Ithycyphus miniatus

Ithycyphus miniatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pseudoxyrhophiidae
Genus:	Ithycyphus
Species:	I. miniatus
Binomial name
Ithycyphus miniatus (Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms[2]
Coluber miniatus Schlegel, 1837 Dryophylax miniatus — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Philodryas miniatus — Jan, 1863 Ithycyphus miniatus — Boulenger, 1896

Ithycyphus miniatus is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The species is native to Madagascar.[2]

Geographic range

I. miniatus is found in northwestern Madagascar.[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of I. miniatus are forest and shrubland at lower altitudes.[1]

Venom

I. miniatus is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and, possibly, extensive bleeding in humans.[2][3]

Behavior and diet

I. miniatus is small and nocturnal and preys on grey mouse lemurs and other small mammals.[2][3]

In local folklore

The common name of I. miniatus in Malagasy is fandrefiala, and it is greatly feared by many rural people of Madagascar, who believe it is able to hypnotize humans with its gaze.[4]

Taxonomy

I. miniatus was originally described and named by Hermann Schlegel in 1837.[5]

References

1. Raxworthy, C.J.; Rakotondravony, H. (2011). "Ithycyphus miniatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T172870A6932820. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172870A6932820.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. "Ithycyphus miniatus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
3. Mori A, Mizuta T (2006). "Envenomation by the Madagascan colubrid snake, Ithycyphus miniatus". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases 12: 512-520.
4. "Snakes of Madagascar". wildmadagascar.org. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
5. Schlegel H (1837). Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale: xxviii + 251 pp. + Partie Descriptive: 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (Coluber miniatus, new species, pp. 148-149 of Partie Descriptive). (in French).

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Ithycyphus miniatus, p. 35).
• Duméril AMC, Bibron G, Duméril AHA (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. (Dryophylax miniatus, p. 1120). (in French).
• Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar: Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. ISBN 978-3929449037.
• Jan G (1863). Elenco sistematico degli ofidi descritti e disegnati per l'iconografia generale. Milan: A. Lombardi. vii + 143 pp. (Philodryas miniatus, p. 84). (in Italian).