Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Trimorphodon

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Family
  
Higher classification
  
Colubridae

Phylum
  
Chordata

Suborder
  
Serpentes

Scientific name
  
Trimorphodon

Rank
  
Genus

Trimorphodon wwwcaliforniaherpscomsnakesimagestrimorphodon

Similar
  
Trimorphodon biscutatus, Snake, Reptile, Long‑nosed snake, Glossy snake

Trimorphodon lyre snake baby in red rock canyon las vegas nv area


Trimorphodon is a genus of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes. They are commonly known as lyre snakes, named after the distinctive V shaped pattern on their head that is said to resemble the shape of a lyre. In Mexico, they are commonly called "víbora de uña," or "nail viper." The word Trimorphodon is a combination of three Greek words, 'tri' - three, 'morph' - shape, and 'odon' - teeth, which refers to the three distinct kinds of teeth that lyre snakes have: recurved anterior teeth; shorter middle teeth, and large grooved fangs at the rear of the jaw. There are two distinct species in the genus Trimorphodon, with seven subspecies.

Contents

Trimorphodon Trimorphodon biscutatus The Reptile Database

Trimorphodon


Range

Trimorphodon Trimorphodon quadruplex The Reptile Database

Trimorphodon biscutatus ranges throughout the southwestern United States, from Texas to California as well as into northern Mexico. Trimorphodon tau ranges through most of Mexico, and down into Central America, in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and as far south as Costa Rica. They are primarily found in rocky crevices and outcroppings.

Description

Trimorphodon Sonoran Lyresnake Trimorphodon lambda Reptiles of Arizona

Lyre snakes usually grow to about 1m at adult size. They have a broad head with a narrow neck and large eyes with vertical pupils. They are tan or brown in color, with distinctive black or dark brown bands that have lighter colored borders.

Behavior

Trimorphodon Trimorphodon biscutatus Western lyre snake

Trimorphodon species are primarily nocturnal, and feed on lizards, rodents and even bats. They are a very secretive species, and excellent climbers. They live inside rock crevices and canyon walls where humans cannot easily find them, which makes research difficult.

Reproduction

Trimorphodon CalPhotos Trimorphodon vilkinsonii

They are oviparous, laying clutches of 10 or more eggs. Hybridization between species is not unknown in the areas where their range overlaps.

Speed

There is no information on this category.

Venom

Their venom is not considered to be dangerous to humans.

Species

Trimorphodon Trimorphodon biscutatus The Reptile Database

  • Western Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus
  • Trimorphodon biscutatus biscutatus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
  • Sonoran Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda (Cope, 1886)
  • Baja California Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus lyrophanes (Cope, 1860)
  • Trimorphodon biscutatus quadruplex (Smith, 1941)
  • Texas Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon biscutatus vilkinsonii (Cope, 1886)
  • Mexican Lyre Snake, Trimorphodon tau
  • Trimorphodon tau latifascia (Peters, 1869)
  • Trimorphodon tau tau (Cope, 1870)
  • References

    Trimorphodon Wikipedia


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