Pencil Snake

About the Pencil Snake

Mimophis mahfalensis, also known as the common big-eyed snake, is a species of snake in the family Psammophiidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar and occurs in the central and southern parts of the island. What had been considered a northern population has been split off as a separate species, Mimophis occultus.

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid.Mimophis mahfalensis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867) Mimophis mahfalensis madagascariensis Günther, 1868 Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Mimophis.

M. mahfalensis may attain a total length of 76 cm (30 in), including a tail length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in). The preferred natural habitats of M. mahfalensis are forest, savanna, and shrubland, and it has also been found in disturbed and artificial habitats.

M. mahfalensis preys upon frogs, lizards, and snakes. M. mahfalensis is oviparous. Aprea G, Odierna G, Andreone F, Glaw F, Vences M (2003). "Unusual karyotype in the Malagasy colubrid snake Mimophis mahfalensis ". Amphibia... Wikipedia →