Dolichophis jugularis

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Dolichophis jugularis
Dolichophis jugularis preying on a sheltopusik

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dolichophis
Species:
D. jugularis
Binomial name
Dolichophis jugularis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[2]
  • Coluber jugularis
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Zamenis viridiflavus var. asiana
    Boettger, 1880
  • Hierophis jugularis
    Schätti, 1988
  • Dolichophis jugularis
    Nagy et al., 2004

Dolichophis jugularis, also known commonly as the black whipsnake and the large whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to West Asia. There are three subspecies.

Geographic range

Dolichophis jugularis is found in Cyprus, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Syria, and Turkey.[2]

Habitat

D. jugularis is found in a variety of

wetlands, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1]

Description

Dorsally, adults are black, but juveniles are tan with darker small blotches. The juvenile pattern disappears when the snake reaches the age of three to four years.[2]

Reproduction

D. jugularis is oviparous.[1][2] Clutch size is 7–11 eggs.[1]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the

nominotypical subspecies.[2]

References

Further reading