Uromacer catesbyi, also known commonly as the blunt-headed Hispaniolan vine snake and Catesby's pointed snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.

Uromacer catesbyi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Uromacer
Species:
U. catesbyi
Binomial name
Uromacer catesbyi
(Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms[2]

Etymology

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The specific name, catesbyi, is in honor of English naturalist Mark Catesby.[3]

Geographic range

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U. catesbyi is native to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.[2]

Habitat

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Although the preferred natural habitat of U. catesbyi is forest at altitudes from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft), it is also often found in disturbed areas.[1]

Behavior

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U. catesbyi is an arboreal species.[2]

Diet

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U. catesbyi preys upon frogs, lizards, and birds.[1]

Reproduction

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U. catesbyi is oviparous.[1][2]

Subspecies

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Including the nominotypical subspecies, eight subspecies are recognized as being valid.[2]

  • Uromacer catesbyi catesbyi (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Uromacer catesbyi cereolineatus Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi frondicolor Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi hariolatus Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi inchausteguii Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi insulaevaccarum Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi pampineus Schwartz, 1970
  • Uromacer catesbyi scandax Dunn, 1920

Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Uromacer.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Henderson RW, Inchaustegui S, Landestoy M (2016). "Uromacer catesbyi (errata version published in 2017)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/190598/115328736 Accessed on 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Species Uromacer catesbyi at The Reptile Database
  3. ^ 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. (Uromacer catesbyi, p. 50).

Further reading

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  • Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Uromacer catesbyi, pp. 115–116).
  • Duméril A-M-C, Bibron G, Duméril A[-H-A] (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième [Volume 7]. Première Partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents non venimeux. Paris: Roret. xvi + 780 pp. (Uromacer catesbyi, new combination, pp. 721–722). (in French).
  • Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale. xxviii + 251 pp. AND Partie Descriptive. 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Dendrophis catesbyi, new species, pp. 226–227 in Partie Descriptive). (in French).
  • Schwartz A (1970). "A Systematic Review of Uromacer catesbyi Schlegel (Serpentes, Colubridae)". Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 16 (4): 131–149. (Uromacer catesbyi cereolineatus, new subspecies, p. 138; U. c. frondicolor, n. subsp., p. 142; U. c. hariolatus, n. subsp., p. 138; U. c. inchausteguii, n. subsp., p. 143; U. c. insulaevaccarum, n. subsp., p. 136; U. c. pampineus, n. subsp., p. 139).
  • Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, Press. 720 pp. ISBN 978-0813010496. (Uromacer catesbyi, p. 662).
  • Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Uromacer catesbyi, pp. 200–201).