''Ithycyphus miniatus'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of mildly

venomous snake ''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Pseudoxyrhophiidae The Pseudoxyrhophiidae is a family of elapoid snakes, found mostly in Madagascar. They were formerly placed as a subfamily of the Lamprophiidae, but have been more recently identified as a distinct family. It contains about 22 genera Genus ...

. The species is native to

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

Geographic range

''I. miniatus'' is found in northwestern Madagascar.

Habitat

The preferred natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s of ''I. miniatus'' are

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

and

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominance (ecology), dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbaceous plant, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally o ...

at lower altitudes.

Venom

''I. miniatus'' is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and, possibly, extensive bleeding in humans.

Behavior and diet

''I. miniatus'' is small and nocturnal and preys on

grey mouse lemur The gray mouse lemur (''Microcebus murinus''), grey mouse lemur or lesser mouse lemur is a small lemur, a type of Strepsirrhini, strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing , it is the largest of the mouse lemurs (ge ...

s and other small

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

s.Mori A, Mizuta T (2006). "Envenomation by the Madagascan colubrid snake, ''Ithycyphus miniatus''". ''Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases'' 12: 512-520.
/ref>

In local folklore

The common name of ''I. miniatus'' in Malagasy is ''fandrefiala'', and it is greatly feared by many rural people of Madagascar, who believe it is able to hypnotize humans with its gaze.

Taxonomy

''I. miniatus'' was originally described and named by

Hermann Schlegel Hermann Schlegel (10 June 1804 – 17 January 1884) was a German ornithologist, herpetologist and ichthyologist. Early life and education Schlegel was born at Altenburg, the son of a brassfounder. His father collected butterflies, which stimulated ...

in 1837. Schlegel H (1837). ''Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale:'' xxviii + 251 pp. + ''Partie Descriptive:'' 606 + xvi pp. Amsterdam: M.H. Schonekat. (''Coluber miniatus'', new species, pp. 148-149 of ''Partie Descriptive''). (in

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...