Tropidonophis mairii
| Common keelback | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Tropidonophis |
| Species: | T. mairii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tropidonophis mairii (Gray, 1841)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Tropidonophis mairii, also known commonly as Mair's keelback,[2] the common keelback,[1] and the freshwater snake,[3]: 566 is a species of colubrid snake in the subfamily Natricinae. The species is native to Australasia.
Etymology
The specific name, mairii, is in honor of "Dr. Mair", an army surgeon with the 39th Regiment of Foot, who collected the holotype.[4]
Geographic range
Tropidonophis mairii is found in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Papua New Guinea.[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Tropidonophis mairii are forest, grassland, and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes from sea level to 50 m (160 ft).[1]
Description
Dorsally, Tropidonophis mairii is olive, brown, or blackish, with small black spots, or with black crossbars anteriorly. Ventrally, it is lighter. The subcaudals and often also the ventrals are edged with black. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled, and arranged in 15 rows at midbody.[5]
It resembles the Australian venomous rough-scaled snake (Tropidechis carinatus).[3]: 566–567
T. mairii rarely grows over 1 m (39 in) in total length (tail included).[3]: 566–567
Behavior
Tropidonophis mairii is diurnal and nocturnal, arboreal, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial.[1]
Diet
Mair's keelback preys mainly on frogs, but also eats small fishes, lizards, and mammals.[1] It is one of the few snakes that can eat cane toads (Rhinella marina), up to a certain size, without being harmed.[6]
Reproduction
T. mairii is oviparous.[2] Clutch size is 3–18 eggs.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f O'Shea, M.; Parker, F. (2017). "Tropidonophis mairii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T177521A21648393. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T177521A21648393.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Species Tropidonophis mairii at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c Wilson, S.; Swan, G. (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-92554-671-2. 688 pp.
- ^ 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. (Tropidonophis mairii, p. 166).
- ^ Boulenger GA (1897). "An account of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Dr. L. Loria in British New Guinea". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova 18: 694-710. (Tropidonotus mairii, pp. 703-704).
- ^ Kilvert, Nick (1 November 2019). "The native animals that turn cane toads into tucker". ABC News. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
Further reading
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Gray JE (1841). "A Catalogue of the Species of Reptiles and Amphibia hitherto described as inhabiting Australia, with a description of some New Species from Western Australia, and some remarks on their geographical distribution". Appendix E, pp. 422–449. In: Grey G (1841). Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, During the Years 1837, 38, and 39, Under the Authority of Her Majesty's Government. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. London: T. and W. Boone. 520 pp. (Tropidonotus mairii, new species, p. 442).
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.