Greater green snake

Greater green snake
A light green snake with vivid green belly coiled loosely on a tightly woven dark green textile hanging in front of a light blue emulsioned wall, head slightly up, tongue flicking.
Cyclophiops major
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Superfamily: Xenophidia
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Cyclophiops
Species: C. major
Binomial name
Cyclophiops major
(Günther, 1858)
Synonyms
  • Cyclophis major Günther, 1858
  • Herpetodryas chloris Hallowell, 1861
  • Ablabes major – Boettger, 1894
  • Entechinus major – Cope, 1895
  • Liopeltis major – Stejneger, 1907
  • Liopeltis major bicarinata Maki, 1931
  • Eurypholis major – Pope, 1935
  • Opheodrys major – M.A. Smith, 1943
  • Cyclophiops major – Ota, 1991[1]

The greater green snake (Cyclophiops major) is a snake of the family Colubridae found in China, Taiwan, Laos, and Vietnam.

Description

A slender, medium-sized snake, averaging 75–90 cm (2½-3 feet) in total length, but occasionally growing to 120 cm (4 feet). Bright green above; ventral scales greenish-yellow. Dorsal scales smooth except that males have several mid-dorsal scale rows keeled. Some specimens have scattered black spots on dorsum.

Habits and habitat

This snake is diurnal and semi-arboreal, living in humid forests and farmland. When encountered, they are mild-mannered and rarely bite.[2]

Diet

Earthworms, insect larvae, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.[2]

Reproduction

Oviparous. Lays 2–16 eggs per clutch. Young snakes hatch in about two months.

Distribution

Central/South China (Hainan, Henan, Gansu, Anhui, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Zhejiang), Taiwan, North Vietnam, Laos.[2]

References

  1. ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. 1 2 3 Hans Breuer & William Christopher Murphy (2009–2010). "Cyclophiops major". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 13 October 2012. External link in |work= (help)

Further reading

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