Ithycyphus miniatus

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

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

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]