The forest vine snake (Thelotornis kirtlandii), also known commonly as the forest twig snake or simply the twig snake, and as the bird snake (as are other members of the genus Thelotornis), is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
| Forest vine snake | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Thelotornis |
| Species: | T. kirtlandii
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| Binomial name | |
| Thelotornis kirtlandii (Hallowell, 1844)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editAs an adult, T. kirtlandii usually has a total length (including tail) of 0.9–1.4 m (3.0–4.6 ft). The maximum recorded total length is 1.6 m (5.2 ft). The body and tail are very thin and are cylindrical in cross section. The tail is very long, 33% to 42% of the total length. The dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody, and are feebly keeled. The top of the head is green, and the upper labials and chin are white. Dorsally, the body and tail are grayish brown. Ventrally, the snake is light gray, speckled with black.[3]
Etymology
editThe specific name, kirtlandii, is in honor of American naturalist Jared Potter Kirtland.[4]
Geographic range
editT. kirtlandii is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, south to a latitude of about 17° S. It has been recorded from Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.[2]
Habitat
editThe preferred natural habitats of T. kirtlandii are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft), but it is also found in artificial plantations.[1]
Behavior
editT. kirtlandii is diurnal, and it is both arboreal and terrestrial.[1]
Diet
editT. kirtlandii preys upon frogs, lizards, birds, and their eggs.[1]
Reproduction
editT. kirtlandii is oviparous.[1][2] Clutch size is four to ten eggs.[1]
Venom
editT. kirtlandii produces a venom which is slow acting but potentially lethal. It causes non-clotting of blood and renal failure. There is no antivenom.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Trape, J.-F.; Luiselli, L.; Penner, J.; Rödel, M.-O.; Segniagbeto, G.; Wagner, P.; Branch, W.R.; Safari, I.; Chenga, J. (2021). "Thelotornis kirtlandii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13265657A13265670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265657A13265670.en. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Species Thelotornis kirtlandii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b Spawls et al. (2018).
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Thelotornis kirtlandi [sic]", p. 142).
Further reading
edit- Hallowell E (1844). "Descriptions of new species of African Reptiles". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 58-62. (Leptophis kirtlandii, new species, p. 62).
- Spawls, Stephen; Howell, Kim; Hinkel, Harald; Menegon, Michele (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1-399-40481-5. (Thelotornis kirtlandi, pp. 505–507).
External links
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