The Mograbin diadem snake (Spalerosophis dolichospilus), also known commonly as Werner's diadem snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to northwestern Africa.

Mograbin diadem snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Spalerosophis
Species:
S. dolichospilus
Binomial name
Spalerosophis dolichospilus
(F. Werner, 1923)
Synonyms[2]
  • Zamenis diadema var. dolichospila
    F. Werner, 1923
  • Coluber diadema dolichospila
    — F. Werner, 1929
  • Spalerosophis diadema dolichospilus
    Schmidt, 1930
  • Coluber choumowitchi
    Domergue, 1954
  • Spalerosophis dolichospilus
    Pasteur, 1967

Geographic range

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Spalerosophis dolichospilus is found in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.[3]

Habitat

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The natural habitats of S. dolichospilus are subtropical or tropical, dry shrubland, rocky areas, arable land, and pastureland.[1]

Etymology

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The common name, Mograbin diadem snake, is derived from "Maghreb", meaning "west" in Arabic.

Description

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Spalerosophis dolichospilus is usually about 120 cm (3.9 ft) in total length (including tail), but can reach 150 cm (4.9 ft). It is orange with circular spots of reddish or greenish brown.[4]

Behavior

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Spalerosophis dolichospilus is very agile and can move quickly over rocky substrates.[4]

Reproduction

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Spalerosophis dolichospilus is oviparous.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Miras, J.A.M.; Joger, U.; Pleguezuelos, J.; Slimani, T. (2006). "Spalerosophis dolichospilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61570A12517933. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61570A12517933.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Species Spalerosophis dolichospilus at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ Miras, J.A.M.; Joger, U.; Pleguezuelos, J.; Slimani, T. (2006). "Spalerosophis dolichospilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61570A12517933. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61570A12517933.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Speculative Evolution • libutron: Mograbin Diadem Snake - Spalerosophis". speculative-evolution.tumblr.com. Retrieved 8 May 2015.

Further reading

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  • Pasteur G (1967). "Un serpent endémique du Maghreb: Spalerosophis dolichospilus (Werner), Colubridé ". Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, Séries seconde 39 (3): 444–451. (Spalerosophis dolichospilus, new status). (in French).
  • Schmidt KP (1930). "Reptiles of Marshall Field North Arabian Desert Expeditions, 1927–1928". Field Museum of Natural History Zoological Series 17 (6): 221-230 + Plate II. (Spalerosophis diadema dolichospila, new combination, p. 226).
  • Werner F (1923). "Neue Schlangen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien ". Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 36: 160–166. (Zamenis diadema var. dolichospila, new variety, p. 166). (in German).
  • Werner F (1929). "Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsreise nach Westalgerien und Marokko ". Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaft in Wien, mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 138: 1-34 + Plates I-IV. (Coluber diadema dolichospila, new combination and new status, p. 7 + Plate IV, figure 7). (in German).
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