Hensel's snake

Hensel's snake (Ditaxodon taeniatus) is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.^[2] The species is endemic to southern Brazil,^[2] and it is monotypic in the genus Ditaxodon.

Hensel's snake
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Ditaxodon Hoge, 1958
Species:	D. taeniatus
Binomial name
Ditaxodon taeniatus (W. Peters, 1868)
Synonyms[2]
Philodryas taeniatus W. Peters in Hensel, 1868 Conophis taeniatus — Boulenger, 1896 Ditaxodon taemiatus — Hoge, 1958

Geographic range

D. taeniatus is found in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo.^[1][2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of D. taeniatus are forest and grassland, at altitudes of 800–1,800 m (2,600–5,900 ft).^[1]

Description

The neotype of D. taeniatus has a total length of 54.3 cm (21.4 in), which includes a tail length of 12.2 cm (4.8 in).^[2] The maximum recorded total lengths are 86.4 cm (34.0 in) for a female, and 70.7 cm (27.8 in) for a male.^[1]

Diet

D. taeniatus preys upon lizards and birds.^[1]

Reproduction

D. taeniatus is oviparous.^[2] Clutch size is around ten eggs.^[1]