Kikuzato's brook snake (Opisthotropis kikuzatoi), also known commonly as Kikuzato's stream snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the to Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
| Kikuzato's brook snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Opisthotropis |
| Species: | O. kikuzatoi
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| Binomial name | |
| Opisthotropis kikuzatoi | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology
editThe specific name, kikuzatoi, is in honor of Kiyotasu Kikuzato, who collected the holotype.[3]
Geographic range
editO. kikuzatoi is endemic to Kumejima Island, one of the Okinawa Group islands of Japan.[1][2]
Habitat
editO. kikuzatoi is aquatic, inhabiting flowing streams in the northern and southern hilly regions of the island. Habitats between the two localities have been completely converted to agricultural land.[1]
Threats
editThis species, O. kikuzatoi, is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN under criterion B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v), due to threats from capturing as bycatch, water pollution, and predation from introduced species, primarily Lithobates catesbeianus, commonly known as the American bullfrog. The American bullfrog was introduced to Kumeijima Island in 1953, and predation may provide great pressure on the population after many decades of population decline. Inbreeding within the small (and isolated) populations is becoming a significant threat also. Specimens have been observed with minor abnormalities (asymmetrical scales on the head) not recorded in the past.[1]
Diet
editO. kikuzatoi feeds on earthworms, freshwater shrimp, freshwater fishes, tadpoles, and frogs.[2]
Reproduction
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Kidera, N.; Ota, H. (2017). "Opisthotropis kikuzatoi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15391A96877390. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T15391A96877390.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Opisthotropis kikuzatoi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 December 2022.
- ^ 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. (Opisthotropis kikuzatoi, p. 141).
Further reading
edit- Okada Y, Takara T (1958). "A New Species of Liopeltis (Ophidia, Colubridae) from the Ryukyu Islands". Bulletin of the Biogeographical Society of Japan 20 (3): 1–3. (Liopeltis kikuzatoi, new species).
- Ota H (2004). "Field observations on a highly endangered snake, Opisthotropis kikuzatoi (Squamata: Colubridae), endemic to Kumejima Island, Japan". Current Herpetology 23 (2): 73–80.
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