Subphylum Vertebrata Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes | |
Similar Leioheterodon, Leioheterodon modestus, Leioheterodon madagascariensis, Ithycyphus miniatus, Compsophis | ||
Leioheterodon geayi
Leioheterodon geayi or the speckled hognose snake is a species of mildly venomous snake native to southwestern Madagascar.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, geayi, is in honor of French naturalist Martin François Geay (1859-1910) who collected the type specimen.
Description
L. geayi can grow to a total length (including tail) of 90–140 cm (35–55 in).
It is an opisthoglyphous ("rear-fanged") snake, having a pair of enlarged teeth at the rear of each maxilla (upper jaw).
Care
With the right care, the speckled hognose snake is relatively easy to care for. Because it is mildly venomous, tongs should be used when feeding. Speckled hognose snakes should be housed in a vivarium or plastic tub, and should have 2 hideaways, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. One of the sides should be moist. They should have deep substrate for burrowing and should have good ventilation. They normally inhabit deserts so a more arid environment should be provided. Their temperature range should be 75 °F at night and 90 °F during the day. Because they love to burrow, their substrate should be 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) of aspen wood shavings. They primarily eat mice, but they also eat birds, amphibians, and lizards, (not that they should be fed that in captivity).
