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: Ptyas
Species: Ptyas major
Name
Ptyas major (Günther, 1858)
Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.1.68, ♀, collected by H. Cuming between 1836–1840.
Type locality: “Near Ningpo, China”.
Combinations
Cyclophis major Günther, 1858: 120 [original combination]
Ablabes major — Boettger, 1894: 140 [subsequent combination]
Entechinus major — Cope, 1895 [subsequent combination]
Liopeltis major — Stejneger, 1907: 338 [subsequent combination]
Eurypholis major — Pope, 1935 [subsequent combination]
Opheodrys major — Schmidt & Necker, 1936 [subsequent combination]
Cyclophiops major — Ota, 1991 [subsequent combination]
Ptyas major — Figueroa, KcKelvy, Grismer, Bell & Lailvaux, 2016 [subsequent combination]
Synonyms
Herpetodryas chloris Hallowell, 1861: 503
Liopeltis major bicarinata Maki, 1931: 110
References
Primary references
Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. British Museum (Natural History): London. xvi + 281 pp. BHL Reference page.
Hallowell, E. [1860] 1861. Report upon the Reptilia of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, under command of Capt. John Rogers, U. S. N. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 12: 480–510. BHL Reference page.
Maki, M. 1931. A Monograph of the Snakes of Japan. Dai-ichi Shobo: Tokyo. 240 pp. Reference page.
Additional references
Ziegler, Thomas; Annemarie Ohler; Vu Ngoc Thanh; Le Khac Quyet; Nguyen Xuan Thuan; Dinh Huy Tri & Bui Ngoc Thanh 2006. Review of the amphibian and reptile diversity of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and adjacent areas, central Truong Son, Vietnam. Herpetologica Bonnensis II: 247–262.
Links
Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2023. Ptyas major. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 4 August 2021.
China Snakes Working Group. 2014. IUCN: Ptyas major (Least Concern). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T192054A2033832. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T192054A2033832.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Vernacular names
Deutsch: Chinesische Grünnatter
English: Chinese Green Snake
The Chinese green snake (Ptyas major) is a snake of the family Colubridae.[1][2]
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Distribution
This species can be found in Central/South China (Hainan, Henan, Gansu, Anhui, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Zhejiang) and Hong Kong,[3] in Taiwan, North Vietnam, Laos and Bangladesh (Sylhet, Ratargul Swamp Forest).[4]
Habits and habitat
This snake is diurnal and semi-arboreal, living in humid forests and farmland. When encountered, they are mild-mannered and rarely bite.[4]
Description
Ptyas major is a slender, medium-sized snake, averaging 75–90 cm (2½-3 feet) in total length, but occasionally growing to 120 cm (4 feet). Bright green above; ventral scales greenish-yellow. Dorsal scales smooth except that males have several mid-dorsal scale rows keeled. Some specimens have scattered black spots on dorsum. Dead specimens often turn bluish.
Diet
Earthworms, insect larvae, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.[4]
Reproduction
Oviparous. Lays 2–16 eggs per clutch. Young snakes hatch in about two months.
References
China Snakes Working Group (2014). "Ptyas major". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T192054A2033832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T192054A2033832.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
Ptyas major at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 May 2020.
Reptiles of Hong Kong
Hans Breuer & William Christopher Murphy Snakes of Taiwan Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xvi + 281 pp. (Cyclophis major, p. 120.)
Karsen, S. J., Lau, M.W.N, & Bogadek, A. (1998). Hong Kong Amphibians and Reptiles (2nd Edition). Provisional Urban Council Hong Kong. ISBN 962-7849-05-7
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