Vertebrate Zoology 59(1): 91-101, doi:

Snakes of the genus Eirenis in Jordan (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae)

SUHA N. Shwayat, AHMAD M. Disi, Zuhair Amr^‡

‡ Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Corresponding author: Zuhair Amr ( amrz@just.edu.jo )

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation: Shwayat SN, Disi AM, Amr Z (2009) Snakes of the genus Eirenis in Jordan (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae). Vertebrate Zoology 59(1): 91-101

Abstract

Four species of the genus Eirenis that occur in Jordan were studied. Distribution and ecology of these species was investigated. Eirenis coronella was collected from the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanean biotopes. Jordan represents the most southern range of distribution for E. decemlineata, E. lineomaculata and E. rothi. Sexual dimorphism is evident in E. rothi where as females attain larger body size, but shorter tail and accordingly higher ventral and lower caudal scales. The hemipenes of the four examined species were similar to each other; with minor differences. All have cylindrical simple hemipenis; with a single sulcus; with macro-ornamentation of large spines; also with micro-ornamentation of small spines and calyculate. Food remains from examined snakes showed that all four species feeds on arthropods (spider, centipede, scorpions, Acrididae, caterpillars and unidentifi ed beetles).

Keywords

Eirenis, systematics, hemipenes, diet, Jordan