Atractus trilineatus

Atractus trilineatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Atractus
Species:	A. trilineatus
Binomial name
Atractus trilineatus Wagler, 1828[2]

Atractus trilineatus, commonly known as the three-lined ground snake, is a species of small burrowing snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to South America.^[3]

Geographic range

A. trilineatus is found in northern South America,^[4] including the Caribbean island of Trinidad.^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. trilineatus is forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft), but it has also been found in agricultural and horticultural areas.^[1]

Description

A. trilineatus may attain a total length of 225 mm (8+3⁄4 in), including a short tail of 15 mm (1⁄2 in). Dorsally, it is brown with three or four darker longitudinal stripes; ventrally it is either uniform white, or has a few brown dots. The smooth dorsal scales are in 15 rows, and the anal plate is entire. The ventrals number 125–150, and subcaudals only 11–19.^[5]

Diet

A. trilineatus is believed to prey upon soft-bodied insects and earthworms,^[6] as well as fish and tadpoles.^[7]

Reproduction

A. trilineatus is oviparous.^[3] Eggs are laid in March, May and August, and clutch size is three to five eggs.^[7]

References

1. Ouboter, P.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G.; Murphy, J. (2019). "Atractus trilineatus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T66080171A66080176. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T66080171A66080176.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
3. Species Atractus trilineatus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
4. Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Atractus trilineatus, p. 91).
5. Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I–XX. (Atractus trilineatus, p. 312).
6. Boos, Hans E.A. (2001). The Snakes of Trinidad and Tobago. College Station Texas: Texas A&M University Press. xvi + 328 pp. ISBN 1-58544-116-3. (Atractus trilineatus, p. 111 + Plate 26).
7. Adams, Jeanique (2016), "Atractus trilineatus (Three-lined Snake)" (PDF), The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago

Further reading

• Murphy JC, Salvi D, Braswell AL, Jowers MJ (2019). "Phylogenetic Position and Biogeography of Three-Lined Snakes (Atractus trilineatus: Squamata, Dipsadidae) in the Eastern Caribbean". Herpetologica 75 (3): 247–253.
• Murphy JC, Salvi D, Braswell AL, Jowers MJ (2020). "Morphology and natural history of three-lined snakes, Atractus trilineatus (Squamata, Dipsadidae), in the Eastern Caribbean". IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 26: 189–196.
• Snyder, Andrew M. (2016). "Atractus trilineatus (Three-lined Ground Snake). Predation". Herpetological Review 47 (2): 308.
• Wagler [JG] (1828). "Auszüge aus seinem [sic] Systema Amphibiorum ". Isis von Oken 21: 740–744. (Atractus trilineatus, new species, p. 742 + Plate X, Figures 1–4).