Terre-de-Haut racer

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Terre-de-Haut racer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Alsophis
Species:
A. sanctonum
Binomial name
Alsophis sanctonum
Barbour, 1915
Subspecies
  • A. sanctonum sanctonum Barbour, 1915
  • A. sanctonum danforthi Cochran, 1938
Synonyms

Alsophis antillensis

The Terre-de-Haut racer (Alsophis sanctonum) is a species of snake found in the Caribbean, on the Lesser Antilles. This species is endemic to Terre-de-Bas Island and Terre-de-Haut Island which make up the Îles des Saintes. Terre-de-Bas and Terre-de-Haut are very small islands with a total area of approximately 13 km2. Because of its presence only on this small area, it is a highly protected species.

It can reach nearly a meter in length. It feeds on lizards and small rodents. It rarely bites humans, but may release a foul-smelling (though harmless)

cloacal
secretion when disturbed.

Habitat

Alsophis sanctonum occurs along mangrove edges, roadsides, gardens, wooded areas, preferentially in semi-deciduous forest with

Guapinol, and Bursera simaruba
. It is present in areas less frequented by humans.

Subspecies

References

External links