Tropidophis greenwayi

Tropidophis greenwayi is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to the Caicos Islands. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[3]

Tropidophis greenwayi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Tropidophiidae
Genus: Tropidophis
Species:
T. greenwayi
Binomial name
Tropidophis greenwayi
Barbour & Shreve, 1936
Synonyms[1]
  • Tropidophis pardalis greenwayi
    Barbour & Shreve, 1936
  • Tropidophis greenwayi
    — Schwartz & Marsh, 1960
  • Tropidophis greenwayi greenwayi
    — Schwartz, 1963
Common names: Caicos Islands dwarf boa.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, greenwayi, is in honor of American ornithologist James Cowan Greenway.[4]

Description

Adults of T. greenwayi reach maturity at a total length (including tail) of 225 mm (8.9 in) in males and 250–265 mm (9.8–10.4 in) in females. The maximum total length is 38 cm (15 in).[2]

Geographic range

Tropidophis greenwayi is found in the West Indies in the Caicos Islands, particularly on the islands of Ambergris Cay, Long Cay, Middle Caicos, Middleton Cay, North Caicos, South Caicos, and probably also on Providenciales. The type locality given is "Ambergris Cay, Caicos Islands, Bahamas".[1]

Habitat

Tropidophis greenwayi occurs in the rocky limestone areas of the cays.[2]

Conservation

Because of its restricted island distribution, T. greenway is susceptible to extirpation. Unless wildlife protection laws are enforced, the relatively secretive nature of this snake may be its only protection against extinction.[2]

Feeding

The diet of T. greenwayi consists mainly of anoles and geckos.[2]

Subspecies
Subspecies[3] Taxon author[3] Common name Geographic range
Tropidophis greenwayi greenwayi Barbour & Shreve, 1936 Type locality: Ambergris Cay.
Tropidophis greenwayi lanthanus Schwartz, 1963 Type locality: South Caicos.
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References
  1. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. Iverson, John B. (1986). "Notes on the Natural History of the Caicos Islands dwarf boa, Tropidophis greenwayi ". Caribb. J. Sci. 22 (3-4): 191-198. PDF at University of Puerto Rico. Accessed 22 September 2007.
  3. "Tropidophis greenwayi ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
  4. 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. (Tropidophis greenwayi, p. 107).

Further reading
  • Barbour T, Shreve B (1936). "New Races of Tropidophis and of Ameiva from the Bahamas". Proc. New England Zool. Club 16: 1-3. (Tropidophis pardalis greenwayi, new subspecies, p. 2).
  • Schwartz A (1963). "A new subspecies of Tropidophis greenwayi from the Caicos Bank". Breviora (194): 1-6. (Tropidophis greenwayi lanthanus, new subspecies).
  • Schwartz A, Marsh RJ (1960). "A review of the pardalis-maculatus complex of the boid genus Tropidophis of the West Indies". Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 123 (2): 50-84.
  • Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Tropidophis greenwayi, pp. 192–193).
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