Achalinus formosanus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achalinus formosanus |
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| Achalinus formosanus formosanus | |
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Achalinopsis sauteri Steindachner, 1913 |
The Formosan odd-scaled snake (scientific name: Achalinus formosanus) is a special kind of snake. It's also called the Taiwan burrowing snake. This snake is not venomous, meaning it's not dangerous to humans. It belongs to the Xenodermidae family of snakes. You can find these snakes in Taiwan and on some of the southern Ryukyu Islands in Japan.
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Snake Family Tree
Scientists have found two main types, or subspecies, of the Formosan odd-scaled snake:
- Achalinus formosanus formosanus (discovered by Boulenger in 1908) — This type lives in Taiwan.
- Achalinus formosanus chigirai (discovered by Ota and Toyama in 1989) — This type lives on the Ryukyu Islands.
The name formosanus means "from Formosa." Formosa is an old name for Taiwan. This name was chosen because the first snake of this species was found there. The name chigirai honors Yoshinori Chigira. He was the person who found the very first Achalinus formosanus chigirai snake.
The Achalinus formosanus formosanus snake looks and acts a lot like another snake from Taiwan called the Achalinus niger. Scientists are still studying these two snakes. They want to understand how they are related and if they are truly different species.
Where Do These Snakes Live?
The Achalinus formosanus formosanus snake lives in central and southern Taiwan. It likes to be high up in the mountains, usually between 1,000 and 2,000 meters (about 3,300 to 6,600 feet) above sea level.
The Achalinus formosanus chigirai snake lives in lower areas. You can find it below 200 meters (about 660 feet) above sea level. It lives on two islands called Iriomote-jima and Ishigaki Island. Both of these islands are part of the Yaeyama Islands in Japan.
What Does It Look Like?
The Formosan odd-scaled snake is a small snake. It usually grows to be about 90 centimeters (about 35 inches) long. Its whole body can look shiny and colorful when light hits it.
This snake has a small, oval-shaped head. It doesn't have a clear neck. Its body is thin, and its tail is fairly short. The eyes are small and look like beads. The part of the eye that gives it color, the iris, is black. This makes it hard to see its eyes clearly.
The top of its head, body, and tail can be olive green, grayish-tan, or black. There's often a dark line running down the middle of its back. The underside of the snake is usually olive-yellow or dark gray. Young snakes are usually black.
How Does It Live?
The Formosan odd-scaled snake is active at night. This means it's a nocturnal animal. It lives on the ground, so it's a terrestrial snake. It probably eats things like earthworms, slugs, and small frogs.
This snake is not venomous, so it doesn't have poison. It's also not aggressive, meaning it won't try to bite you unless it feels very threatened. When it has babies, it lays eggs. This means it is an oviparous animal.
Home Sweet Home and Staying Safe
The Achalinus formosanus formosanus snakes like to live in humid mountain forests. They prefer dark, wet places. You might find them on the forest floor, inside rotten wood, or under piles of leaf litter.
The Achalinus formosanus chigirai snakes have been found in different places. People have seen them on roads at night. They've also been found in limestone caves during the day. Sometimes, they are in low grass along paths in the evening or on the forest floor at night.
Right now, scientists don't know of any big dangers to these snakes. The Formosan odd-scaled snake is not a protected species in Taiwan. However, the Achalinus formosanus chigirai subspecies is considered "near threatened" in Japan. This means it could become endangered if its situation doesn't improve.
