The Texas lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum) is a subspecies of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the United States.

Texas lined snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Tropidoclonion
Species:
Subspecies:
T. l. texanum
Trinomial name
Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum
Ramsey, 1953

Geographic range

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The Texas lined snake is found in the southcentral United States, primarily in the state of Texas.[1]

Habitat

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T. l. texanum is a relatively common fossorial subspecies, and spends most of its time buried in leaf litter.

Diet

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The Texas lined snake preys upon earthworms.[1]

Description

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T. l. texanum is typically olive green to dark brown in color, with a distinctive yellow or cream-colored stripe down the center of the back. It has a small head and small eyes. It differs from other subspecies of T. lineatum by having fewer subcaudals: 33 or fewer in females, 40 or fewer in males.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Tropidoclonion lineatum and T. l. texanum, pp. 166-167 + Plate 24 + Map 123).
  2. ^ Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum, p. 152).

Further reading

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  • Ramsey LW (1953). "The Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum (Hallowell)". Herpetologica 9 (1): 7-24. (Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum, new subspecies).
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