Hemorrhois nummifer

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Cladus: Unidentata, Episquamata
Cladus: Toxicofera
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Hemorrhois
Species: Hemorrhois nummifer
Name

Hemorrhois nummifer (Reuss, 1834)

Type locality: Egypt.
Synonyms

Coluber nummifer Reuss, 1834: 135
Zamenis Ravergieri — Boulenger, 1887: 345
Zamenis nummifer — Boulenger, 1893: 407
Coluber ravergieri Corkill, 1932
Zamenis ravergieri — Procter, 1921
Elaphe nummifera — Schmidt, 1939
Elaphe ravergieri — Schmidt, 1939
Haemorrhois ravergieri ravergieri — Welch, 1983
Zamenis fedtschenkoi Strauch, 1873
Zamenis glazunowi Nikolsky, 1896
Coluber ravergieri plumbeus Cernov, 1926 (fide Venchi & Sindaco, 2006)
Coluber ravergieri nummifer — Schneider, 1983
Coluber venzmeri (fide Schätti, pers. comm.)
Coluber nummifer — Engelmann et al., 1993
Coluber nummifer — Szczerbak, 2003
Hemorrhois nummifer — Nagy et al., 2004

References

Reuss, A. 1834. Zoologische Miscellen. Reptilien, Ophidier. Mus. Senckenbergiana, Frankfurt/M., 1: 129–162.
Engelmann, W.E. et al. 1993. Lurche und Kriechtiere Europas. Neumann Verlag (Radebeul, Germany), 440 pp.
Szczerbak, N.N. 2003. Guide to the Reptiles of the Western Palearctic. Krieger, Malabar, FL, 260 pp.
Hemorrhois nummifer at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 13 sep 2008.

Vernacular names
English: Asian Racer

Hemorrhois nummifer, also known as the coin-marked snake, Asian racer, and leaden-colored racer, is a species of snake belonging to the family Colubridae. It is found in southeastern Europe, Western and Central Asia, and northeast Africa.[1][3]
Geographic range

Hemorrhois nummifer is found widely in Western and Central Asia (Turkey southward to Syria, Lebanon, northern and central Israel, western and northwestern Jordan, and eastward to Armenia, northern Iraq, northeastern Iran, Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan) and also occurs in extreme southeastern Europe (Greece: the Aegean islands, including Kalymnos, Kos, and Lipsi; Cyprus). Isolated populations exist in northern Egypt (near Cairo and in the southern Sinai Peninsula).[1]
Description

Hemorrhois nummifer can grow to 100 cm (39 in) in total length but is often smaller. The body is strong and fairly robustly built. It is brown, grey, or olive grey above and often has a dorsal row of about 57–65 large spots, turning into a continuous line on the tail. Smaller spots complement the larger spots on the sides. The belly is grey white.[4]
Habitat

Hemorrhois nummifer occurs in open areas, including open dry woodland and shrubland, with some rocks and bushy vegetation. It is an adaptable species that inhabits both rural and urban areas. It is typically a lowland species but can be found at elevations up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in Turkey.[1]
Behaviour and ecology

This snake is a diurnal, actively foraging predator with a diet consisting mainly of small mammals, lizards, and small birds. It is harmless to humans but appears to mimic vipers both in appearance and behaviourally (i.e., Batesian mimicry).[4]
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H. nummifer in Jerusalem
References

Aghasyan, A.; Avci, A.; Tuniyev, B.; Lymberakis, P.; Andrén, C.; Cogalniceanu, D.; Wilkinson, J.; Ananjeva, N.B.; Üzüm, N.; Orlov, N.L.; Podloucky, R.; Tuniyev, S.; Kaya, U.; Tok, V.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Sevinç, M.; Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Sadek, R.; Crochet, P.-A.; Disi, A.M.; Werner, Y.L.; Baha El Din, S.; Borkin, L.; Milto, K.; Golynsky, E.; Belouskova, A.; Nuridjanov, D.; Munkhbayar, K.; Shestapol, A.; Dujsebayeva, T. (2017). "Hemorrhois nummifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T157270A746934. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T157270A746934.en. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
Reuss, Adolph (1834). Zoologische miscellen. Reptilien, Ophidier. Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der beschreibenden Naturgeschichte (in German). Vol. 1. pp. 129–162.
Hemorrhois nummifer at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 November 2021.
Arnold, E. Nicholas & Ovenden, Denys (2002). A field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe (2 ed.). London: Collins. p. 210. ISBN 9780002199643.

Reptiles of Cyprus