Jump to content

Elephant trunk snake: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Clean up lede.
It's better this way.
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
| name = Elephant trunk snake
| name = Elephant trunk snake
| image = Wart snake 1.jpg
| image = AcrochordusJavanicusRooij.jpg
| image_caption = Preserved specimen
| image_caption = Illustration of the elephant trunk snake
| genus = Acrochordus
| genus = Acrochordus
| species = javanicus
| species = javanicus
Line 8: Line 9:
| status = LC
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{Cite journal | author = Sanders, K. | author2 = Grismer, L. | author3 = Chan-Ard, T. | last-author-amp = yes | title = ''Acrochordus javanicus'' | journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = 2012 | page = e.T176718A1443749 | publisher = [[IUCN]] | date = 2012 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/176718/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176718A1443749.en | access-date = 10 January 2018}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Sanders, K. |author2=Grismer, L. |author3=Chan-Ard, T. |date=2012 |title=''Acrochordus javanicus'' |volume=2012 |page=e.T176718A1443749 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176718A1443749.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''''Acrochordus javanicus''''', commonly known as the '''elephant trunk snake''' or the '''Javan file snake''', is a [[species]] of snake in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Acrochordidae]], a family which represents a group of primitive non-[[venomous]] [[Aquatic animal|aquatic]] [[snake]]s. The species is also kept as an [[exotic pet]].
The '''elephant trunk snake''' or the '''Javan file snake''' ('''''Acrochordus javanicus'''''), is a [[species]] of snake in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Acrochordidae]], a family which represents a group of primitive non-[[venomous]] [[Aquatic animal|aquatic]] [[snake]]s.


==Description==
==Description==
''Acrochordus javanicus'' possesses a wide and flat head, and its [[nostril]]s are situated on the top of the [[snout]]. Those head particularities confer to ''A. javanicus'' a certain resemblance with [[Boidae|boa]]s. However, its head is only as wide as its body. Females are bigger than males, and the maximum total length (including tail) of an individual is {{convert|2.4|m|in|abbr=on}}. The [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsal]] side of the snake's body is brown, and its ventral side is pale yellow.<ref name=ADW>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acrochordus_javanicus/|title=''Acrochordus javanicus'' Javan File Snake, Elephant Trunk Snake|author=Chiu K|year=1999|work=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref>
The elephant trunk snake possesses a wide and flat head, and its [[nostril]]s are situated on the top of the [[snout]]. Those head particularities confer to ''A. javanicus'' a certain resemblance with [[Boidae|boa]]s. However, its head is only as wide as its body. Females are bigger than males, and the maximum total length (including tail) of an individual is {{convert|2.4|m|in|abbr=on}}. The [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsal]] side of the snake's body is brown, and its ventral side is pale yellow.<ref name=ADW>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acrochordus_javanicus/|title=''Acrochordus javanicus'' Javan File Snake, Elephant Trunk Snake|author=Chiu K|year=1999|work=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref>


The skin is baggy and loose<ref name="Snakes are Long">{{cite web |url=http://snakesarelong.blogspot.no/2014/08/filesnakes-wartsnakes-or-elephant.html |title=Filesnakes, Wartsnakes, or Elephant Trunksnakes |author=Durso, Andrew |date=30 August 2014 |work=Life is Short, but Snakes are Long |accessdate=27 February 2016}}</ref> giving the impression that it is too big for the animal. The skin is covered with small rough adjacent scales. The skin is also used in the [[tannery]] industry.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=ADW/>
The skin is baggy and loose<ref name="Snakes are Long">{{cite web |url=http://snakesarelong.blogspot.no/2014/08/filesnakes-wartsnakes-or-elephant.html |title=Filesnakes, Wartsnakes, or Elephant Trunksnakes |author=Durso, Andrew |date=30 August 2014 |work=Life is Short, but Snakes are Long |access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref> giving the impression that it is too big for the animal. The skin is covered with small rough adjacent scales. The skin is also used in the [[tannery]] industry.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name=ADW/>


The top of the head has no large shields, but instead is covered with very small granular scales. There are no [[ventral scales]]. The body scales are in about 120 rows around the body. The body is stout, and the tail is short and prehensile.<ref>[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1893). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families Typhlopidæ, Glauconiidæ, Boidæ, Ilysiidæ, Uropeltidæ, Xenopeltidæ, and Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Genus ''Acrochordus'' and species ''A. javanicus'', p. 173).</ref>
⚫
''A. javanicus'' is fully adapted to live underwater so much that its body cannot support its weight out of water and leaving the water can cause it serious injury.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

