Northern short-headed snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern short-headed snake |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligodon
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| Species: |
ancorus
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| Synonyms | |
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Oligodon rhombifer Werner, 1924 |
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The Oligodon ancorus, also known as the northern short-headed snake, is a type of snake that belongs to the colubrid family. You can find this snake on the islands of Luzon and Mindoro in the Philippines. It has also been seen on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. However, scientists are still discussing if the snakes found in Sumatra are exactly the same species.
About the Northern Short-Headed Snake
This snake is part of a larger group of snakes called Oligodon. This group is common across central and tropical parts of Asia. The Oligodon genus belongs to the Colubridae family, which is the biggest snake family in the world. You can find snakes from this family on every continent except Antarctica.
Scientists sometimes debate whether different groups of animals are the same species or not. For a while, the Oligodon ancorus was thought to be the same as another snake called Oligodon rhombifer. But in 2013, new studies showed they are actually different species. O. rhombifer lives in Sumatra, where O. ancorus is not found.
Where It Lives
The northern short-headed snake lives in low-lying areas. It can be found from sea level up to about 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) above sea level. This snake spends its time on the ground. It likes to live in forests near the coast and in tropical forests found on the sides of mountains. Sometimes, it is even found in areas where forests have grown back after being cut down.
This snake is special because it is endemic to the Philippines. This means it naturally lives only in the Philippines. You can find it on the islands of Mindoro and Luzon.
Protecting the Northern Short-Headed Snake
The northern short-headed snake is listed as "Near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means it could be in danger of disappearing if we don't protect it.
Some of the areas where this snake lives on Luzon island are protected. However, there have never been many of these snakes. Their biggest threat is deforestation, which is when forests are cut down. Over the last 100 years, much of their coastal home has been destroyed because of this. As a result, the snake's population is now split into small, separate groups, making it harder for them to survive.
