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Status of the West Indian snake Chironius vincenti

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Robert W. Henderson
Affiliation:
Section of Vertebrate Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53233–1478, USA.
Gary T. Haas
Affiliation:
PO Box 5800, Missoula, MT 59806–5800, USA.
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Abstract

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The snake Chironius vincenti (Colubridae) is endemic to the West Indian island of St Vincent, and for many years herpetologists considered the species to be extinct. Recent field work has indicated that it still survives but that it is restricted to primary and secondary rain forest (at elevations between 275 and 600 m) primarily on the leeward side of the island and that it probably occurs at low population densities. The range of C. vincenti appears to overlap widely with that of the endangered St Vincent parrot (Amazona guildingii) and the snake will gain significant, direct benefits front the protection afforded the parrot.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1993

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