Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Antilles racer

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Reptilia

Suborder
  
Serpentes

Scientific name
  
Alsophis antillensis

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Squamata

Family
  
Dipsadidae

Rank
  
Species

Antilles racer httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Similar
  
Alsophis, Leeward island racer, Julia's ground snake, Red‑bellied racer, Borikenophis

The Antilles racer (Alsophis antillensis) is a species of snake found in the Caribbean, on the Lesser Antilles islands of Montserrat, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. It is common only on Dominica, where it can be found in all areas except the highest elevations, possibly due to the absence of the mongoose on that island.

It can reach nearly a meter in length. It feeds on lizards and small rodents. It rarely bites humans, but may release a foul-smelling (though harmless) cloacal secretion when disturbed.

The Dominican population is alternately described as an endemic subspecies A. a. sibonius, or as an endemic species, A. sibonius. It has a brown ground color, with lighter brown or white splotches that may alternate to form a zig-zag pattern. A. a. manselli is restricted to Montserrat. Populations on Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante have possibly been extirpated.

References

Antilles racer Wikipedia