Lycophidion

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

Lycophidion capense, cape wolf snake, Waterberg, Limpopo.

Lycophidion
Lycophidion variegatum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Subfamily:	Lamprophiinae
Genus:	Lycophidion Fitzinger, 1843
Species
23 species, see text.

As of 2015^[update] there are 23 recognized species in the genus.^[1]

Description and behavior

Wolf snakes are small snakes which forage at night for sleeping lizards.^[2] They have flat heads and large recurved teeth that are assumed to aid them in their extraction of lizards from their lairs.^[3]

Reproduction

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

Lycophidion multimaculatum, the Spotted Wolf Snake, from Northern Namibia/Southwestern Zambia

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid.^[1]

• Lycophidion acutirostre Günther, 1868
• Lycophidion albomaculatum Steindachner, 1870
• Lycophidion capense (A. Smith, 1831)
• Lycophidion chirioi J.-F. Trape, 2021
• Lycophidion depressirostre Laurent, 1968
• Lycophidion hellmichi Laurent, 1964
• Lycophidion irroratum (Leach, 1819)
• Lycophidion jacksoni (Boulenger, 1893) – western Jackson's wolf snake
• 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 tchadensis J.-F. Trape, 2021 – Chad wolf snake
• 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.

References

1. Uetz, Peter. "Search results - Lycophidion ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
2. Marais, Johan (2004). A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa (New ed.). Cape Town: Struik. ISBN 978-1868729326.
3. Alexander, Graham; Marais, Johan (2007). A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa (3. impression. ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 94. ISBN 9781770073869. Retrieved 21 September 2015.

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).