Oriental odd-tooth snake explained

The Oriental odd-tooth snake (Lycodon orientalis), sometimes called the Japanese odd-tooth snake, is a species endemic to Japan, belonging to the family Colubridae. It is found in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, the Goto Islands, Iki Island, Izu Ōshima, the Oki Islands, Sado Island, Tanegashima, and Yakushima. It has also been reported in Shiashkotan, one of the Chishima Islands.^[1]

The snake was first described in 1880 by both Hilgendorf^[2] and Günther^[3] However, according to Stejneger^[4] the description by Hilgendorf was published before that of Günther.

Description and habitat

The full-length snake is about 30–70 cm and has black stripes with a lighter coloured underside. They live in the forest, mainly in the forest floor, and prey upon other snakes, frogs and lizards, such as Achalinus spinalis, the Japanese common toad (Bufo japonicus), Takydromus tachydromoides, and Plestiodon japonicus.

External links

• Animal Diversity Web : Dinodon orientale accessed 27 August 2012

Notes and References

1. • Reptarium Reptile Database : Dinodon orientale (Hilgendorf, 1880) accessed 27 August 2012
2. Hilgendorf, 1880. Bemerkungen über die von ihm in Japan gesammelten Schlangen nebst Beschreibungen zweier neuer Schlangenarten. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, 1880, n. 8, p.111-121 (original text).
3. Günther, 1880 : Description of Ophites japonicus, a new snake from Japan. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 5, vol. 6, p. 462 (original text).
4. Stejneger, 1907 : Herpetology of Japan and adjacent territory. Bulletin - United States National Museum, vol. 58, p. 373 (original text).