Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Family Lamprophiidae Scientific name Psammophis leithii Rank Species | Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Psammophiinae Phylum Chordata Order Scaled reptiles | |
Similar Psammophis condanarus, Psammophis longifrons, Saharan sand snake, Psammophis angolensis, Psammophis elegans | ||
Psammophis leithii, commonly called the Pakistan sand racer or Leith's sand snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake endemic to South Asia.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, leithii, is in honor of Andrew H. Leith, a physician with the Bombay Sanitary Commission.
Geographic range
P. leithii is found in Afghanistan, western India (Kachchh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra), and Pakistan.
Description
Rostral broader than deep, visible from above; nostril between two or three shields, the posterior nasal being frequently divided into two; internasals about half the length of the pre-frontals; frontal very narrow, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, nearly as long as the parietals; loreal about twice as long as deep; pre-ocular single, in contact with the frontal; two post-oculars; temporals 1+2 or 2+2; upper labials 8 or 9, fourth and fifth or fifth and sixth entering the eye; 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are a little shorter than the posterior. Dorsal scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 177-188; anal usually entire; sub-caudals 82-138.
Pale greyish or yellowish above, with black dots or four longitudinal brown bands which are usually edged with black, the outer passing through the eyes; lower parts white, uniform or spotted or marked with grey or olive in the middle, with or without a dark lateral line or series of dots.
Total length 3 feet 3 inches (99 cm); tail 1-foot (30 cm).
Venom
Like all species in the genus Psammophis, P. leithii possess a mild venom, which is delivered to prey by means of enlarged, grooved teeth at the rear of the snake's upper jaws. The venom is not usually harmful to humans.