Platyceps karelini
Platyceps karelini, also known commonly as the spotted desert racer, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
Geographic range
Platyceps karelini is found in Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.Habitat
Platyceps karelini is found in a variety of habitats, including shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, and dessert, at elevations of.Description
Platyceps karelini exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. Females may attain a total length of, including a tail long. Males may attain a total length of, with a tail long.Dorsally, it is pale gray or tan, with a series of black crossbars, which are narrower than the spaces between them. Some individuals lack the crossbars, and instead have an orange vertebral stripe. Ventrally, it is whitish, pinkish, or yellowish.
Reproduction
Platyceps karelini is oviparous.Subspecies
There are three subspecies of Platyceps karelini which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.- Platyceps karelini chesneii
- Platyceps karelini karelini
- Platyceps karelini mintonorum