Liodytes alleni (GARMAN, 1874)
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Liodytes alleni
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Natricinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Striped Swampsnake, Striped Crayfish Snake |
| Synonym | Helicops alleni GARMAN 1874: 92 Helicops alleni — GARMAN 1884: 34 Helicops alleni — BOULENGER 1893: 275 Liodytes alleni — LOENNBERG 1894 Liodytes alleni — COPE 1900: 1013 Liodytes alleni — WELLER 1930 Liodytes alleni — CONANT 1978 Regina alleni — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 159 Regina alleni — CROTHER 2000 Regina alleni — DORCAS et al. 2003 Liodytes alleni — MCVAY & CARSTENS 2013 Regina alleni — WALLACH et al. 2014: 630 |
| Distribution | USA (Florida, S Georgia) Type locality: near Jacksonville, Florida |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCZ 2255, a 650 mm female (J.A. Allen, Mar. 1869). |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (genus): The separation of Liodytes from Regina has depended entirely on two characters, tooth shape and microdermatoglyphic pattern. In addition, the teeth are chisel-like (see Rossman, 1963, fig. 5), and hinged basally (Rojas and Godley, 1979). Other characteristics are a black-brown-cream striped dorsal pattern; a relatively short, a narrow head (although alleni is an exception regarding shortness). A very small pupil (usually comprising less than ½ the eye diameter); a small naris (situated medially in the nasal scale and comprising ⅓ or less its height); a relatively short hemipenis, single or weakly bilobed (see Rossman and Eberle, 1977, fig. 4); the teeth relatively short and stout (the degree varying morphoclinally; see preceding discussion); the posterior ends of the ptyergoids weakly divergent; no ventral keel on the parasphenoid; no posteromedian ridge on the parietal; a moderately well-developed interorbital foramen; and a short prefrontal (height 3 to 4 times greater than length). (Rossman 1985) Unfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 2586 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. |
| Comment | Type species: Helicops alleni GARMAN 1874: 92 is the type species of the genus Liodytes COPE 1885: 194. Habitat: L. R. alleni and L. rigida, are burrowers in mud and/or dense aquatic vegetation, hence a low-relief, low-friction scale microornamentation may be an advantageous adaptation. Reference images: see Uetz et al. 2024 for high-resolution reference images for this species. |
| Etymology | Named after Joel Asaph Allen (1838-1921), American naturalist and curator of the American Museum of Natural History (among other positions). The genus was named after Greek leios (λείος), smooth, plain, not embroidered + Greek dytos (δυτός), worn, carried on oneself. ["...I note here that the Helicops alleni Garman, from Florida, has the scales entirely smooth. It is necessary therefore that it be placed in another genus, which I call Liodytes..."]. |
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