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{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
|image=File_snake_(Acrochordus_granulatus).jpg
|image = File_snake_(Acrochordus_granulatus).jpg
|status=LC
|status = LC
|status_system=IUCN3.1
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref=<ref name="iucn">{{Cite iucn |author=Sanders, K. |author2=Murphy, J. |author3=Lobo, A. |author4=Gatus, J. |last-author-amp=yes |title=''Acrochordus granulatus'' |volume=2010 |page=e.T176769A7300762 |date=2010 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176769A7300762.en }}</ref>
|status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Sanders, K. |author2=Murphy, J. |author3=Lobo, A. |author4=Gatus, J. |date=2010 |title=''Acrochordus granulatus'' |volume=2010 |page=e.T176769A7300762 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176769A7300762.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
|genus=Acrochordus
|genus = Acrochordus
|species=granulatus
|species = granulatus
|authority=(Schneider, 1799)
|authority = (Schneider, 1799)
|synonyms=* [''Hydrus''] ''Granulatus'' - Schneider, 1799
|synonyms = * [''Hydrus''] ''Granulatus'' – Schneider, 1799
* [''Anguis''] ''Granulatus'' vel ''Acrochordus'' - Scheider, 1801
* [''Anguis''] ''Granulatus'' vel ''Acrochordus'' – Scheider, 1801
* [''Anguis''] ''Granulatus'' - Scheider, 1801
* [''Anguis''] ''Granulatus'' – Scheider, 1801
* ''Acrochordus Fasciatus'' - Shaw, 1802
* ''Acrochordus Fasciatus'' – Shaw, 1802
* ''Pelamis granulatus'' - Daudin, 1803
* ''Pelamis granulatus'' – Daudin, 1803
* ''Chersydrus'' [''fasciatus''] - Cuvier, 1817
* ''Chersydrus'' [''fasciatus''] – Cuvier, 1817
* [''Chersydrus''] ''granulatus'' - Merrem, 1820
* [''Chersydrus''] ''granulatus'' – Merrem, 1820
* ''C''[''hersydreas'']. ''granulatus'' - Gray, 1825
* ''C''[''hersydreas'']. ''granulatus'' – Gray, 1825
* ''Chersydrus annulatus'' - Gray, 1849
* ''Chersydrus annulatus'' – Gray, 1849
* ''Potamophis fasciata'' - Schmidt, 1852
* ''Potamophis fasciata'' – Schmidt, 1852
* ''Chersydrus fasciatus'' - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
* ''Chersydrus fasciatus'' – Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
* ''Acrochordus fasciatus'' - Schlegel, 1872
* ''Acrochordus fasciatus'' – Schlegel, 1872
* ''Chersydrus granulatus'' - Boulenger, 1893
* ''Chersydrus granulatus'' – Boulenger, 1893
* [''Chersydrus''] ''g''[''ranulatus'']. ''granulatus'' - Loveridge, 1938
* [''Chersydrus''] ''g''[''ranulatus'']. ''granulatus'' – Loveridge, 1938
* ''Chersydrus granulatus luzonensis'' - Loveridge, 1938
* ''Chersydrus granulatus luzonensis'' – Loveridge, 1938
|synonyms_ref=<ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>
|synonyms_ref = <ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Acrochordus granulatus''''' is a [[snake]] [[species]] found from [[India]] through [[Southeast Asia]] to the [[Solomon Islands]]. It is known as the '''little file snake''', '''marine file snake''',<ref name="NRDB">{{NRDB species|genus=Acrochordus|species=granulatus|date=16 August|year=2007}}</ref> and '''little wart snake'''.<ref name="FC">[http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/reptiles/reptiles.htm Western Australian Reptile Species] at [http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/ Frank O'Connor's Birding Western Australia]. Accessed 20 September 2007</ref> It is completely aquatic and almost helpless on land. No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634832 |taxon=''Acrochordus granulatus'' |accessdate=16 August 2007}}</ref>
'''''Acrochordus granulatus''''' is a [[snake]] [[species]] found from [[India]] through [[Southeast Asia]] to the [[Solomon Islands]]. It is known as the '''little file snake''', '''marine file snake''',<ref name="NRDB">{{NRDB species|genus=Acrochordus|species=granulatus|date=16 August|year=2007}}</ref> and '''little wart snake'''.<ref name="FC">[http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/reptiles/reptiles.htm Western Australian Reptile Species] at [http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/ Frank O'Connor's Birding Western Australia]. Accessed 20 September 2007</ref> It is completely aquatic and almost helpless on land. No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634832 |taxon=''Acrochordus granulatus'' |access-date=16 August 2007}}</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
''Acrochordus granulatus'' is the smallest of the three members of the family Acrochordidae, and is commonly called the "little file snake". ''Acrochordus granulatus'' is also the only Acrochord that permanently inhabits estuaries as well as coastal seas, dawning its other common name the "marine file snake".<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.2307/1352334|doi = 10.2307/1352334|jstor = 1352334|title = Ecophysiological Aspects of the Coastal-Estuarine Distribution of Acrochordid Snakes|last1 = Lillywhite|first1 = Harvey B.|last2 = Ellis|first2 = Tamir M.|journal = Estuaries|year = 1994|volume = 17|issue = 1|pages = 53–61|s2cid = 83854655}}</ref> All members of ''Acrochordus'' are completely aquatic and nearly helpless on land, with the exception of ''A. granulatus''. The file snake has [[Hygroscopy#Hygroscopic hydration examples|hygroscopic skin]] that retards desiccation, allowing it to travel out of water.<ref name="Comanns">{{cite journal |last1=Comanns |first1=Philipp |last2=Withers |first2=Philip C. |last3=Esser |first3=Falk J. |last4=Baumgartner |first4=Werner |title=Cutaneous water collection by a moisture-harvesting lizard, the thorny devil (Moloch horridus) |journal=Journal of Experimental Biology |date=November 2016 |volume=219 |issue=21 |pages=3473–3479|doi=10.1242/jeb.148791 |pmid=27807218 |s2cid=22725331 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
This species is completely aquatic and nearly helpless on land. Their thin skin rips easily, but has a very rough texture; hence their common name. They are [[sexually dimorphic]], with males being much smaller (thinner and longer bodies), compared to the larger (short stocky) females. Most interesting is that this species varies between sexes in feeding habits, the males actively hunt prey whereas the females sit and wait as ambush predators (Shine, 1991). They are found mainly in small ponds, swamps and estuaries, but have also been found at sea.


