Sinomicrurus sauteri

Sinomicrurus sauteri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Sinomicrurus
Species:
S. sauteri
Binomial name
Sinomicrurus sauteri
(Steindachner, 1913)
Synonyms[2]
  • Oligodon sauteri
    Steindachner, 1913
  • Hemibungarus matsudai
    Ōshima, 1920
  • Calliophis hatori
    Takahashi, 1930
  • Hemibungarus sauteri
    — Maki, 1931
  • Calliophis japonicus sauteri
    — Loveridge, 1946
  • Calliophis sauteri
    — Takara, 1962
  • Micrurus japonicus sauteri
    — Welch, 1994
  • Sinomicrurus sauteri
    — Slowinski, Boundy & R. Lawson, 2001

Sinomicrurus sauteri (common names: Taiwan coral snake,[3] oriental coral snake[2] and Formosa coral snake[4]) is a species of highly venomous[2][3] coral snake in the family Elapidae.[1][2][3][5] The species is endemic to Taiwan and known from southern and central Taiwan at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft) above sea level.[1][3]

Etymology

The specific name, sauteri, is in honor of German entomologist Hans Sauter (1871–1943).[6]

Description

S. sauteri grows to 98 cm (39 in) in total length (including tail).[3] The upper side of the body is dark brown or crimson, and has three black longitudinal stripes from neck to tip of tail, of which the mid-dorsal stripe is narrower than the lateral ones.[3]

Venom

S. sauteri is highly venomous. Although it is not aggressive and very few reports of attacks have been reported, its venom is potentially life-threatening.[3]

Habitat

S. sauteri may be found in forests or meadows in mountainous areas at lower or middle altitudes.[1]

Behavior

S. sauteri is terrestrial and typically nocturnal.[1]

Diet

The diet of S. sauteri is unknown.[1]

Reproduction

S. sauteri is oviparous.[1][2][3]

Conservation status

S. sauteri is a rare species[3] protected by the law.[1][3] It is not considered threatened.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Zhou, Z.; Rao, D.-q.; Lau, M.; Jiang, J.; Ji, X. (2012). "Sinomicrurus sauteri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192173A2051007. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192173A2051007.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sinomicrurus sauteri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Breuer, Hans; Murphy, William Christopher (2009–2010). "Sinomicrurus sauteri ". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ^ "帶紋赤蛇 Formosa Coral Snake; Hemibungarus sauteri ". National Academy for Educational Research, Taiwan. 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ Li Hsiang-Ying. Shao, K.T. (ed.). "Sinomicrurus sauteri (Steindachner, 1913)". Catalogue of life in Taiwan. Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  6. ^ 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. (Sinomicrurus sauteri, p. 233).

Further reading

  • Slowinski, Joseph B; Boundy, Jeff; Lawson, Robin (2001). "The Phylogenetic Relationships of Asian Coral Snakes (Elapidae: Calliophis and Maticora) Based on Morphological and Molecular Characters". Herpetologica 57 (2): 233-245. (Sinomicrurus sauteri, new combination).
  • Steindachner F (1913). "Über zwei neue Schlangenarten von Formosa ". Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 50: 218-220. (Oligodon sauteri, new species, pp. 219–220). (in German).