Download Crotaphopeltis tornieri, Tornier`s Cat Snake

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T13265019A13265027
Crotaphopeltis tornieri, Tornier's Cat Snake
Assessment by: Msuya, C.A., Ngalason, W. & Howell, K.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Msuya, C.A., Ngalason, W. & Howell, K. 2015. Crotaphopeltis tornieri. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2015: e.T13265019A13265027. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20152.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Colubridae
Taxon Name: Crotaphopeltis tornieri (Werner, 1908)
Synonym(s):
• Leptodira tornieri
Common Name(s):
• English:
Tornier's Cat Snake
Taxonomic Notes:
Gravlund (2002) found a high level of genetic diversity within Crotaphopeltis tornieri, with a sample of C.
hotamboeia from the Mount Rungwe nested between C. tornieri from the same locality and specimens
from other mountains. Support for this arrangement was weak, and consequently this author refrained
from suggesting taxonomic changes, but the relationship between these two species (and within C.
tornieri itself) remains in need of clarification.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2015
Date Assessed:
January 26, 2014
Justification:
Listed as Least Concern, as although this species is forest-restricted and occurs in an area where this
habitat is undergoing contraction, it occurs widely in an area with significant forest cover remaining, it is
found in several protected areas, and is not thought to be declining fast enough to warrant listing in a
threatened category.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is almost endemic to eastern and southern Tanzania, although it ranges marginally into
northern Malawi (the Misuku Mountains) (Spawls et al. 2002). In Tanzania it is known from the Eastern
Arc Mountains and the Southern Highlands, with scattered records elsewhere in southeast Tanzania and
from Ufipia, between Lake Tangyanika and Lake Rukwa in southwest Tanzania (Spawls et al. 2002). Based
on this latter record, it is expected to occur in Katavi National Park (Caro et al. 2011). It is found from
low altitudes to about 1,900 m asl.
Country Occurrence:
Native: Malawi; Tanzania, United Republic of
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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Population
This is a regularly-encountered forest species.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
This terrestrial, nocturnal species is dependent on humid forest, and occurs both in the forest interior
(including tracks and clearings) and at forest edges (Spawls et al. 2002). While it has been recorded from
forest edges bordered by tea plantations (Spawls et al. 2002), it appears not to occur in plantation
habitats. It can be found beneath logs or fallen trunks, in insect tunnels and holes, or in leaf litter
(Spawls et al. 2002). This species lays eggs communally, and it is possible that it forms breeding
aggregations (Spawls et al. 2002). An individual clutch size of nine eggs has been recorded, however
communal clutches of 68-78 eggs have been recorded (Spawls et al. 2002). The species exhibits an
extended breeding period; eggs have been recorded in December and in February, the latter close to
hatching (Spawls et al. 2002).
Systems: Terrestrial
Use and Trade
There is no trade or use of this species.
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is forest dependent and near-endemic to Tanzania (Spawls et al. 2002). While its Tanzanian
range is moderately wide in the country's south and east, subpopulations are isolated from one another
(Gravlund 2002). At least one locality, Mt Rungwe, is currently subject to heavy logging despite its
protected status as a forest reserve (Gravlund 2002).
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is known from Udzungwa National Park and may occur in Katavi National Park, and is known
from several Tanzanian forest reserves (Spawls et al. 2002, Caro et al. 2011). Increased protection is
recommended for Mt. Rungwe, which hosts a genetically distinct subpopulation of this species and is
not currently effectively protected (Gravlund 2002). Taxonomic research is required to clarify
relationships within this species and C. hotamboeia.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Msuya, C.A., Ngalason, W. & Howell, K.
Reviewer(s):
Bowles, P.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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Bibliography
Caro, T., Evans, O., Fitzherbert, E., Gardner, T.A., Howell, K., Drewes, R. and Shaffer, H.B. 2011. Reptiles of
Katavi National Park, western Tanzania, are from different biomes. African Journal of Ecology 49: 377382.
Gravlund, P. 2002. Molecular phylogeny of Tornier's cat snake (Crotaphopeltis tornieri), endemic to East
African mountain forests: biogeography, vicariance events and problematic species boundaries. Journal
of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 40: 46-56.
IUCN. 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 23 June 2015).
Spawls, S., Howell, K.M., Drewes, R.C. and Ashe, J. 2002. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa.
Academic Press, Elsevier Science, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Boston, London.
Citation
Msuya, C.A., Ngalason, W. & Howell, K. 2015. Crotaphopeltis tornieri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2015: e.T13265019A13265027. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20152.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
Disclaimer
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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
Resident
Suitable
Yes
1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane
Resident
Suitable
Yes
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood
harvesting -> 5.3.3. Unintentional effects:
(subsistence/small scale)
Ongoing
Unknown
No decline
Unknown
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy
Additional Data Fields
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
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Distribution
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 335894
Lower elevation limit (m): 200
Upper elevation limit (m): 1900
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotaphopeltis tornieri – published in 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13265019A13265027.en
6
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™