Pointed head python

Pointed head python
	Pointed head python ( Loxocemus bicolor )
Systematics
without rank:	Toxicofera
Subordination :	Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily :	Python-like (Pythonoidea)
Family :	Loxocemidae
Genre :	Loxocemus
Type :	Pointed head python
Scientific name of the family
	Loxocemidae
	Cope , 1861
Scientific name of the genus
	Loxocemus
	Cope, 1861
Scientific name of the species
	Loxocemus bicolor
	Cope, 1861

The pointed head python ( Loxocemus bicolor ) is a Central American species of snake and the only species of the monotypic family of pointed head pythons (Loxocemidae).

features

The snake is up to 120 cm long and has a stocky body with a head that is barely detached from its neck. The color varies from dark brown to gray-brown and has a purple sheen in the light. The ventral side is dark or cream in color. The different color variants have sometimes been described as two species ( L. bicolor and L. sumichrasti ), but this is now rejected due to the occurrence of both variants in the same habitat.

There are two internasal and two prefrontal shields . The small parietal shields are separated by the large frontal and an occipital shield. Loreal shields are missing. One, rarely two pre- and three to four postocular shields surround the eye, 9 to 11 supralabial shields and 11 to 14 infralabial shields surround the mouth. The trunk has 31 to 35 rows of smooth scales in the middle, 234 to 270 ventral shields , 39 to 52 divided sub-caudal shields, and a divided anal shield .

Occurrence and way of life

The pointed head python occurs on the Mexican Pacific coast to the north of Costa Rica and is found at altitudes of 0 to 600 meters. The species lives in wet and dry forests, where it digs in leaves and loose soil. Small mammals and small birds serve as prey. The pointed head python lays eggs.

Systematic position

The systematic position of the pointed head python has long been controversial. Due to different morphological features it was assigned to the former taxon giant snakes (Boidae), the pythons (Pythonidae) and the Xenopeltidae . Today the pointed head python is placed in a family of its own. Molecular research has shown that the pointed head python is actually relatively closely related to the pythons and earth snakes, while the relatedness to the Boidae is not as close as expected from the morphological similarity. Accordingly, the pointed head pythons are now placed in their own superfamily Pythonoidea together with the earth snakes and the pythons . However, this has not yet been conclusively confirmed.

Protection status

The pointed head python is listed in Appendix II of the Washington Convention on Species Protection . This means that the import and export of animals must be approved. Furthermore, animals that are kept privately must be registered with the competent authority (municipality and lower nature conservation authority).

Web links

Loxocemus bicolor in The Reptile Database

Commons : Pointed-head python ( Loxocemus bicolor ) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Ludwig Trutnau : Non-poisonous snakes, part 1 . 4th edition. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3223-0 .
^ CE Nelson, JR Meyer: Variation and distribution of the middle american snake genus Loxocemus Cope (Boidae?) . In: The Southwestern Naturalist . tape 12 , no. 4 , 1967, p. 439-453 (English).
^ Georg Haas : The Systematic Position of Loxocemus bicolor Cope (Ophidia) . In: American Museum Novitates . tape 1748 , 1955, pp. 1-8 (English).
↑ Loxocemus bicolor (entry at ITIS )
↑ Loxocemus bicolor in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved January 22, 2011.
^ TP Wilcox, DJ Zwickl, TA Heath, DM Hillis: Phylogenetic relationships of the dwarf boas and a comparison of Bayesian and bootstrap measures of phylogenetic support . In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . tape 25 , 2002, pp. 361-371 (English).
↑ Michael SY Lee, Andrew F. Hugall, Robin Lawson and John D. Scanlon: Phylogeny of snakes (Serpentes): combining morphological and molecular data in likelihood, Bayesian and parsimony analyzes . In: Systematics and Biodiversity . tape 5 , 2007, p. 371-389 , doi : 10.1017 / S1477200007002290 .
↑ The Reptile Database: Higher Taxa in Extant Reptiles - Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes.
↑ Appendices to the agreement at www.cites.org (eng.)

[Trutnau-1] Ludwig Trutnau : Non-poisonous snakes, part 1 . 4th edition. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3223-0 .

[2] CE Nelson, JR Meyer: Variation and distribution of the middle american snake genus Loxocemus Cope (Boidae?) . In: The Southwestern Naturalist . tape 12 , no. 4 , 1967, p. 439-453 (English).

[3] Georg Haas : The Systematic Position of Loxocemus bicolor Cope (Ophidia) . In: American Museum Novitates . tape 1748 , 1955, pp. 1-8 (English).

[4] Loxocemus bicolor (entry at ITIS )

[5] Loxocemus bicolor in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved January 22, 2011.

[6] TP Wilcox, DJ Zwickl, TA Heath, DM Hillis: Phylogenetic relationships of the dwarf boas and a comparison of Bayesian and bootstrap measures of phylogenetic support . In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . tape 25 , 2002, pp. 361-371 (English).

[lee-7] Michael SY Lee, Andrew F. Hugall, Robin Lawson and John D. Scanlon: Phylogeny of snakes (Serpentes): combining morphological and molecular data in likelihood, Bayesian and parsimony analyzes . In: Systematics and Biodiversity . tape 5 , 2007, p. 371-389 , doi : 10.1017 / S1477200007002290 .

[higher-8] The Reptile Database: Higher Taxa in Extant Reptiles - Ophidia (Serpentes) - Snakes.

[9] Appendices to the agreement at www.cites.org (eng.)