Telescopus hoogstraali, common names of which include Hoogstraal's cat snake and the Sinai cat snake,[1] is an endangered species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the Middle East.
| Telescopus hoogstraali | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Telescopus |
| Species: | T. hoogstraali
|
| Binomial name | |
| Telescopus hoogstraali | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
Etymology edit
The specific name, hoogstraali, is in honor of American entomologist and parasitologist Harry Hoogstraal.[4]
Description edit
T. hoogstraali has a black-coloured neck and head. Its eyes are small with vertical, cat-like pupils. The snake's underbelly is grey and is covered with black spots.[5]
Geographic range edit
T. hoogstraali is found around the Sinai region, in Egypt and Israel, as well as Jordan.[1]
In Egypt, it is found in Santa Catarina and Gebel Maghara of northern Sinai Peninsula, while in Israel it can be found only in Negev Desert. It is also known from one city in Jordan, Petra.[1]
Habitat edit
T. hoogstraali can be found at an elevation of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in natural habitats such as subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, rocky areas, and hot deserts.[1]
Behaviour edit
T. hoogstraali is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction edit
Conservation status edit
T. hoogstraali is threatened by habitat loss and distribution.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h Disi, M.A.M.; Werner, Y.; El Din, S.B. (2006). "Telescopus hoogstraali ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61582A12498578. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61582A12498578.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ a b Species Telescopus hoogstraali at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Zinner, Hermann (1977). "The Status of Telescopus hoogstraali Schmidt & Marx 1956 and the Telescopus fallax Fleischmann 1831 Complex (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae)". Journal of Herpetology 11 (2): 207-212. (Telescopus fallax hoogstraali, new combination).
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Telescopus hoogstraali, p. 126).
- ^ Amr ZS, Disi AM (2011). "Systematics, distribution and ecology of the snakes of Jordan". Vertebrate Zoology 61 (2): 179–266.
Further reading edit
- Bar, Aviad; Haimovitch, Guy; Meiri Shai (2021). Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Israel. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 512 pp. ISBN 9783899731200.
- Disi AM, Modrý D, Nečas P, Rifai L (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: An Atlas and Field Guide. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 408 pp. ISBN 9783930612123.
- Schmidt KP, Marx H (1956). "The Herpetology of Sinai". Fieldiana Zoology 39 (4): 21–40. (Telescopus hoogstraali, new species, pp. 33–35, Figures 5 & 6).
- Sindaco R, Venchi A, Grieco C (2013). The Reptiles of the Western Palearctic 2. Annotated checklist and distributional atlas of the snakes of Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia, with an update to the Vol. 1. (Monographs of the Societas Herpetologica Italica). Latina, Italy: Edizioni Belvedere. 544 pp. ISBN 978-88-89504-34-5.
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