Psammophis leithii

Psammophis leithii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Lamprophiidae
Subfamily: Psammophiinae
Genus: Psammophis
Species: P. leithii
Binomial name
Psammophis leithii
Günther, 1869

Psammophis leithii, commonly called the Pakistan sand racer or Leith's sand snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake endemic to South Asia.

Etymology

The specific name, leithii, is in honor of Andrew H. Leith, a physician with the Bombay Sanitary Commission.[1]

Geographic range

P. leithii is found in Afghanistan, western India (Kachchh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra), and Pakistan.

Description

Rostral broader than deep, visible from above; nostril between two or three shields, the posterior nasal being frequently divided into two; internasals about half the length of the pre-frontals; frontal very narrow, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, nearly as long as the parietals; loreal about twice as long as deep; pre-ocular single, in contact with the frontal; two post-oculars; temporals 1+2 or 2+2; upper labials 8 or 9, fourth and fifth or fifth and sixth entering the eye; 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are a little shorter than the posterior. Dorsal scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 177-188; anal usually entire; sub-caudals 82-138.

Pale greyish or yellowish above, with black dots or four longitudinal brown bands which are usually edged with black, the outer passing through the eyes; lower parts white, uniform or spotted or marked with grey or olive in the middle, with or without a dark lateral line or series of dots.

Total length 3 feet 3 inches (99 cm); tail 1-foot (30 cm).[2]

Venom

Like all species in the genus Psammophis, P. leithii possess a mild venom, which is delivered to prey by means of enlarged, grooved teeth at the rear of the snake's upper jaws. The venom is not usually harmful to humans.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Psammophis leithii, p. 155).
  2. ↑ 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. (Psammophis leithii, pp. 365-366.)
  3. ↑ Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Psammophis, p. 89).

Further reading


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