Kirtland's snake

Kirtland's snake
Kirtland's snake, Clonophis kirtlandii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Infraorder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Genus: Clonophis
Species: C. kirtlandii
Binomial name
Clonophis kirtlandii
(Kennicott, 1856)
Synonyms
  • Regina kirtlandii Kennicott, 1856
  • Ischnognathus kirtlandii — Jan, 1860
  • Natrix kirtlandii — Cope, 1900
  • Clonophis kirtlandi — H.M. Smith & Brodie, 1982

Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii ) is an endangered North American species of nonvenomous snake of the subfamily Natricinae, of the family Colubridae.[1] It is the only species in the genus Clonophis.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, kirtlandii, is in honor of Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland, an American naturalist of the Nineteenth Century.[3][4] The snake was first identified by Robert Kennicott in 1855. Kennicott sent a specimen to Spencer Fullerton Baird, the assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who offered to publish a description of the animal in Kennicott's name. Baird suggested Regina kirtlandii as a scientific name, as Kirtland had been a mentor to Kennicott.[5]

Common names

Common names for this species include: Cora Kennicott's snake, Kirtland's red snake, Kirtland's water snake, little red snake, Ohio Valley water snake, and spread head.[6]

Description

Kirtland's snake is small and slender. Adults reach a total length (body + tail) of 12-18 inches (30–46 cm). They are grayish brown with a series of large black spots and alternating smaller spots running down each side of the back.[7] The ventral scales are brick red with a prominent round black spot at each outer end.[8] It has 19 rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody, and the anal plate is divided.[9]

Geographic range

This species is found in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, southern Michigan, northern Kentucky, and western Pennsylvania.[8]

Habitat

Clonophis kirtlandii inhabits prairie or prairie-like areas. It is usually found not far from a water source, even though it is less aquatic than water snakes of the genus Nerodia which share its geographic range.[6]

Conservation status

The species is listed as endangered in Indiana,[10] Michigan, and Pennsylvania;[11] it is listed as threatened in Illinois and Ohio.

Diet

Kirtland's snake feeds on earthworms, slugs, minnows, salamanders, frogs and toads.[6]

Defensive behavior

When alarmed this snake flattens its entire body to a remarkable thinness, and becomes rigid.[12]

Reproduction

Kirtland's snake is ovoviviparous. Females give birth in August and September. Brood size varies from 4 to 22. Each newborn is 13–17 cm (5-6¾ in.) in total length and averages 1.4 gm in weight.[6]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ↑ ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  3. ↑ Beltz, Ellin. 2006. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html#K.
  4. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Clonophis kirtlandi, p. 142).
  5. ↑ Vasile, Ronald S. (Autumn 1994). "The Early Career of Robert Kennicott, Illinois' Pioneering Naturalist". Illinois Historical Journal. 87 (3): 165. JSTOR 40192718. (subscription required (help)).
  6. 1 2 3 4 Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Natrix kirtlandi, pp. 496-499, Figure 146 + Map 40 on p. 491).
  7. ↑ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.- XXVIII. (Ischnognathus kirtlandii, p. 286).
  8. 1 2 Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp.
    ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Natrix kirtlandi, p. 151 + Plate 22 + Map 106).
  9. ↑ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3.
    (Clonophis kirtlandi, pp. 156-157).
  10. ↑ Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 Apr 2012.
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
  12. ↑ Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Natrix kirtlandii, pp. 209-210 + Plate 22, Center, on p. 342).
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