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Care Sheets
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Hognoses |
Species Descriptions
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Photographs
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Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Leioheterodon modestus )
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The Malagasy Blonde Hognosed Snake is one of three species of Xenodonids found in Madagascar. Heavily exported for the pet trade these species are fairly common in the retail market. These are the least common and least colorful of the three.
Widespread habitat destruction in Madagascar has resulted in a reduction of most species of reptiles and amphibians in Madagascar. As a result, it is uncertain how long the Island nation can sustain wild caught exports.
Its overall lack of popularity has no contributed to a preference for wild caught over captive bred specimens and a lack of color morphs on the retail market. Still, there are a few dealers offering captive bred specimens that readilly feed on mice and small rats.
Information on keeping Malagasy Blonde Hognosed snakes can be found here.
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Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Leioheterodon modestus ) |
- SPECIES:
- Leioheterodon modestus
- SYNONYMS:
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- Heterodon modestus GÜNTHER 1863
- SUBSPECIES:
NONE
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- FAMILY:
- Serpentes: Colubridae
- DISTRIBUTION:
- Madagascar
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- HABITAT
- Malagasy Blonde Hognose snakes are found throughout the undeveloped portions of Madagascar occupying sandy soils of the short grass, mixed grass,dry and tropical forests of the island. Found frequently at both the Perinet and Berenty Reserve, Malagasy Blonde Hognoses also frequent the west central coast and can be observed commonly in the Kirindy Forest near Morondavia.
As with the other Malagasy Hognoses, Blonde Hognoses may remain inactive for long periods during the rainy season coming out only to search for food. Blonde Hognoses are more diurnal and are likely to be seen foraging for lizards and amphibians along sandy roadsides.
- DEFINITION:
- A medium bodied species with males reaching up to four feet tail length for both males and females. The ground color is tan, cream or light brown dorsally and white or cream ventrally. The head is unpatterned
- REFERENCES:
- Glaw, F. & Vences,M. (1994)
A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar
Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln (ISBN 3-929449-01-3)
- Henkel, Friedrich-Wilhelm and Wolfgang Schmidt. (2000)
Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar and the Mascarene, Seychelles and Comoro Islands, Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar Florida.
- Love, Bill (1997)
Madagascar Revisited: Part Two, pp. 8-27, Reptiles Magazine
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Example of Leioheterodon modestus from Madagascar |
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| Photos of Malagasy Blonde Hognoses |
| Care Sheet of Malagasy Hognoses |
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| Content written by Dennis Desmond, Herptech Associates. |
HerpTech Associates:: PO BOX 276 :: Bluemont :: VA :: 20135: Contact
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