Hebius johannis, also known commonly as Johann's keelback, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae.[2] The species is endemic to China.

Hebius johannis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Hebius
Species:
H. johannis
Binomial name
Hebius johannis
(Boulenger, 1908)
Synonyms[2]
  • Tropidonotus johannis
    Boulenger, 1908
  • Natrix johannis
    Schmidt, 1927
  • Amphiesma johannis
    Malnate, 1960
  • Hebius johannis
    Guo et al., 2014

Etymology

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The specific name, johannis, is in honor of the Rev. John Graham who sent the first three specimens of this species to Boulenger.[3]

Geographic range

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H. johannis is found in Southwestern China in the inland provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan.[1][2]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of H. johannis is the vicinity of rivers and streams in forest and montane grassland, at altitudes of 1,200–2,750 m (3,940–9,020 ft), but it has also been found in artificial habitats such as rice paddies.[1]

Diet

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H. johannis preys upon fishes.[1]

Reproduction

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H. johannis is oviparous.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ding, L.; Qi, S. (2024). "Hebius johannis ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T192172A213825397. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Hebius johannis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Amphiesma johannis, p. 135).

Further reading

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  • Boulenger GA (1908). "Description of a new Snake from Yunnan". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Eighth Series 2 (9): 244. (Tropidonotus johannis, new species).
  • Guo P, Liu Q, Zhang L, Li JX, Huang YY, Pyron RA (2014). "A taxonomic revision of the Asian keelback snakes, genus Amphiesma (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae), with description of a new species". Zootaxa 3873 (4): 425–440. (Hebius johannis, new combination).
  • Malnate EV (1960). "Systematic Division and Evolution of the Colubrid Snake Genus Natrix, with Comments on the Subfamily Natricinae". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 112: 41–71. (Amphiesma johannis, new combination).
  • Pope CH (1935). The Reptiles of China: Turtles, Crocodilians, Snakes, Lizards. (Volume X of the Natural History of Central Asia series, edited by Chester A. Reeds). New York: American Museum of Natural History. lii + 604 pp., 28 figures, Plates I–XXVII. (Natrix johannis, pp. 106–108, figure 23).