Suborder Serpentes Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Class Reptilia Family Pseudoxenodontidae Order Scaled reptiles | |
Similar Sinonatrix percarinata, Opisthotropis kuatunensis, Amphiesma sauteri, Macropisthodon rudis | ||
1 plagiopholis styani
Plagiopholis styani, also known by the common name Chinese mountain snake, is a species of colubrid snake. Its type locality is Kuatun (Guadun in modern spelling: Chinese: 挂墩; pinyin: guàdūn) in Wuyishan, Fujian. It is found in southern and central China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam. It is an uncommon species, and very rare in Taiwan. It is named after Frederick William Styan, a Shanghai-based English tea merchant and ornithologist.
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Description
Plagiopholis styani is a small non-venomous snake, reaching a total length of up to 40 cm (16 in). Its upper head, body and tail are red-brown, olive-brown, or green-brown, with flecks of pink or black pigment on each scale, especially for those on the flanks of body. The upper body and tail have a spotted pattern of black or light yellow. There is a dark and thick cross band on nape, reflected in its Chinese name, Fujian neck-blotched snake (Chinese: 福建頸斑蛇).
Habitat and ecology
Plagiopholis styani occur in areas of montane and bamboo forest, including caves. It is a nocturnal snake that eats mainly earthworms and arthropods; it uses its head to burrow. Females produce clutches of 5-11 eggs in summer.