Thermophis baileyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thermophis baileyi |
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Thermophis
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baileyi
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The Bailey's snake, also known as the hot-spring keelback or hot-spring snake, is a very special type of snake. It's a colubrid snake, which is a large family of snakes. This snake is found only in one place in the world: Tibet. This means it is endemic to Tibet.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this snake is Thermophis baileyi. The "baileyi" part of its name is a way to honor a British army officer and explorer named Frederick Marshman Bailey. He was a very important person in exploring new places.
Where Does It Live?
Bailey's snake lives only in the high mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. It was first discovered in 1907 by a person named Wall. He found it near a place called Gyantze, very high up, about 4,300 meters (14,100 feet) above sea level!
Later, in 1990, other scientists found this snake near the Yangbajain hot spring area. So far, we only know about this snake from a few specific spots. Scientists have made maps showing that it lives in a small area between the Transhimalaya and the Himalaya mountain ranges.
What Does It Look Like?
The Bailey's snake is usually an olive green color. It has some faint spots on its back, which are easier to see near its head. It also has a dark stripe behind its eyes. The scales around its mouth are a bit dusky on the edges.
Its belly is a bluish-grey color. Each scale on its belly is black at the bottom. Young snakes are usually darker in color than adult snakes.
This snake has 19 rows of scales along its body. Most of these scales have a ridge, which makes them "keeled." Adult Bailey's snakes can grow to be about 76 centimeters (2 feet 6 inches) long, including their tail.
Is It in Danger?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says that Bailey's snake is "Near Threatened." This means it's not in immediate danger, but it could become threatened soon if we don't protect it.
Why is it at risk? In recent years, people have been using more and more geothermal energy. This means they are using the heat from the Earth, often from hot springs. This can destroy the special hot spring places where these snakes live. Losing their homes is a big problem for the hot-spring snakes.
How Was It Discovered?
The Bailey's snake was first written about by scientists in 1907. Frank Wall was the one who described it as a new species. He first called it Tropodinotus baileyi.
Later, in 1953, another scientist named Malnate realized that this snake didn't quite fit into the group of snakes called Natrix. So, he created a brand new group, or genus, just for it! He called this new group Thermophis, and the Bailey's snake became the main example for this new group.
Where Does It Call Home?
Snakes in the Thermophis group, including Bailey's snake, likely live at the highest altitudes of any snakes in the world!
These snakes really like hot springs. But not just any hot springs! They prefer ones that don't have too much sulfur. They also like places in river valleys that have rocky hillsides and lots of plants along the water. And, of course, they need a river nearby, usually within 500 meters (1,640 feet). These specific conditions are very important for their survival.
