Micropechis: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Species of snake}} |
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{{taxobox |
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{{italictitle}} |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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{{speciesbox |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| subphylum = [[Vertebrate|Vertebrata]] |
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| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] |
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| species = ikaheca |
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| authority = ([[René Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], 1829) |
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| subordo = [[Serpentes]] |
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| synonyms = |
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| familia = [[Elapidae]] |
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| subfamilia = [[Hydrophiinae]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| species = '''''M. ikaheka''''' |
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}} |
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'''''Micropechis ikaheca''''', commonly known as the '''New Guinea small-eyed snake''' or '''Ikaheka snake''', is a highly venomous [[Elapidae|elapid]], the only species in the genus ''Micropechis''. The [[holotype]] was collected at Doré on the [[Bird's Head Peninsula|Vogelkop]] of [[Netherlands New Guinea]], and described in 1829, by the [[naturalist]] on board the [[French Navy]] vessel ''[[La Coquille]]'', ship's surgeon [[René Lesson|René Primevère Lesson]], in a volume of the three-year circumnavigation (1922-1925) by [[Louis Isidore Duperrey]], captain of ''La Coquille''. Lesson's holotype is housed in the collection of the [[National Museum of Natural History (France)|Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle]], in [[Paris]], with the museum [[accession number (library science)|accession no.]] MNHN 7669. |
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'''''Micropechis ikaheka''''', commonly known as the '''small-eyed snake''' or '''Ikaheka snake''', is a highly venomous [[Elapidae|elapid]], the only recognized member of the poorly understood genus ''[[Micropechis]]''. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Guinea]] and several adjacent islands, notably [[Karkar Island]], where it is referred to as the "white snake" due to its pale coloring.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel">{{cite book |title=Clinical Management of Snakebite in Papua New Guinea |editor1-first=David J. |editor1-last=Williams ||editor2-first=Simon D. |editor2-last=Jensen |editor3-first=Kenneth D. |editor3-last=Winkel |year=2004 |publisher=Independent Publishing |location=Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea |isbn=9980916257 |url=http://kingsnake.com/aho/pngsmc/contents.html}}</ref> It is known to occur on the [[Aru Islands]], as well as on [[Manam]] and [[Wallis (island)|Wallis]].<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/> The name ''ikaheka'' means "land eel" in the local [[West Papuan languages|West Papuan dialect]], indicating the snake's preference for damp or semi-aquatic habitats, such as swamps and wetlands, where it hunts small [[vertebrates]], including other snakes.<ref name="QJM1996">{{cite journal |last1=Warrell |first1=DA |last2=Hudson |first2=BJ |first3=DG |last3=Lalloo |first4=AJ |last4=Trevett |first5=P |last5=Whitehead |first6=PR |last6=Bamler |first7=Mamy |last7=Ranaivoson |first8=A |last8=Wiyono |first9=TL |last9=Richie |year=1996 |title=The emerging syndrome of envenoming by the New Guinea small-eyed snake ''Micropechis ikahek'' |journal=QJM |volume=89 |issue=7 |pages=523–530 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pmid=8759493 |url=http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/89/7/523.full.pdf |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> ''M. ikaheka'' is reportedly [[Cannibalism (zoology)|cannibalistic]] and has been known to eat smaller members of its own species.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/> It is a thick-bodied, smooth-scaled snake that grows up to {{convert|2.1|m|ft}} long.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/> It has small eyes that are typical of other [[fossorial]] burrowing snakes, and is either [[nocturnal]] or [[crepuscular]]. |
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==Names== |
