Forest sharp-tailed snake
| Contia longicaudae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Contia |
| Species: | C. longicaudae |
| Binomial name | |
| Contia longicaudae Feldman & Hoyer, 2010[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Contia longicauda | |
The forest sharp-tailed snake (Contia longicaudae) is a species of colubrid snake found in the West Coast of the United States.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The forest sharp-tailed snake is not as widespread as its relative Contia tenuis (sharp-tailed snake). The forest sharp tailed snake is found in shaded wet forests along the West Coast of the United States. The forest sharp tailed snake went unnoticed for a long time due to its vast similarities to Contia tenuis and because of the secretive nature of sharp tailed snakes, and also of their seasonally limited amount of activity.[1]
Identification
The easiest way to set the two species apart is by looking at the tail length and the caudal scales. The forest sharp tailed snake has a longer tail than Contia tenuis and more caudal scales. Specifically, the forest sharp tailed snake has 43 to 58 caudal scales, whereas Contia tenuis has 24 to 42 scales.[2]
References
- 1 2 Feldman, C. R.; Hoyer, R. F. (2010). "A new species of snake in the genus Contia (Squamata: Colubridae) from California and Oregon". Copeia. 2010 (2): 254–267. doi:10.1643/CH-09-129.
- 1 2 Contia longicaudae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 May 2013.