Apostolepis dorbignyi, also known commonly as the Bolivian burrowing snake and Dorbigny's blackhead, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.[2] The species is native to western South America.

Apostolepis dorbignyi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Apostolepis
Species:
A. dorbignyi
Binomial name
Apostolepis dorbignyi
(Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms[2]
  • Calamaria d'orbignyi
    Schlegel, 1837
  • Apostolepis dorbignyi
    Boulenger, 1896

Etymology

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The specific name, dorbignyi, is in honor of French naturalist Alcide d'Orbigny.[3]

Geographic range

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A. dorbignyi is found in Bolivia and Peru.[2]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of A. dorbignyi is savanna, at altitudes of about 600 m (2,000 ft).[1]

Description

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A small snake, A. dorbignyi may attain a total length of about 38 cm (15 in), which includes a tail about 5 cm (2 in) long.[4]

Diet

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A. dorbignyi preys predominately upon amphisbaenians and small snakes, but will also eat other organisms found in soil such as earthworms, other invertebrates, and larvae of invertebrates.[1]

Reproduction

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A. dorbignyi is oviparous.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gonzales, L. (2016). "Apostolepis dorbignyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15155994A15156028. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T15155994A15156028.en.
  2. ^ a b c d Apostolepis dorbignyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 25 February 2016.
  3. ^ 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. (Apostolepis dorbignyi, p. 74).
  4. ^ Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Apostolepis dorbignyi, new combination, p. 236).

Further reading

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  • Freiberg MA (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Apostolepis dorbignyi, p. 89).
  • Harvey MB (1999). "Revision of Bolivian Apostolepis (Squamata: Colubridae)". Copeia 1999 (2): 388–409.
  • Lema T (2001). "Fossorial snake genus Apostolepis from South America (Serpentes: Colubridae: Elapomorphinae)". Cuadernos de Herpetología 15 (1): 29–43.
  • Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale. xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive. 600 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Calamaria d'orbignyi, new species, pp. 30–31 in Partie Descriptive). (in French).