Texas scarlet snake
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The Texas scarlet snake (Cemophora lineri) is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the South Central United States. It was previously considered a subspecies of Cemophora coccinea.
Etymology
The specific name or epithet, lineri, is in honor of American herpetologist Ernest A. Liner (1925–2010), who collected the first specimen in 1963.[1][2]
Geographic range
C. lineri is found in southern Texas. Its range does not overlap with the other species of scarlet snake.[3]
Description
The Texas scarlet snake is the larger of the two scarlet snake species, and is capable of growing to a total length (including tail) of 66 cm (26 inches). It has a gray or white background color, with distinct red blotches that have black borders. Unlike the other species, the black borders do not join on the sides. Its belly is a solid white or gray.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Behavior
Like all scarlet snakes (genus Cemophora), the Texas scarlet snake is a secretive burrower, spending most of its time under ground. It prefers sandy thicket habitats along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Diet
The preferred diet of C. lineri is the eggs of other reptiles, but it will also eat small rodents and lizards.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
References
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- ↑ Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained. [1]
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. Template:ISBN. (Cemophora coccinea lineri, p. 159).
- ↑ Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. Template:ISBN. (Cemophora coccinea lineri, pp. 367–368 + Plates 32, 44 + Figure 159 on p. 330).
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Further reading
- Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. Template:ISBN. (Cemophora coccinea lineri, p. 593).
- Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48 Template:ISBN (hardcover), Template:ISBN (paperback). (Cemophora coccinea lineri, p. 212 + Map 152).
- Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. Template:ISBN (paperback), Template:ISBN (hardcover). (Cemophora coccinea lineri, p. 178).
- Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Austin, Christopher C. (2017). "Refugia and Speciation in North American Scarlet Snakes (Cemophora)". Journal of Herpetology 51: 161–171. (Cemophora lineri, new status).
- Williams KL, Brown BC, Wilson LD (1966). "A new subspecies of the colubrid snake Cemophora coccinea (Blumenbach) from Southern Texas". Texas Journal of Science 18: 85–88. (Cemophora coccinea lineri, new subspecies).