Lycophidion

Lycophidion
File:Lycophidion variegatum2.jpg
Lycophidion variegatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Subfamily:	Lamprophiinae
Genus:	Lycophidion Fitzinger, 1843
Species
20 species, see text.

Lycophidion is a genus of nonvenomous lamprophiid snakes commonly referred to as the wolf snakes.

File:Lycophidion capense1.jpg

Lycophidion capense, cape wolf snake, Waterberg, Limpopo.

As of 2015 there are 20 recognized species in the genus.

Description and behavior

Wolf snakes are small snakes which forage at night for sleeping lizards. They have flat heads and large recurved teeth that are assumed to aid them in their extraction of lizards from their lairs.

Reproduction

All species in the genus Lycophidion are oviparous and lay between 3 and 10 eggs.

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.

• Lycophidion acutirostre Günther, 1868
• Lycophidion albomaculatum Steindachner, 1870
• Lycophidion capense (A. Smith, 1831)
• Lycophidion depressirostre Laurent, 1968
• Lycophidion helmichi Laurent, 1964
• Lycophidion irroratum (Leach, 1819)
• Lycophidion laterale Hallowell, 1857
• Lycophidion meleagre Boulenger, 1893
• Lycophidion multimaculatum Boettger, 1888
• Lycophidion namibianum Broadley, 1991
• Lycophidion nanum (Broadley, 1958)
• Lycophidion nigromaculatum (W. Peters, 1863)
• Lycophidion ornatum Parker, 1936
• Lycophidion pembanum Laurent,1968
• Lycophidion pygmaeum Broadley, 1996
• Lycophidion semiannule W. Peters, 1854
• Lycophidion semicinctum A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
• Lycophidion taylori Broadley & Hughes, 1993
• Lycophidion uzungwense Loveridge, 1932
• Lycophidion variegatum Broadley, 1969

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion.

Further reading

• Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Lycophidion, p. 76).
• Fitzinger L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Lycophidion, new genus, p. 27). (in Latin).