As with the other members of the genus, ''Acrochordus granulatus'' has uniquely spinose scales with an almost rough texture.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com">{{Cite journal|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1996)15:3%3C315::AID-ZOO10%3E3.0.CO;2-9|doi=10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1996)15:3<315::AID-ZOO10>3.0.CO;2-9|title=Husbandry of the little file snake, Acrochordus granulatus|year=1996|last1=Lillywhite|first1=Harvey B.|journal=Zoo Biology|volume=15|issue=3|pages=315–327}}</ref> Members of Acrochordus also possess specialized tubercles with nerve endings on the skin between their scales which provide an extra sensory organ used to feel water movements of prey.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://doi.org/10.1163/156854297X00111|doi=10.1163/156854297X00111|title=Scale Sensillae of the File Snake (Serpentes: Acrochordidae) and Some Other Aquatic and Burrowing Snakes|year=1996|last1=Van Der Kooij|first1=Jeroen|last2=Povel|first2=David|journal=Netherlands Journal of Zoology|volume=47|issue=4|pages=443–456}}</ref> ''Acrochordus granulatus'' also have laterally compressed tails, and they can flatten dorsoventrally to assist in swimming.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com"/> ''Acrochordus granulatus'' are the most marine of the Acrochordidae and have specialized sublingual salt glands similar to those found in the true sea snake subfamily Hydrophiinae. Despite this, they are still susceptible to dehydration at sea and rely on freshwater lenses built up on the surface of marine water for freshwater. Members of the true sea snake subfamily Hydrophiinae have been shown to exhibit this same behavior.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1086/673375 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259882137|title=Dehydration and Drinking Behavior of the Marine File Snake ''Acrochordus'' granulatus|year=2014|last1=Lillywhite|first1=Harvey B.|last2=Heatwole|first2=Harold|last3=Sheehy|first3=Coleman M.|journal=Physiological and Biochemical Zoology|volume=87|issue=1|pages=46–55|pmid=24457920|s2cid=24775631}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0212099|title = Drinking by sea snakes from oceanic freshwater lenses at first rainfall ending seasonal drought|year = 2019|last1 = Lillywhite|first1 = Harvey B.|last2 = Sheehy|first2 = Coleman M.|last3 = Sandfoss|first3 = Mark R.|last4 = Crowe-Riddell|first4 = Jenna|last5 = Grech|first5 = Alana|journal = PLOS ONE|volume = 14|issue = 2|pages = e0212099|pmid = 30730972|pmc = 6366689|bibcode = 2019PLoSO..1412099L|doi-access = free}}</ref> Acrochordus granulatus are sexually divergent, with females being slightly larger than males.<ref>{{Cite journal|s2cid = 84056277|doi = 10.1086/285207|title = Intersexual Dietary Divergence and the Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism in Snakes|year = 1991|last1 = Shine|first1 = Richard|journal = The American Naturalist|volume = 138|pages = 103–122}}</ref>
In recent years, this species also entered the pet trade. Farmed animals usually used for skins are the primary source of importation. Animals from the Philippines are particularly blue, and rarely enter the pet trade since reptile exportation from the Philippines is strictly banned. This snake is a non-venomous constrictor unlike most fully aquatic Asian snakes which are rear fanged.


