Langaha madagascariensis explained

Langaha madagascariensis (formerly Langaha nasuta, commonly known as the Madagascar or Malagasy leaf-nosed snake) is a medium-sized non-venomous highly cryptic arboreal species. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in deciduous dry forests and rain forests, often in vegetation 1.5 to 2 meters above the ground.

Description

Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes can grow up to 1 meter in length. There is considerable sexual dimorphism within the species; the males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow with a long tapering snout, while the females are mottled grey with a flattened, leaf shaped snout.[1] The function of their appendage is unknown, but obviously also serves as camouflage.[2] They have unusually slender bodies and can be identified by their long, pointy snouts. Their diet is mainly made up of frogs and lizards. These snakes are known for their unusually high levels of sexual dimorphism, (Tingle, 2012)

It is largely a sit-and-wait predator. It may show curious resting behaviour, hanging straight down from a branch. Prey items include arboreal and terrestrial lizards.[3] It also exhibits hooding while stalking prey. These hooding and swaying behaviours along with its cryptic colour patterns, might allow L. madagascariensis to mimic a vine swaying in the wind.[4]

Leaf-nosed snakes are oviparous with clutch sizes ranging from 5 to 11 eggs.[2] Malagasy leaf-nosed snakes are generally calm and reluctant to bite unless provoked.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Malagasy Leaf-nosed Snakes . Andrew Durso . February 7, 2013 . Life is Short, but Snakes are Long . 2 June 2013.
  2. Book: Glaw, Frank . Vences, Miguel . A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar . 3rd . M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR . 2007 . Köln . 978-3-929449-03-7 .
  3. Tingle . Jessica L. . 2012 . Field observations on the behavioral ecology of the Madagascan leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis . Herpetological Conservation and Biology . 7 . 3 . 442–448 .
  4. Kenneth L. Ksyco . Feeding behaviour of the Madagascar leaf-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Pseudoxyrhophiinae), with an alternative hypothesis for its bizarre head structure . African Journal of Herpetology . 2005 . 54 . 2 . 195–200 . 10.1080/21564574.2005.9635534. 2005AfJH...54..195K . 84825762 .