Dieurostus

Dieurostus dussumieri
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Homalopsidae
Subfamily:	Homalopsinae
Genus:	Dieurostus; Berg, 1901
Species:	D. dussumieri
Binomial name
	Dieurostus dussumieri; (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & ; A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
Synonyms[1]
	Eurostus dussumierii ; A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & ; A.H.A. Duméril, 1854; Hypsirhina dussumieri ; — Jan, 1868; Hypsirhina malabarica ; F. Werner, 1913; Enhydris dussumieri ; — M.A. Smith, 1943; Enhydris dussumierii ; — Chandramouli et al., 2012; Dieurostus dussumieri ; — Kumar et al., 2012;

Dieurostus is a genus of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The genus Dieurostus is monotypic, containing only the species Dieurostus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's water snake. The species, which is mildly venomous and rear-fanged, is endemic to Kerala, in southwestern India. It is also found in Bangladesh.[2][3][4]

Etymology

Both the specific name, dussumieri, and the common name, Dussumier's water snake, are in honor of
Jean-Jacques Dussumier, a French merchant, ship owner, and collector of zoological specimens.[5]

Morphology

Diagnosis (genus): Dieurostus is distinguished from all other homalopsids with 25 or 27 rows of smooth scales, nasal scales in contact, and posterior labials horizontally divided, by its divided internasal, upper labials 1–3 contacting the loreal, five lower labials contacting the chin shields (Homalophis doriae has upper labials 2–5 or 2–6 contacting the loreal), and its striped pattern (Ferania sieboldii has a blotched-banded dorsal pattern, the internasal may contact the loreal, and it has three lower labials contacting the chin shields) [after Kumar et al. 2012].

Geographic range

D. dussumieri is endemic to coastal plains of southwestern India (in Kerala).

Habits

D. dussumieri is a thoroughly aquatic snake, and is more evident during the rains. This species has been sighted in inundated rice paddies, flooded crop fields and is very much at home in lakes and swamps. On land its movements are rather clumsy and laboured. It feeds mostly on fishes and takes refuge in crab-holes on mud banks and other such safe retreats near water bodies.

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References

"Dieurostus dussumieri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
"Dieurostus dussumieri " at French Wikipedia.
http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0754
http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/6d8e437e2668ecf9714b155015bd6d7c
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. (Enhydris dussumierii, p. 78).

External links

Dieurostus dussumieri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database

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[1] "Dieurostus dussumieri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

[2] "Dieurostus dussumieri " at French Wikipedia.

[3] ttp://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0754

[4] ttp://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/details/species/id/6d8e437e2668ecf9714b155015bd6d7c

[5] 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. (Enhydris dussumierii, p. 78).