1990. The known range of the species is thus only 52 square kilometers. The species may have also been observed on the nearby islands of Calayan and Camiguin Norte: however, these are yet to be confirmed. If they are, the known range will expand to 300 square kilometers.

Conservation

''L. chrysoprateros'' is listed as "Critically endangered" in the IUCN Red List, due to the fact that its range is only on an island that is facing significant habitat decline. Dalupiri Island has a highly fragmented forest which is declining further in size due to ranching activity. The nature of specific threats to the species remain poorly known, due to the species being poorly studied.

References

External links

Lycodon chrysoprateros
at the Reptile Database {{Taxonbar, from=Q3268423 chrysoprateros Reptiles described in 1994 Reptiles of the Philippines Endemic fauna of the Philippines Fauna of the Babuyan Islands