Apostolepis niceforoi
| Apostolepis niceforoi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Apostolepis |
| Species: | A. niceforoi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Apostolepis niceforoi Amaral, 1935
| |
Apostolepis niceforoi, also commonly known as the Amazon burrowing snake and the Colombian blackhead, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.[2] The species is endemic to Colombia.[2]
Etymology
The specific name, niceforoi, is in honor of missionary Brother Nicéforo María, born Antoine Rouhaire in France, who established a natural history museum in Medellín, Colombia.[3]: 190
Description
Apostolepis niceforoi has the following scalation. There is a single preocular which contacts the nasal. There is no loreal. There are six upper labials, the second and third contacting the eye. There are six lower labials, the first four contacting the chin shields. The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and arranged in 15 rows throughout the length of the body. There are 246–248 ventrals, and 21–23 pairs of subcaudals.[2]
Dorsally, Apostolepis niceforoi is light yellowish brown, with seven dark brown stripes. Ventrally, it is uniformly yellow.[2]
Geographic distribution
Apostolepis niceforoi is found in extreme southern Colombia, in Amazonas Department.[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Apostolepis niceforoi is forest.[1]
Behavior
Apostolepis niceforoi is terrestrial and fossorial.[1]
Reproduction
Apostolepis niceforoi is oviparous.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Arredondo, J.C.; Caicedo, J. (2019). "Apostolepis niceforoi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T15156851A15156860. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15156851A15156860.en.
- ^ a b c d e f Apostolepis niceforoi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 February 2016.
- ^ 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
- Amaral, A. (1935). "Estudos sobre ophidios neotropicos XXXIII. Novas especies de ophidios do Colombia". Memórias do Instituto Butantan. 9: 219–223. + one unnumbered plate. (Apostolepis niceforoi, new species, p. 221 + plate figure 5). (in Portuguese).
- Bernal, R. (2025). Serpientes de Colombia, Guía de Campo. Bogotá: Conservación International Colombia. 389 pp. (in Spanish).
- Entiauspe-Neto, O.M.; Medina Rangel, G.F.; Guedes, T.B.; Tiutenko, A. (2020). "Raising of Lazarus: Rediscovery and redescription of Apostolepis niceforoi Amaral, 1935 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Elapmorphini)". Holotipus. 1 (2): 21–35.
- Lema, T. (2001). "Fossorial snake genus Apostolepis from South America (Serpentes: Colubridae: Elapomorphinae)". Cuadernos de Herpetología. 15 (1): 29–43.