==Geographic range==
==Geographic range==
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==Feeding==
==Feeding==
Harold Voris reports field studies revealing a diet of [[Gobiidae|Gobiodei]], [[Eleotridae]], [[Trypauchenidae]] and small [[crustacean]]s in the straits of Malacca. Due to the species' extensive range, the diet likely varies regionally.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/1563896 |jstor=1563896 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273075797|title=Habitat, Diet, and Reproduction of the File Snake, Acrochordus granulatus, in the Straits of Malacca |last1=Voris |first1=Harold K. |last2=Glodek |first2=Garrett S. |journal=Journal of Herpetology |year=1980 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=108–111 }}</ref> In captivity they have been known fairly non-preferential to take a variety of fish.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com"/>
According to Shine (1991), 50% of the acrochords tested for stomach contents yielded either rainbow fish, grunters, cat fish or sleepy cod. There is no evidence suggesting that they feed on amphibians. Occasionally known to eat eels. Their rough skin is used for the purpose of underwater constriction, which is how they hold onto their prey. Females ambush predators while males forage actively.


==References==
==References==
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* Shine, R. 1991. Australian Snakes, a Natural History. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
* Shine, R. 1991. Australian Snakes, a Natural History. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
* Smith, M.A. 1943 The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and Amphibia. 3 (Serpentes). Taylor and Francis, London. 583 pp.
* Smith, M.A. 1943 The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and Amphibia. 3 (Serpentes). Taylor and Francis, London. 583 pp.
* Wall, Frank 1921 Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Mus. (H. R. Cottle, govt. printer), Colombo. xxii, 581 pages
* Wall, Frank 1921 Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Mus. (H. R. Cottle, government printer), Colombo. xxii, 581 pages
{{Refend}}
{{Refend}}


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[[Category:Reptiles of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Thailand]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Thailand]]
[[Category:Fauna of Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Snakes of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Snakes of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Snakes of Australia]]
[[Category:Snakes of Australia]]
[[Category:Snakes of New Guinea]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Borneo]]

Latest revision as of 00:29, 23 July 2024

Acrochordus granulatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Acrochordidae
Genus: Acrochordus
Species:
A. granulatus
Binomial name
Acrochordus granulatus
(Schneider, 1799)
Synonyms[2]
  • [Hydrus] Granulatus – Schneider, 1799
  • [Anguis] Granulatus vel Acrochordus – Scheider, 1801
  • [Anguis] Granulatus – Scheider, 1801
  • Acrochordus Fasciatus – Shaw, 1802
  • Pelamis granulatus – Daudin, 1803
  • Chersydrus [fasciatus] – Cuvier, 1817
  • [Chersydrus] granulatus – Merrem, 1820
  • C[hersydreas]. granulatus – Gray, 1825
  • Chersydrus annulatus – Gray, 1849
  • Potamophis fasciata – Schmidt, 1852
  • Chersydrus fasciatus – Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
  • Acrochordus fasciatus – Schlegel, 1872
  • Chersydrus granulatus – Boulenger, 1893
  • [Chersydrus] g[ranulatus]. granulatus – Loveridge, 1938
  • Chersydrus granulatus luzonensis – Loveridge, 1938

Acrochordus granulatus is a snake species found from India through Southeast Asia to the Solomon Islands. It is known as the little file snake, marine file snake,[3] and little wart snake.[4] It is completely aquatic and almost helpless on land. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]

Description

[edit]

Acrochordus granulatus is the smallest of the three members of the family Acrochordidae, and is commonly called the "little file snake". Acrochordus granulatus is also the only Acrochord that permanently inhabits estuaries as well as coastal seas, dawning its other common name the "marine file snake".[6] All members of Acrochordus are completely aquatic and nearly helpless on land, with the exception of A. granulatus. The file snake has hygroscopic skin that retards desiccation, allowing it to travel out of water.[7]

