Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Hypsiglena jani

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Subphylum
  
Vertebrata

Suborder
  
Serpentes

Scientific name
  
Hypsiglena torquata jani

Rank
  
Subspecies

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Squamata

Family
  
Colubridae

Higher classification
  
Night snake

Hypsiglena jani calphotosberkeleyeduimgs512x768000000001011

Similar
  
Hypsiglena, Night snake, Snake, Reptile, Scaled reptiles

Hypsiglena jani, commonly known as the Texas night snake, is a species of small colubrid native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.

Contents

Etymology

The epithet, jani, is in honor of Italian taxonomist Giorgio Jan.

Description

The Texas night snake grows from 10 to 16 inches (25 to 41 centimetres) in total length, record 20 inches (51 cm). It is typically a light gray or tan in color, with dark brown or dark gray blotching down the back and an unmarked underside. They have smooth dorsal scales, eyes with vertically elliptical pupils, are rear-fanged, and are considered to be venomous, though they are not dangerous to humans.

Behavior

As their common name implies, they are a primarily nocturnal snake.

Diet

Their diet consists of primarily lizards, but they will also eat smaller snakes and occasionally soft bodied insects.

Habitat

They prefer semi-arid habitats with rocky soils.

Reproduction

They are an oviparous species that breeds in the spring rainy season, laying 4-6 eggs that take approximately 8 weeks to incubate before hatching. The eggs average 27 mm (1.1 in) long by 10 mm (38 in) wide. The hatchlings are about 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length.

Geographic range

The Texas night snake ranges from southern Kansas to southern Colorado, and south throughout New Mexico, the western half of Texas to central Mexico.

References

Hypsiglena jani Wikipedia