Philothamnus nitidus
| Philothamnus nitidus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Philothamnus |
| Species: | P. nitidus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Philothamnus nitidus (Günther, 1863)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Philothamnus nitidus, also known commonly as the green bush snake, the Cameroons wood snake, and Loveridge's green snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to central Africa. There are two recognized subspecies.[2]
Description
Adults of Philothamnus nitidus usually have a total length (tail included) of 50–80 cm (20–31 in). The maximum recorded total length is 93 cm (37 in). The eye is large, with a yellow or orange iris, and a round pupil. The body is cylindrical, and the tail is very long, more than one third of the total length. The dorsal scales are smooth, and are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The coloration is bluish green to emerald green dorsally, and paler green ventrally.[3]: 492–493
Geographic range
Philothamnus nitidus is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.[1][2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Philothamnus nitidus are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[1]
Behavior
Philothamnus nitidus is arboreal and diurnal.[1]
Reproduction
Philothamnus nitidus is oviparous.[1][2]
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Philothamnus.
Etymology
The subspecific name, loveridgei, is in honor of herpetologist Arthur Loveridge.[4]: 161
References
- ^ a b c d e Branch, W.R.; Trape, J.-F.; Chirio, L.; Luiselli, L.; Segniagbeto, G.; Wagner, P.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2021). "Philothamnus nitidus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13265514A13265525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265514A13265525.en. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Species Philothamnus nitidus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Hinkel, H.; Menegon, M. (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. ISBN 978-1-399-40481-5. 624 pp. (Loveridge's green snake Philothamnus nitidus, pp. 492–493).
- ^ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
Further reading
- Böhme, W.; Fischer, E.; Hinkel, H. (2023). "Reptilien aus dem Irangi Forest, Provinz Kivu-Süd, Demokratische Republik Kongo". Sauria, Berlin. 45 (4): 29–43. (in German).
- Günther, A. (1863). "On some Species of Tree-Snakes (Ahætulla)". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Third Series. 11: 283–287. (Ahætulla nitida, new species, p. 286–287).
- Laurent, R.F. (1960). "Notes complémentaires sur les Chéloniens et les Ophidiens du Congo oriental ". Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge, Sciences Zoologiques. 84: 1–86. (Philothamnus nitidus loveridgei, new subspecies, p. 40). (in French).
- Williams, E.E. (1982). "Arthur Loveridge — A Life in Retrospect". Breviora (471): 1–12.