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It is known as '''sataw''' in the [[Kalam language]] of [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref>Bulmer, RNH (1975). [http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_84_1975/Volume_84%2C_No._3/Kalam_classification_of_reptiles_and_fishes%2C_by_R._N._H._Bulmer%2C_J._I._Menzies_and_F._Parker%2C_p_267-308/p1 Kalam Classification Of Reptiles And Fishes]. ''Journal of the Polynesian Society'' 84(3): 267–308.</ref><!-- This is not a typo; the Kalam language has consonant clusters featuring multiple consonants that are written without any vowels in between. --> |
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== Distribution == |
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''Micropechis ikaheca'' is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Guinea]] and adjacent islands, notably [[Karkar Island]], [[Madang Province]], in [[Papua New Guinea]], where it is particularly common and referred to as the "white snake" due to its pale coloring.<ref name="OShea">{{cite book |title=A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea|author-first=Mark |author-last=O’Shea |year=1996 |publisher=Independent Publishing |location=Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea |isbn=9980-916-96-6}}</ref> It is also found on neighboring [[Manam|Manam Island]],<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel">{{cite book |title=Clinical Management of Snakebite in Papua New Guinea |editor1-first=David J. |editor1-last=Williams |editor2-first=Simon D. |editor2-last=Jensen |editor3-first=Kenneth D. |editor3-last=Winkel |year=2004 |publisher=Independent Publishing |location=Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea |isbn=9980-916-25-7 |url=http://kingsnake.com/aho/pngsmc/contents.html}}</ref> and [[Wallis (island)|Walis Island]] in [[East Sepik Province]], Papua New Guinea, and on the [[Schouten Islands]], [[Papua (province)|Papua Province]], and [[Raja Ampat Islands]], [[West Papua (province)|West Papua Province]], [[West Papua (region)|West New Guinea]]. It is also reported from the [[Aru Islands]]. |
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== Taxonomy == |
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Two subspecies have been proposed. The nominate form, ''M. ikaheca ikaheca'' as described by Lesson, and which occurs on the Vogelkop, and the islands of [[Misool]] and [[Salawati]] in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, has very little banding on its pale yellow to brown body. ''M. ikaheca fasciatus'', the banded form, described by [[Germany|German]] [[herpetology|herpetologist]] and [[ichthyology|ichthyologist]], [[Johann Gustav Fischer]] in 1884, is found throughout the rest of New Guinea. Specimens from southern Western New Guinea are strongly banded throughout, but most of the specimens from the remainder of New Guinea, including the Schouten Islands, lack banding on the anterior section of the body. Specimens of ''M. ikaheca'' from [[Waigeo]] and [[Batanta]], in the Raja Ambat Islands, are virtually black, without any patterning. |
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== Natural history == |
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''M. ikaheca'' is a thick-bodied, smooth-scaled snake that grows up to {{convert|2.1|m|ft}} long.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/> It has small eyes that are typical of other semi-[[fossorial]] burrowing snakes, and is either [[nocturnal]] or [[crepuscular]]. In common with most other elapids, ''M. ikaheca'' is [[Oviparity|oviparous]].<ref name="OShea"/> |
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The name ''ikaheca'' means "land eel" in a local [[West Papuan languages|West Papuan dialect]], indicating the snake's preference for damp or semi-aquatic habitats, such as swamps, creeks, wetlands, low-lying rainforest, and piles of discarded vegetation debris, i.e. [[oil palm]] windrows, and [[coconut palm]] husk piles. It may be encountered crossing roads following rain at night <ref name="OShea"/> ''M. ikaheka'' hunts small [[vertebrates]], including small [[rodent]]s and [[bandicoot]]s, ground-dwelling [[lizards]] such as [[skink]]s, and [[snake]]s, such as the [[Candoia aspera|New Guinea ground boa]] ''Candoia aspera''.<ref>O’Shea, M. 1994 ''Micropechis ikaheka'' (Small-eyed or Ikaheka Snake) Ophiophagy. ''Herpetological Review'' 25(2):70.</ref> It is also [[Cannibalism (zoology)|cannibalistic]].<ref>O’Shea, M. 1994 ''Micropechis ikaheka'' (Small-eyed or Ikaheka Snake) Cannibalism. ''Herpetological Review'' 25(2):70-71.</ref> |
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== Venom == |
== Venom == |
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''M. |
