Lycodon irwini

Lycodon irwini, or Irwin's wolf snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is native to the Nicobar Islands of India.

Etymology

The specific name of the species, irwini, is a patronym honouring Steve Irwin, an Australian zookeeper and conservationist who died in Death of [Steve Irwin|an accident involving a stingray].

Description

Lycodon irwini on average reaches a length of about 71 to 84 centimeters, in rare instances going up to 119 centimeters. The body is slender, with a long tail gradually tapering to a whitish terminal scute. The head is oblong-shaped and slightly flattened. It has an average tail length of 16 to 18 centimeters.

Distribution and habitat

Lycodon irwini favors moist evergreen forests. It is only known from Great Nicobar Island, suggesting it may be endemic to the island.