Inyoka

Inyoka
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Boodontinae
Genus: Inyoka
Branch & Kelly in Kelly et al., 2011[2]
Species: I. swazicus
Binomial name
Inyoka swazicus
(Schaefer, 1970)
Synonyms

Lamprophis swazicus Schaefer, 1970

Inyoka is a monotypic genus of southern African colubrids.[3] The word "inyoka" is Nguni for "snake". These snakes were previously grouped in the genus Lamprophis but were found to be closer related to Hormonotus; a substantial genetic divergence between them and a 1900 km gap between their geographic ranges meant a new genus was erected for Lamprophis swazicus, the sole species of the new genus.[2]

Species

Inyoka swazicus is commonly known as the Swazi rock snake or Swaziland house snake. It is found in the eastern South Africa and in Swaziland. It inhabits rocky outcrops in grassland and savanna at altitudes of 1,400–1,900 m (4,600–6,200 ft) asl. Although listed as a "Lower Risk/Near Threatened" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),[1] it is only considered of "Least Concern" in the South African Conservation Assessment of Reptiles in view of its relatively wide distribution and low level of anthropogenic disturbance in its habitat.[2]

Inyoka swazicus can grow to a maximum total length of 90 cm (35 in). The head is small, dorso-ventrally flattened, and broader than neck and distinct from it. Eyes are large, protruding, and with vertically elliptical pupil. They are non-venomous.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Inyoka swazicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kelly, C.M.R., et al. Molecular systematics of the African snake family Lamprophiidae, Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes: Elapoidea), with particular focus on the genera Lamprophis, Fitzinger 1843 and Mehelya, Csiki 1903. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. (2010), doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.010
  3. ↑ Inyoka at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
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