''M. ikaheca'' is considered a dangerous species, having been implicated in numerous [[snakebite|fatal bites on humans]]. The first proven human fatality occurred in 1958 in [[Wau, Papua New Guinea]], where a young man died 36 hours after being bitten on the base of the thumb while handling the snake.<ref name="QJM1996">{{cite journal |last1=Warrell |first1=DA |last2=Hudson |first2=BJ |first3=DG |last3=Lalloo |first4=AJ |last4=Trevett |first5=P |last5=Whitehead |first6=PR |last6=Bamler |first7=Mamy |last7=Ranaivoson |first8=A |last8=Wiyono |first9=TL |last10=Fryauff |first10=D. J. |last11=O'Shea |first11=M. T. |last12=Richards |first12=A. M. |last13=Theakston |first13=R. D. |last9=Richie |year=1996 |title=The emerging syndrome of envenoming by the New Guinea small-eyed snake ''Micropechis ikaheka'' |journal=QJM |volume=89 |issue=7 |pages=523–530 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pmid=8759493 |display-authors=8 |doi=10.1093/qjmed/89.7.523|doi-access=free }}</ref> Another [[envenomation]] occurred when a villager reportedly killed a specimen, but was then bitten on the left thumb by the "dead" snake when showing it to his neighbors (this bite may be due to postmortem reflex action).<ref name="QJM1996"/> The species has since been firmly established as a medically important species. Bites typically occur when plantation workers are moving coconut palm husk piles,<ref name="OShea"/><ref>O’Shea, M. 1994 The herpetofauna of coconut husk piles on Kar Kar Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea: The initial surveys. ''ASRA Journal'' 1994:51-72.</ref> where the snakes shelter during the day, cutting grass, walking on plantation tracks, or harvesting [[cocoa bean]]s. Although normally shy, if disturbed (e.g., handled, stepped on) it may become highly aggressive, striking readily and rapidly.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/><ref name="QJM1996"/> Bites are tenacious and chewing, and are not easily released.<ref name="OShea"/> |
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''M. |
''M. ikaheca'' is responsible for approximately 40% of all snake envenomations on Karkar Island, but less than 10% on the mainland, where the majority of snakebites are caused by the [[Acanthophis|death adders]].<ref name="QJM1996"/> Symptoms typically include local muscle pain and tenderness, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headache, [[hypotension]], and spontaneous bleeding; severe envenomation may present [[Neurotoxicity|neurotoxic]] and [[Myotoxin|myotoxic]] symptoms such as [[Ptosis (eyelid)|ptosis]], [[dysarthria]], and [[trismus]]. Death may occur from [[respiratory paralysis]].<ref name="QJM1996"/> Although there is no specific [[antivenom]] therapy for ''M. ikaheka'' bites, [[CSL Limited|CSL polyvalent antivenom]] has been found to be beneficial.<ref name="Williams-Jensen-Winkel"/> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q6839808|from2=Q169184}} |
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[[Category:Elapidae]] |
[[Category:Elapidae]] |
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[[Category:Animals described in 1896]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Snakes of New Guinea]] |
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[[Category:Endemic fauna of New Guinea]] |
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[[Category:Monotypic snake genera]] |
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[[Category:Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:00, 19 August 2023
| Micropechis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micropechis Boulenger, 1896 |
| Species: | M. ikaheca
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| Binomial name | |
| Micropechis ikaheca (Lesson, 1829)
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| Synonyms | |
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Micropechis ikaheca, commonly known as the New Guinea small-eyed snake or Ikaheka snake, is a highly venomous elapid, the only species in the genus Micropechis. The holotype was collected at Doré on the Vogelkop of Netherlands New Guinea, and described in 1829, by the naturalist on board the French Navy vessel La Coquille, ship's surgeon René Primevère Lesson, in a volume of the three-year circumnavigation (1922-1925) by Louis Isidore Duperrey, captain of La Coquille. Lesson's holotype is housed in the collection of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, in Paris, with the museum accession no. MNHN 7669.
Names[edit]
It is known as sataw in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.[1]
Distribution[edit]
Micropechis ikaheca is endemic to New Guinea and adjacent islands, notably Karkar Island, Madang Province, in Papua New Guinea, where it is particularly common and referred to as the "white snake" due to its pale coloring.[2] It is also found on neighboring Manam Island,[3] and Walis Island in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, and on the Schouten Islands, Papua Province, and Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua Province, West New Guinea. It is also reported from the Aru Islands.