As with the other members of the genus, Acrochordus granulatus has uniquely spinose scales with an almost rough texture.[8] Members of Acrochordus also possess specialized tubercles with nerve endings on the skin between their scales which provide an extra sensory organ used to feel water movements of prey.[9] Acrochordus granulatus also have laterally compressed tails, and they can flatten dorsoventrally to assist in swimming.[8] Acrochordus granulatus are the most marine of the Acrochordidae and have specialized sublingual salt glands similar to those found in the true sea snake subfamily Hydrophiinae. Despite this, they are still susceptible to dehydration at sea and rely on freshwater lenses built up on the surface of marine water for freshwater. Members of the true sea snake subfamily Hydrophiinae have been shown to exhibit this same behavior.[10][11] Acrochordus granulatus are sexually divergent, with females being slightly larger than males.[12]

Geographic range

[edit]

Found from both coasts of peninsular India though Southeast Asia, the Indo-Australian Archipelago and northern Australia to the Solomon Islands. This includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China (Hainan), the Philippines (Luzon, Cebu and Batayan), Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Flores, Timor, Sulawesi, Ternate, Ambon, and coastal Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands the coast along northern Australia (Northern Territory and eastern Queensland). No type locality was given with the original description, although Smith (1943) gives "India" and Saint-Girons (1972) gives "Inde."[2]

Feeding

[edit]

Harold Voris reports field studies revealing a diet of Gobiodei, Eleotridae, Trypauchenidae and small crustaceans in the straits of Malacca. Due to the species' extensive range, the diet likely varies regionally.[13] In captivity they have been known fairly non-preferential to take a variety of fish.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sanders, K.; Murphy, J.; Lobo, A.; Gatus, J. (2010). "Acrochordus granulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T176769A7300762. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176769A7300762.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ^ Acrochordus granulatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 August 2007.
  4. ^ Western Australian Reptile Species at Frank O'Connor's Birding Western Australia. Accessed 20 September 2007
  5. ^ "Acrochordus granulatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  6. ^ Lillywhite, Harvey B.; Ellis, Tamir M. (1994). "Ecophysiological Aspects of the Coastal-Estuarine Distribution of Acrochordid Snakes". Estuaries. 17 (1): 53–61. doi:10.2307/1352334. JSTOR 1352334. S2CID 83854655.
  7. ^ Comanns, Philipp; Withers, Philip C.; Esser, Falk J.; Baumgartner, Werner (November 2016). "Cutaneous water collection by a moisture-harvesting lizard, the thorny devil (Moloch horridus)". Journal of Experimental Biology. 219 (21): 3473–3479. doi:10.1242/jeb.148791. PMID 27807218. S2CID 22725331.
  8. ^ a b c Lillywhite, Harvey B. (1996). "Husbandry of the little file snake, Acrochordus granulatus". Zoo Biology. 15 (3): 315–327. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1996)15:3<315::AID-ZOO10>3.0.CO;2-9.
  9. ^ Van Der Kooij, Jeroen; Povel, David (1996). "Scale Sensillae of the File Snake (Serpentes: Acrochordidae) and Some Other Aquatic and Burrowing Snakes". Netherlands Journal of Zoology. 47 (4): 443–456. doi:10.1163/156854297X00111.
  10. ^ Lillywhite, Harvey B.; Heatwole, Harold; Sheehy, Coleman M. (2014). "Dehydration and Drinking Behavior of the Marine File Snake Acrochordus granulatus". Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 87 (1): 46–55. doi:10.1086/673375. PMID 24457920. S2CID 24775631.
  11. ^ Lillywhite, Harvey B.; Sheehy, Coleman M.; Sandfoss, Mark R.; Crowe-Riddell, Jenna; Grech, Alana (2019). "Drinking by sea snakes from oceanic freshwater lenses at first rainfall ending seasonal drought". PLOS ONE. 14 (2): e0212099. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1412099L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212099. PMC 6366689. PMID 30730972.
  12. ^ Shine, Richard (1991). "Intersexual Dietary Divergence and the Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism in Snakes". The American Naturalist. 138: 103–122. doi:10.1086/285207. S2CID 84056277.
  13. ^ Voris, Harold K.; Glodek, Garrett S. (1980). "Habitat, Diet, and Reproduction of the File Snake, Acrochordus granulatus, in the Straits of Malacca". Journal of Herpetology. 14 (1): 108–111. doi:10.2307/1563896. JSTOR 1563896.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Greer, A.E. 2006. Encyclopedia of Australian Reptiles. Australian Museum Online. Accessed 16 August 2007.
  • Shine, R. 1991. Australian Snakes, a Natural History. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
  • Smith, M.A. 1943 The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and Amphibia. 3 (Serpentes). Taylor and Francis, London. 583 pp.
  • Wall, Frank 1921 Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Mus. (H. R. Cottle, government printer), Colombo. xxii, 581 pages
[edit]
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