Ptyas luzonensis, commonly known as the smooth-scaled mountain rat snake, is a species of rat snake in the family Colubridae.[3] It is endemic to the Philippines.
| Ptyas luzonensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Smooth-scaled mountain rat snake in Isabela, Philippines | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Ptyas |
| Species: | P. luzonensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ptyas luzonensis (Günther, 1873)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Zaocys luzonensis Günther, 1873[2] | |
Taxonomy
editThe specific name, luzonensis, refers to Luzon island in the Philippines, the type locality.[2][3] Its other English common names are Philippine mountain rat snake,[4] smooth-scaled rat snake, and Philippine rat snake.[2]
Description
editPtyas luzonensis closely resembles Ptyas carinata (keeled rat snake) but differ through the following characteristics:[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
editPtyas luzonensis is endemic to the Philippine islands of Luzon, Pollilo, Catanduanes, Leyte, Panay, and Negros.[2] It inhabits lowland tropical forests but can also tolerate a wide variety of habitats. It frequents the forest floor during daytime and prefers vegetation and plant branches near bodies of water at night.[4][6]
Ecology
editP. luzonensis is a prey of the Philippine eagle population in the Cordillera Central.[7] It is also a host of the East Indies reptile tick (Amblyomma helvolum).[8]
IUCN red list version 3.1 in 2022 categorized P. luzonensis as a least-concern species.[9] Meanwhile, in the Philippine Red List threat category of 2020, it is listed among the Other Threatened Species (OTS). It is threatened by deforestation and being killed by humans who mistake it for a cobra.[4]
References
edit- ^ Brown, R., Gonzalez, J.C. & Gaulke, M. 2009. Ptyas luzonensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T96251357A96251360. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169846A6681627.en. Downloaded on 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d Leviton, Alan E.; Siler, Cameron D.; Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Brown, Rafe M. (2018). "Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 4. 64 (14). California Academy of Sciences: 399–568 [443, 541, 558]. doi:10.5281/zenodo.11512589.
- ^ a b "Ptyas luzonensis (Günther, 1873)". The Reptile Database. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d van de Ven, Willem, ed. (2020). "Part III: Reptiles". Philippine Red List of Threatened Wild Fauna: Part I – Vertebrates (PDF). Philippines: Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau. pp. 18, 94. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Weinell, Jeffrey L.; Hooper, Errol; Leviton, Alan E.; Brown, Rafe M. (September 30, 2019). "Illustrated key to the snakes of the Philippines". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 4. 66 (1). California Academy of Sciences: 1–49 [33]. doi:10.5281/zenodo.11512680.
- ^ a b Devan-Song, Anne; Brown, Rafe M. (2012). "Amphibians and reptiles of Luzon island, Philippines, VI: The herpetofauna of the Subic Bay Area" (PDF). Asian Herpetological Research. 3 (1). Chengdu, China: Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: 1–20 [14]. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1245.2012.00001. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Abaño, Tatiana Rose C.; Salvador, Dennis Joseph I.; Ibañez, Jayson C. (2016). "First nesting record of Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi from Luzon, Philippines, with notes on diet and breeding biology" (PDF). Forktail. 32. New Malden, UK: Oriental Bird Club: 86–88. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ Kwak, Mackenzie L.; Jones, Max D.; Harman, Madison E. A.; Smith, Samantha N.; D'souza, Anji; Knierim, Tyler; Barnes, Curt H.; Waengsothorn, Surachit; Amarga, Ace Kevin S.; Kuo, Chi-Chien; Nakao, Ryo (2023). "The East Indies reptile tick Amblyomma helvolum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), taxonomy, biology and new host records, including the first record of human infestation". Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 14 (6). Elsevier: 1–10 [2]. doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102224.
- ^ Duco, Renz Angelo J.; de Guia, Anna Pauline O.; Dimalibot, Judeline C.; Parcon, Julius A.; Cosico, Edison A.; Malizon, Charlie R.; Aguila, Ammie R.; Alviola, Phillip A.; Gonzalez, Juan Carlos T. (December 2023). "Terrestrial vertebrate diversity of caves and limestone forests in southern Sierra Madre mountain range, Luzon Island, Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Journal of Science. 152 (6A). Taguig, Philippines: Department of Science and Technology: 2016–2075 [2071]. ISSN 0031-7683.
Further reading
edit- Günther, 1873 : Notes on some reptiles and batrachians obtained by Dr. Adolf Bernhard Meyer in Celebes and the Philippine Islands. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, vol. 1873, p. 165-172 (Full text).
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