Philodryas chamissonis

Philodryas chamissonis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Philodryas
Species:	P. chamissonis
Binomial name
	Philodryas chamissonis; (Wiegmann, 1834)
Synonyms
	Coronella chamissonis Wiegmann, 1834; Dromicus chamissonis (Wiegmann, 1834); Psammophis temminckii Schlegel, 1837; Tæniophis tantillus Girard, 1854; Liophis luctuosa Philippi, 1899;

Philodryas chamissonis, commonly known as the long-tailed snake, is a species of moderately venomous opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to South America.^[3]

Etymology[]

The specific name, chamissonis, is in honor of German botanist and poet Adelbert von Chamisso.^[2]^[4]

Geographic range[]

P. chamissonis is endemic to Chile and has a large distribution, from Copiapó to Valdivia.^{[citation needed]}

Description[]

Usually, P. chamissonis is gray, with black and white longitudinal stripes on the body. It is a medium-sized snake, which usually reaches 1.4 m (4.6 ft) in total length (including tail).^{[citation needed]}

The length of the tail is 25-28.5 % of the total length. There are 8 upper labials, the 4th and 5th entering the eye. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. Ventrals 179-225; anal plate divided; subcaudals 100-122.^[5]

Habitat[]

Philodryas chamissonis lives in a large variety of habitats.

Diet[]

A philodryas chamissonis snake eating a liolaemus tenuis lizard.

The diet of P. chamissonis is mainly composed of little rodents, insects, and other smaller reptiles.^{[citation needed]}

Reproduction[]

P. chamissonis is an oviparous reptile.

Venom[]

Because P. chamissonis is rarely found, bites by it are uncommon. However, its bite is painful and causes extensive swelling.^[6]

References[]

^ Avilés R, Garin C, Nunez J, Ortiz JC, Sallaberry N, Tala C, Victoriano P, Vidal M (2016). "Philodryas chamissonis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T16985A69941244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T16985A69941244.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Philodryas chamissonis ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^ "Philodryas chamissonis ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Philodryas chamissonis, p. 51).
^ Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Dromicus chamissonis, pp. 119-120).
^ Neira P, Jofré L, Oschilewski D, Subercaseaux B, Muñoz N (2007). "Mordedura por Philodryas chamissonis. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura (Snake bite by Philodryas chamissonis: a case presentation and literature review)". Revista chilena de infectología 24 (3): 236-241. (in Spanish).