Amami takachiho snake (Achalinus werneri)

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusAchalinus (1)

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

The Amami takachiho snake is one of around 15 species belonging to the very poorly known colubrid subfamily Xenodermatinae (2). The xenodermatines are mostly small to moderate sized snakes with dark-coloured, slender bodies (2) (3) (4).

The Amami takachiho snake is known from the Amami Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Nansei Shoto), Japan (1) (5).

Species in the Xenodermatinae generally live in moist forest habitats (2) (3).

Very little is known about the Xenodermatinae, but most species appear to be highly secretive and nocturnal. In addition they are all thought to be oviparous (egg laying), and have small clutch sizes of four or fewer eggs (3). 

Large areas of habitat in the Ryukyu Archipelago have been lost to timber plantations and urban development, with only small areas of tropical forest remaining in Amami (5).

There are not known to be any specific conservation measures in place for the Amami takachiho snake.

To find out about conservation in the Ryukyu archipelago, see:

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

  1. IUCN Red List (September, 2008)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org/
  2. Halliday, T. and Adler, K. (2002) The New Encyclopedia of Reptile and Amphibians. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  3. Vitt, L.J. and Caldwell, J.P. (2009) Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Academic Press, USA.
  4. Greene, H.W. (2000) Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
  5. Conservation International: Biodiversity Hotspots (December, 2009)
    http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/japan/Pages/impacts.aspx