Platyceps gracilis, commonly known as the graceful racer or slender racer,[2][3] is a species of snake endemic to West India.[1][2]
| Platyceps gracilis | |
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| Lower photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe, BNHS Conservation Education Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai, India. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Platyceps |
| Species: | P. gracilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Platyceps gracilis (Günther, 1862)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
edit- See snake scales for terms used
Snout is obtuse; rostral nearly as deep as broad, just visible from above; suture between the internasals a little shorter than that between the prefrontals; frontal slightly longer than its distance from the end of the snout, nearly as long as the occipitals; loreal nearly as deep as long; one preocular, with a small subocular below 3 two postoculars ; temporals 2+2; 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering the eye; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; posterior chin-shields as long as or longer than the anterior, separated anteriorly by two scales. Scales smooth, in 21 rows. Ventrals ungulate laterally, 213–228; anal divided; subcaudals 118–121. Yellowish above, with a series of large round brown spots edged with black, separated by narrow interspaces; these spots become more indistinct on the posterior part of the body; a black cross-band on the snout and three angular dark brown black-edged bands on the head, the anterior between the eye, the posterior extending on to the nape; lower parts yellowish, with an irregular series of black spots on each side. Total length 33 inches; tail 10.[4]
Distribution
editP. gracilis is endemic to the West of India, and has been sighted in the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. According to observations documented via iNaturalist,[5] the species has been seen in the areas of Dhalewadi, Dhule, Kondhur, Matheran, Mumbai, Pune and Thane (Kalwa) in Maharashtra;[5] in Rajasthan, it is known from Chittorgarh and Udaipur.[1][2][5]
Notes
edit- ^ a b c Srinivasulu C, Srinivasulu B, Mohapatra P, Vyas R, Thakur S (2013). "Coluber gracilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T172692A1367883. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T172692A1367883.en.
- ^ a b c d Platyceps gracilis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Slender Racer - Coluber gracilis ". Indian Snakes Database. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Boulenger, GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Zamenis gracilis, p. 327).
- ^ a b c "Observations • iNaturalist". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
References
edit- Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Zamenis gracilis, p. 404).
- Günther A (1862) "On new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Third Series 9: 124–132. (Zamenis gracilis, new species, pp. 125–126).
- Schätti B, Wilson LD (1986). "Coluber Linnaeus. Holarctic racers". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (399): 1–4.
- Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Coluber gracilis, new combination, pp. 171–172).
External links
edit- Image of Coluber gracilis on Flickr
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