Tiger snake 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Telescopus semiannulatus, commonly known as the African tiger snake, tiger snake, tiger cat snake, or striped cat snake is a species of rear-fanged colubrid snake.

 

 

Scientific classification

 

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Subphylum:Vertebrata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Suborder:Serpentes

Family:Colubridae

Subfamily:Colubrinae

Genus:Telescopus

Species:T. semiannulatus

Binomial name

Telescopus semiannulatus
A. Smith, 1849

Synonyms

• Leptodira semiannulata —Günther, 1888

• Tarbophis semiannulatus — Fitzsimons & Brain, 1958

Telescopus semiannulatus

T. semiannulatus in an acacia, central Tanzania. The vertical pupils are barely visible due to bright sunlight.

Geographic range :

 

It is found throughout central, eastern, and southern Africa, from Congo to Tanzania to South Africa.

 

Description  :

 

Adults average 60–90 cm (2.0–3.0 ft) in total length, with 17–21 rows of dorsal scales. The Phariht\ snake is one of the more colorful species of snake in the family Colubridae. The upper side is pale orange to salmon pink in color with 24–48 black or dark-brown cross bars or blotches along the back and tail; the underside is pale yellow to orangish pink along the throat, paler along the rest of the body. It has a distinct head and large orange eyes with vertical pupils, and a narrow body with long tail.

 

Subspecies :

 

The Damara tiger snake, subspecies T. s. polystictus, is found in the highveld of Namibia, has a more mottled appearance and more black bands (up to 75), and may be a separate species.

 

Telescopus semiannulatus is found in both dry and humid subtropical and tropical habitats, from rocky desert, scrub and savanna, to lowland forest. Largely terrestrial but sometimes arboreal, it shelters under bark and rock or in thatched roofs. It is a nocturnal snake.

 

Venom :

 

Telescopus semiannulatus is rear-fanged and mildly venomous, but not dangerous to humans. Localized swelling might occur. BecauseTelescopus semiannulatus feeds mostly on lizards, the venom is more effective on other reptiles.

 

The fangs are grooved, instead of hollow, like most venomous snakes. When Telescopus semiannulatus grabs onto its prey, it holds on and chews venom into the wound, adding constriction to immobilize prey.

 

 

 

 

Diet :

 

Its diet is largely lizards, especially geckos, but also small rodents and fledgeling birds and bats.

 

Captivity:

 

Initially T. semiannulatus strikes readily, but the venom is not dangerous to humans, and it tames quickly. In captivity it accepts geckos while larger individuals will take half-grown mice. Even smaller animals are eating fresh born mice. In captivity it gets really calm and is interested in the things that happen around.

 

Breeding :

 

The tiger snake is oviparous. Females lay half a dozen to several dozen eggs in damp leaf litter.

 

References :

 

Branch, Bill, Field guide to Snakes, pub. 1998 Struik

 

External links :

 

Telescopus semiannulatus in the CalPhotos Photo Database, University of California, Berkeley

The Tiger Cat Snake, (Telescopus semiannulatus)

courtesy to :  reptilefacts.tumblr.com/post/17485561644/an

The Tiger Cat Snake, (Telescopus semiannulatus), also known as the Tiger Snake, or Striped Cat Snake is a species of colubrid snake. It is found throughout central, eastern, and southern Africa, from Congo to Tanzania to South Africa.

Adults average 60–90cm (2-3ft) in length. The upper side is pale orange to salmon pink in colour with 24-48 black or dark brown cross bars or blotches along the back and tail; this helps distinguish it from the Damara Tiger Snake, (T. s. polystictus) which has up to 70 black bands.

This species is found in both dry and humid subtropical and tropical habitats, from rocky desert, scrub and savannah, to lowland forest. Largely terrestrial but sometimes arboreal, it shelters under bark and rock or in thatched roofs. It is a nocturnal snake and its diet is primarily lizards. Geckos are a large part of its diet, but they will also eat small rodents, fledgeling birds and bats.

Initially T. semiannulatus strikes readily, but the venom is not dangerous to humans, and it tames quickly. In captivity it accepts geckos while larger individuals will take half-grown mice. The tiger snake is oviparous. Females lay half a dozen to several dozen eggs in damp leaf litter.

The Damara Tiger Snake, (T. s. polystictus), is found in the highveld of Namibia (a high plateau region of inland South Africa), has a more mottled appearance and more black bands (up to 75). It may be recognised as a separate species.

Videos : 

My Telescopus semiannulatus

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American rat snake   Part 1 Part 2 Asian rat snakeBoomslangCalifornia kingsnakeCoachwhipCommon kingsnake  PART 1 Part 2 Corn snake part 1Part2Dwarf sand snakeEast African egg eaterEastern hognose snakeFalse water cobraGarter snakes  Part One  Part Two Gopher snakeJapanese rat snakeLeaf-nosed snakeMilk snake  Part One Part Two Neotropical rat snakeNorthern cat-eyed snakePine snakeRacer Rough green snakeShovel-nosed snakeSri Lankan wolf snakeTiger snake Western hognose snake