Taxonomy[edit]
Two subspecies have been proposed. The nominate form, M. ikaheca ikaheca as described by Lesson, and which occurs on the Vogelkop, and the islands of Misool and Salawati in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, has very little banding on its pale yellow to brown body. M. ikaheca fasciatus, the banded form, described by German herpetologist and ichthyologist, Johann Gustav Fischer in 1884, is found throughout the rest of New Guinea. Specimens from southern Western New Guinea are strongly banded throughout, but most of the specimens from the remainder of New Guinea, including the Schouten Islands, lack banding on the anterior section of the body. Specimens of M. ikaheca from Waigeo and Batanta, in the Raja Ambat Islands, are virtually black, without any patterning.
Natural history[edit]
M. ikaheca is a thick-bodied, smooth-scaled snake that grows up to 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) long.[3] It has small eyes that are typical of other semi-fossorial burrowing snakes, and is either nocturnal or crepuscular. In common with most other elapids, M. ikaheca is oviparous.[2]
The name ikaheca means "land eel" in a local West Papuan dialect, indicating the snake's preference for damp or semi-aquatic habitats, such as swamps, creeks, wetlands, low-lying rainforest, and piles of discarded vegetation debris, i.e. oil palm windrows, and coconut palm husk piles. It may be encountered crossing roads following rain at night [2] M. ikaheka hunts small vertebrates, including small rodents and bandicoots, ground-dwelling lizards such as skinks, and snakes, such as the New Guinea ground boa Candoia aspera.[4] It is also cannibalistic.[5]
Venom[edit]
M. ikaheca is considered a dangerous species, having been implicated in numerous fatal bites on humans. The first proven human fatality occurred in 1958 in Wau, Papua New Guinea, where a young man died 36 hours after being bitten on the base of the thumb while handling the snake.[6] Another envenomation occurred when a villager reportedly killed a specimen, but was then bitten on the left thumb by the "dead" snake when showing it to his neighbors (this bite may be due to postmortem reflex action).[6] The species has since been firmly established as a medically important species. Bites typically occur when plantation workers are moving coconut palm husk piles,[2][7] where the snakes shelter during the day, cutting grass, walking on plantation tracks, or harvesting cocoa beans. Although normally shy, if disturbed (e.g., handled, stepped on) it may become highly aggressive, striking readily and rapidly.[3][6] Bites are tenacious and chewing, and are not easily released.[2]
M. ikaheca is responsible for approximately 40% of all snake envenomations on Karkar Island, but less than 10% on the mainland, where the majority of snakebites are caused by the death adders.[6] Symptoms typically include local muscle pain and tenderness, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headache, hypotension, and spontaneous bleeding; severe envenomation may present neurotoxic and myotoxic symptoms such as ptosis, dysarthria, and trismus. Death may occur from respiratory paralysis.[6] Although there is no specific antivenom therapy for M. ikaheka bites, CSL polyvalent antivenom has been found to be beneficial.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Bulmer, RNH (1975). Kalam Classification Of Reptiles And Fishes. Journal of the Polynesian Society 84(3): 267–308.
- ^ a b c d e O’Shea, Mark (1996). A Guide to the Snakes of Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea: Independent Publishing. ISBN 9980-916-96-6.
- ^ a b c d Williams, David J.; Jensen, Simon D.; Winkel, Kenneth D., eds. (2004). Clinical Management of Snakebite in Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea: Independent Publishing. ISBN 9980-916-25-7.
- ^ O’Shea, M. 1994 Micropechis ikaheka (Small-eyed or Ikaheka Snake) Ophiophagy. Herpetological Review 25(2):70.
- ^ O’Shea, M. 1994 Micropechis ikaheka (Small-eyed or Ikaheka Snake) Cannibalism. Herpetological Review 25(2):70-71.
- ^ a b c d e Warrell, DA; Hudson, BJ; Lalloo, DG; Trevett, AJ; Whitehead, P; Bamler, PR; Ranaivoson, Mamy; Wiyono, A; et al. (1996). "The emerging syndrome of envenoming by the New Guinea small-eyed snake Micropechis ikaheka". QJM. 89 (7). Oxford University Press: 523–530. doi:10.1093/qjmed/89.7.523. PMID 8759493.
- ^ O’Shea, M. 1994 The herpetofauna of coconut husk piles on Kar Kar Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea: The initial surveys. ASRA Journal 1994:51-72.