⚫
The elephant trunk snake is fully adapted to live underwater so much that its body cannot support its weight out of water and leaving the water can cause it serious injury.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}


==Reproduction==
==Reproduction==
An [[Aquatic animal|aquatic]] snake, ''A. javanicus'' is [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]], with the [[Egg incubation|incubation]] lasting 5 to 6 months and the female expelling 6 to 17 young.<ref name=IUCN/>
An [[Aquatic animal|aquatic]] snake, the elephant trunk snake is [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]], with the [[Egg incubation|incubation]] lasting 5 to 6 months and the female expelling 6 to 17 young.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />


==Geographic range==
==Distribution==
''Acrochordus javanicus'' is found in [[South-East]] Asia west of the [[Wallace Line]]:<ref name=IUCN/> southern [[Thailand]], the west coast of [[Peninsular Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Borneo]] ([[Kalimantan]], [[Sarawak]]), a number of [[Indonesia]]n islands ([[Java]], [[Sumatra]], and (possibly) [[Bali]]);<ref name=IUCN/><ref name="Wallach et al 2014">{{cite book|author1=Van Wallach|author2=Kenneth L. Williams|author3=Jeff Boundy|title=Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZ3NBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7|date=22 April 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-0848-1|pages=6–7}}</ref> possibly also in [[Cambodia]]<ref name=RDB/> and [[Vietnam]],<ref name="Wallach et al 2014"/><ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species|genus=Acrochordus |species=javanicus |accessdate=27 February 2016}}</ref> although the last is discredited by the IUCN.<ref name=IUCN/>
The elephant trunk snake is found in [[South-East]] Asia west of the [[Wallace Line]]:<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> southern [[Thailand]], the west coast of [[Peninsular Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Borneo]] ([[Kalimantan]], [[Sarawak]]), a number of [[Indonesia]]n islands ([[Java]], [[Sumatra]], and (possibly) [[Bali]]);<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /><ref name="Wallach et al 2014">{{cite book|author1=Wallach, Van|author-link1=Van Wallach|author2=Williams, Kenneth L.|author-link2=Kenneth L. Williams|author3=Boundy, Jeff|title=Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZ3NBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7|date=22 April 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-0848-1|pages=6–7}}</ref> possibly also in [[Cambodia]]<ref name=RDB/> and [[Vietnam]],<ref name="Wallach et al 2014"/><ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species|genus=Acrochordus |species=javanicus |access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref> although the last is discredited by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />


==Habitat==
==Habitat==
''Acrochordus javanicus'' has a coastal living habitat like [[river]]s, [[estuary|estuaries]] and [[lagoon]]s. But it prefers freshwater and brackish environments.<ref name=ADW/>
The elephant trunk snake has a coastal living habitat like [[river]]s, [[estuary|estuaries]] and [[lagoon]]s. But it prefers freshwater and brackish environments.<ref name=ADW/>


==Feeding==
==Feeding==
''Acrochordus javanicus'' is an [[ambush predator]] that preys on [[fish]]es and [[amphibian]]s. It usually catches its prey by folding its body firmly around the prey. Its loose, baggy skin and its sharp scales find their utility by limiting any risk of escape of the prey, in particular fishes which have bodies covered with a viscous, protective mucus.<ref name=ADW/>
The elephant trunk snake is an [[ambush predator]] that preys on [[fish]]es and [[amphibian]]s. It usually catches its prey by folding its body firmly around the prey. Its loose, baggy skin and its sharp scales find their utility by limiting any risk of escape of the prey, in particular fishes which have bodies covered with a viscous, protective mucus.<ref name=ADW/>


==Behavior==
==Behaviour==
''Acrochordus javanicus'' is nocturnal. It spends most of its life under water and rarely goes on land. It can stay under water up to 40 minutes.<ref name=ADW/>
The elephant trunk snake is nocturnal. It spends most of its life under water and rarely goes on land. It can stay under water for up to 40 minutes.<ref name=ADW/>


==Original publication==
==Original publication==
*[[Claës Fredrik Hornstedt|Hornstedt CF]] (1787). "''Beskrifning på en Ny Orm från Java'' ". ''Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademiens Handlingar'' '''4''': 306-308 + Plate XII. (''Acrochordus javanicus'', new species). (in Latin and Swedish).
* Hornstedt.''Beschryving van een nieuwe slang van Java.''. Kungliga Svenska vetenskapsakademiens handlingar,1787,vol.4, p.&nbsp;307.


