Hypsiglena torquata jani
| Hypsiglena torquata jani | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Dipsadinae |
| Genus: | Hypsiglena |
| Subspecies: | H. jani |
| Binomial name | |
|
Hypsiglena jani (Dugès, 1866) |
|
 |
|
| The distribution of Hypsiglena jani (brown), which now includes the two former subspecies Hypsiglena torquata dunklei (orange), and Hypsiglena torquata texana (yellow). | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Hypsiglena jani, commonly known as the Texas night snake, is a species of small colubrid native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.
The epithet, jani, is in honor of Italian taxonomist Giorgio Jan.
The Texas night snake grows from 10 to 16 inches (25 to 41 centimetres) in total length, record 20 inches (51 cm). It is typically a light gray or tan in color, with dark brown or dark gray blotching down the back and an unmarked underside. They have smooth dorsal scales, eyes with vertically elliptical pupils, are rear-fanged, and are considered to be venomous, though they are not dangerous to humans.
As their common name implies, they are a primarily nocturnal snake.
Their diet consists of primarily lizards, but they will also eat smaller snakes and occasionally soft bodied insects.
They prefer semi-arid habitats with rocky soils.
They are an oviparous species that breeds in the spring rainy season, laying 4-6 eggs that take approximately 8 weeks to incubate before hatching. The eggs average 27 mm (1.1 in) long by 10 mm (3⁄8 in) wide. The hatchlings are about 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length.
The Texas night snake ranges from southern Kansas to southern Colorado, and south throughout New Mexico, the western half of Texas to central Mexico.
...
Wikipedia