| Italian Aesculapian snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An adultZamenis lineatus fromSicily. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Zamenis |
| Species: | Z. lineatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Zamenis lineatus (Camerano, 1891) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
TheItalian Aesculapian snake (Zamenis lineatus) is aspecies ofsnake in theColubridaefamily.
Z. lineatus isendemic to southernItaly andSicily. The northern limit of its geographical range is the Province ofCaserta in the west and the Province ofFoggia in the east. It is absent from the Salentine Peninsula (Salento), which is the "heel" of the "boot" of Italy.
Thetype locality isNaples.[2]
The Italian Aesculapian snake is a medium to large snake that reaches a maximum total length (including tail) of 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft).Dorsally, it is yellowish brown and may have four dark brown stripes. If present, the stripes are of equal width and equidistant. Thedorsal scales are smooth. The iris of the eye is red, giving it the common name inItalian ofsaettone occhirossi (red-eyed racer).
The naturalhabitats ofZ. lineatus are temperateforests, temperateshrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation,arable land,pastureland, rural gardens, andurban areas, at altitudes from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).[1]
Z. lineatus is partlyarboreal.[2]
The Italian Aesculapian snake feeds onlizards, smallmammals, andeggs.
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