Philodryas chamissonis

{{Speciesbox

| name = Philodryas chamissonis

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{Cite journal |author=Avilés R |author2=Garin C |author3=Nunez J |author4=Ortiz JC |author5=Sallaberry N |author6=Tala C |author7=Victoriano P |author8=Vidal M | title = Philodryas chamissonis | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2016 | page = e.T16985A69941244 | publisher = IUCN | date = 2016 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/16985/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T16985A69941244.en | access-date = 15 January 2018| doi-access = free }}

| image = Culebra de cola larga.jpg

| genus = Philodryas

| species = chamissonis

| authority = (Wiegmann, 1834)

| synonyms = *Coronella chamissonis
{{small|Wiegmann, 1834}}

Psammophis temminckii
{{small|Schlegel, 1837}}
Tæniophis tantillus
{{small|Girard, 1854}}
Dromicus chamissonis
{{small|— Steindachner, 1867}}
Liophis luctuosa
{{small|Philippi, 1899}}{{EMBL species|genus=Philodryas|species=chamissonis}} www.reptile-database.org.
Philodryas chamissonis
{{small|— Sallaberry-Pincheira et al., 2011}}Sallaberry-Pincheira N, Garin CF, González-Acuña D, Sallaberry MA, Vianna JA (2011). "Genetic Divergence of Chilean long-tailed snake (Philodryas chamissonis) across latitudes: conservation threats for different lineages". Diversity and Distribution 17: 152-162.

}}

Philodryas chamissonis, commonly known as the Chilean green racer and the Chilean long-tailed snake, is a species of moderately venomous opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Chile."Philodryas chamissonis ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.

Etymology

The specific name, chamissonis, is in honor of German botanist and poet Adelbert von Chamisso.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}}. (Philodryas chamissonis, p. 51).

Geographic range

P. chamissonis has a large distribution in Chile, from Paposo to Valdivia.

Description

Usually, P. chamissonis is gray, with black and white longitudinal stripes on the body. It is a medium-sized snake, which usually reaches {{convert|1.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail).{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

The length of the tail is 25-28.5 % of the total length. There are 8 upper labials, the 4th and 5th entering the eye. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. Ventrals 179-225; anal plate divided; subcaudals 100-122.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. (Dromicus chamissonis, pp. 119-120).

Habitat

P. chamissonis lives in a large variety of habitats, at altitudes from sea level to {{convert|2,300|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Diet

File:Philodryas chamissonis eiting liolaemus tenuis ANIMATION.gif lizard. ]]

The diet of P. chamissonis is mainly composed of little rodents, birds, amphibians, and other smaller reptiles. For example, it especially preys upon lizards of the genus Liolaemus.

Reproduction

P. chamissonis is an oviparous reptile.

Venom

Because P. chamissonis is rarely found, bites by it are uncommon. However, its bite is painful and causes extensive swelling.Neira P, Jofré L, Oschilewski D, Subercaseaux B, Muñoz N (2007). "Mordedura por Philodryas chamissonis. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura (Snake bite by Philodryas chamissonis: a case presentation and literature review)". Revista chilena de infectología 24 (3): 236-241. (in Spanish).