Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.70
(A and B) European, green or large whip snake; fire snake; arbid, urbid
[
Dolichophis
(
Coluber
)
jugularis
], Greece.
A former member of the formerly polyphyletic
genus
Coluber
,
D. jugularis
ranges throughout Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East.
It occurs at altitudes up to 1,400 m, and preys on rodents, lizards, and other snakes. It has a
bad reputation in Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, based on its large size, aggressive
behavior, and similarity in appearance (particularly of the black phase of this species) to that of
the desert black cobra (
Walterinnesia aegyptia
and
W. morgani
; see
Plate 4.71
). Multiple field
observations have reported cannibalism among this species (Göçmen et al., 2008). The prey
preference (rats) of this colubrine species led to its use as an agricultural pest- (rat-) control
method in Cyprus (Göçmen and Yildiz, 2006). There are no well-documented cases of
D.
jugularis
bites, and anecdotal reports suggest only minor local effects from bites by this species.
(A)
Dolichophis jugularis
, Symi, Greece.
(B)
Dolichophis jugularis
, black phase, Kos, Greece.
Photos copyright to Matt Wilson.
Scolecophidia, the widespread Brahminy blindsnake (
Ramphotyphlops braminus
). It is
a very interesting ophidian species in that it is the only snake species proven to be par-
thenogenetic,
1
has been introduced all over the world, feeds almost exclusively on
insect larvae, and has notably reduced dentition. It does not figure in any snakebites
on Guam, or elsewhere.
2
However, the only other snake species found on Guam (also
introduced), the brown tree snake (
B. irregularis
), has inflicted a large number of bites
and has understandably attracted a great deal of concern regarding its medical impor-
tance. The distinctive factors surrounding this invasive and ecologically destructive
species are discussed in Section 4.4. A retrospective review of 446
B. irregularis
bites
recorded at Guam Memorial Hospital, 1987-2004, identified several epidemiological
1
Defined as the production of offspring by virgin females in the total absence of males, true parthenogene-
sis results in genetically identical clonal populations (Lampert and Schartl, 2010). Distinct from partheno-
genesis, some other ophidian species, such as the distinctive crotaline viperid,
Bothrops insularis
(golden
lancehead), occasionally have intersexual (females with hemipenes) individuals or populations. These
snakes are only found on Queimada Grande Island (coastal southeastern Brazil), and this partially inter-
sexual population has been associated with declining fertility in this insular species (Duarte et al., 1995).
2
However, Salomão et al. (2003) reviewed a series of purported bites inflicted by another Scolecophidian,
Liotyphlops
spp. (an unspecified species of dawn blindsnake) that reportedly caused mild local effects in a
number of children (see
Table 4.1
).