==References==
==References==
Line 41: Line 45:


==External links==
==External links==
* http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=344014
*http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=344014
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?lin=s&p=has_linkout&id=39267
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?lin=s&p=has_linkout&id=39267
* [http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2014/08/filesnakes-wartsnakes-or-elephant.html Javan Filesnakes] at ''Life is Short but Snakes are Long''
*[http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2014/08/filesnakes-wartsnakes-or-elephant.html Javan Filesnakes] at ''Life is Short but Snakes are Long''

==Further reading==
*[[Malcolm Arthur Smith|Smith MA]] (1943). ''The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes.'' London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (''Acrochordus javanicus'', pp.&nbsp;132–134, Figure 43).


{{Taxonbar|from=Q2447437}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2447437}}


[[Category:Acrochordidae]]
[[Category:Acrochordidae]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1789]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1787]]
[[Category:Snakes of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Snakes of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Snakes of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Snakes of Singapore]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Singapore]]
[[Category:Snakes of Thailand]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Thailand]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Borneo]]

Latest revision as of 12:32, 24 November 2022

Elephant trunk snake
Illustration of the elephant trunk snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Acrochordidae
Genus: Acrochordus
Species:
A. javanicus
Binomial name
Acrochordus javanicus
Hornstedt, 1787

The elephant trunk snake or the Javan file snake (Acrochordus javanicus), is a species of snake in the family Acrochordidae, a family which represents a group of primitive non-venomous aquatic snakes.

Description[edit]

The elephant trunk snake possesses a wide and flat head, and its nostrils are situated on the top of the snout. Those head particularities confer to A. javanicus a certain resemblance with boas. However, its head is only as wide as its body. Females are bigger than males, and the maximum total length (including tail) of an individual is 2.4 m (94 in). The dorsal side of the snake's body is brown, and its ventral side is pale yellow.[2]

The skin is baggy and loose[3] giving the impression that it is too big for the animal. The skin is covered with small rough adjacent scales. The skin is also used in the tannery industry.[1][2]

The top of the head has no large shields, but instead is covered with very small granular scales. There are no ventral scales. The body scales are in about 120 rows around the body. The body is stout, and the tail is short and prehensile.[4]

The elephant trunk snake is fully adapted to live underwater so much that its body cannot support its weight out of water and leaving the water can cause it serious injury.[citation needed]

Reproduction[edit]

An aquatic snake, the elephant trunk snake is ovoviviparous, with the incubation lasting 5 to 6 months and the female expelling 6 to 17 young.[1]

Geographic range[edit]

The elephant trunk snake is found in South-East Asia west of the Wallace Line:[1] southern Thailand, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo (Kalimantan, Sarawak), a number of Indonesian islands (Java, Sumatra, and (possibly) Bali);[1][5] possibly also in Cambodia[6] and Vietnam,[5][6] although the last is discredited by the IUCN.[1]

Habitat[edit]

The elephant trunk snake has a coastal living habitat like rivers, estuaries and lagoons. But it prefers freshwater and brackish environments.[2]

Feeding[edit]

The elephant trunk snake is an ambush predator that preys on fishes and amphibians. It usually catches its prey by folding its body firmly around the prey. Its loose, baggy skin and its sharp scales find their utility by limiting any risk of escape of the prey, in particular fishes which have bodies covered with a viscous, protective mucus.[2]

Behaviour[edit]

The elephant trunk snake is nocturnal. It spends most of its life under water and rarely goes on land. It can stay under water for up to 40 minutes.[2]

Original publication[edit]

  • Hornstedt CF (1787). "Beskrifning på en Ny Orm från Java ". Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademiens Handlingar 4: 306-308 + Plate XII. (Acrochordus javanicus, new species). (in Latin and Swedish).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sanders, K.; Grismer, L.; Chan-Ard, T. (2012). "Acrochordus javanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T176718A1443749. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176718A1443749.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chiu K (1999). "Acrochordus javanicus Javan File Snake, Elephant Trunk Snake". Animal Diversity Web.
  3. ^ Durso, Andrew (30 August 2014). "Filesnakes, Wartsnakes, or Elephant Trunksnakes". Life is Short, but Snakes are Long. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ^ Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families Typhlopidæ, Glauconiidæ, Boidæ, Ilysiidæ, Uropeltidæ, Xenopeltidæ, and Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Genus Acrochordus and species A. javanicus, p. 173).
  5. ^ a b Wallach, Van; Williams, Kenneth L.; Boundy, Jeff (22 April 2014). Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. CRC Press. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-1-4822-0848-1.
  6. ^ a b Acrochordus javanicus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 27 February 2016.

External links[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Acrochordus javanicus, pp. 132–134, Figure 43).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elephant_trunk_snake&oldid=1123568983"