Scaphiophis albopunctatus

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Scaphiophis albopunctatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Scaphiophis
Species:
S. albopunctatus
Binomial name
Scaphiophis albopunctatus
Peters, 1870

Scaphiophis albopunctatus, the African shovel-nosed snake, is a non-venomous species of snake in the family Colubridae.[2]

This snake is found across Central and Western Africa, and some areas of Eastern and Southern Africa, including in Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia[2]

A mainly fossorial snake, its preferred habitats are dry savanna to open forest savanna, miombo woodland, moist grassland, moist woodland to primary lowland rainforest, and deciduous bushlands and thickets, where it feeds primarily on rodents; at times, it will repurpose or take over the burrows inhabited by its prey, such as those of ground squirrels.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Trape, J.-F.; Segniagbeto, G.; Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W. (2021). "Scaphiophis albopunctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13265558A13265563. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265558A13265563.en. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Scaphiophis albopunctatus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 December 2021.