Philodryas nattereri
| Philodryas nattereri | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Philodryas |
| Species: | P. nattereri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Philodryas nattereri Steindachner, 1870
| |
Philodryas nattereri, also known commonly as the Paraguay green racer and the Paraguayan green racer, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to eastern South America.
Etymology
The specific name, nattereri, is in honor of Austrian naturalist Johann Natterer.[2]: 187
Description
Adults of Philodryas nattereri have an average total length (tail included) of 80 cm (31 in), but it can grow to a maximum total length of 1.34 m (4.4 ft). It is characterized by a medium body, a long, slender tail, a slightly prominent and obliquely truncated snout, and moderately large eyes with round pupils.[3] Its coloring varies from brown to gray, giving it camouflage against ground foliage.
Behavior
Philodryas nattereri is a fast snake with terrestrial habits, although recent studies have shown that this species can use arboreal environments with high efficiency. It is active during the day and can be quite aggressive when threatened. P. nattereri is opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged), and due to this dentition, it has difficulty injecting venom into large prey.[4]
Geographic distribution
Philodryas nattereri is found in eastern Brazil and Paraguay.[4]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Philodryas nattereri are open forests, fields and cerrado.[3]
Diet
Philodryas nattereri feeds on a wide variety of prey, including birds, mammals, lizards, amphibians, lizard eggs and even other snakes.[4]
Reproduction
Philodryas nattereri is oviparous.[1][5]
Venom
The venom of Philodryas nattereri is quite active. It can cause dermo necrosis, myonecrosis, and hemorrhagic activity, resulting in mast cell degranulation, muscle damage and inflammation.[4] Studies with rats have shown that venom from this species is capable of causing bleeding in different organs and morphological alterations.[6] The venom of this species appears to be as active as that of Philodryas olfersii, and has a protein content of 863.9 μg, which corresponds to 86.3% of the entire venom.[7]
References
- ^ a b Nogueira, C. de C. (2019). "Philodryas nattereri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T15181870A15181927. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". Toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ a b c d Aquino Nery, Marinetes Dantas de (2012). "Efeitos biológicos e caracterização inicial da peçonha da serpente Philodryas nattereri Steindachner 1870 " (PDF). Repositorio.ufc.br. Retrieved 2020-11-19. Thesis for Doctor of Pharmacology. Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. (in Portuguese, with an abstract in English).
- ^ Species Philodryas nattereri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Santiago, Fred Ribeiro; Braga, Roberta da Rocha; Souza, Juliana Menezes de; Silveira, João Alison de Moraes; Nojosa, Diva Maria Borges; Evangelista, Janaina Serra Azul Monteiro (2017). "Alteraçoes morfológicas induzida pelo veneno da serpente Philodryas nattereri Steindachner em ratos " (PDF). Ciência Animal Brasileira. 27 (3): 40–47. Retrieved 2020-11-19. (in Portuguese, with an abstract in English).
- ^ Vasconcelos, Rebeca Horn (2015). "Alteraçoes dermatomorfológicas de camundongos inoculados com o veneno total da serpente Philodryas nattereri (Dipsadidae)" (PDF). Uece.br. Retrieved 2022-03-24. Dissertation for Master of Veterinary Science. Universidade Estadual do Ceará. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. (in Portuguese. with an abstract in English).
Further reading
- Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Philodryas nattereri, p. 134).
- Freiberg, M. (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. 189 pp. (Philodryas nattereri, p. 106).
- Mesquita, Paulo Cesar Mattos Dourado de; Borges-Nojosa, Diva Maria; Passos, Daniel Cunha; Bezerra, Holanda (2011). "Ecology of Philodryas nattereri in the Brazilian semi-arid region". Herpetological Journal. 21 (3): 193–198.
- Steindachner, F. (1870). "Herpetologische Notizen. II. Über einige neue oder seltene Reptilien des Wiener Museums ". Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe. 62: 336–349. + Plates I–VIII. (Philodryas nattereri, new species, p. 345 + Plate VII, figures 1–3, three views of head and neck). (in German).