The western false smooth snake or Iberian false smooth snake (Macroprotodon brevis) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.
| Western false smooth snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Macroprotodon |
| Species: | M. brevis |
| Binomial name | |
| Macroprotodon brevis (Günther, 1862) | |
 | |
| Distribution [1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Feeding habits
The species feeds exclusively on vertebrates, mainly reptiles, and mostly long-bodied prey which are burrowers or live under rocks.[3]
Some aspects of its morphology and feeding habits suggest that it is not nocturnal, but rather lives under rocks.[3]
Geographic range
M. brevis is found on the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.[2]
Habitat
The natural habitats of M. brevis include evergreen temperate forests and Mediterranean-style scrubland.[1]
Conservation status
M. brevis is threatened by habitat loss, largely the result of agriculture, and faces some threat from the wild boar.[1]
References
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macroprotodon brevis.
- Günther A (1862). "On new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Third Series 9: 52–59. (Coronella brevis, new species, p. 58).