''Mehelya'' is a

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snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

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Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

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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), ...

formerly assigned to the genus ''Mehelya'' are now found in the

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

Gonionotophis ''Gonionotophis'' is a genus of snakes, known commonly as African ground snakes and file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Central Africa. Species There are three recognized species in the genus: Kelly CMR, Branch WR ...

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Gracililima The black file snake (''Gracililima nyassae''), also known commonly as the dwarf file snake or the Nyassa file snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Lamprophiinae of the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Africa. Taxonomy ...

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Limaformosa ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

''. They are collectively called file snakes due to their unusual scalation. They are not

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

Etymology

The

generic Generic or generics may refer to: In business * Generic term, a common name used for a range or class of similar things not protected by trademark * Generic brand, a brand for a product that does not have an associated brand or trademark, other ...

name, ''Mehelya'', is in honor of Hungarian

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

Lajos Méhelÿ Lajos Méhelÿ (August 24, 1862 – February 4, 1953) was a Hungarian zoologist, herpetologist, professor, and author. He remains controversial due to his Social Darwinist and racialist publications. He was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sc ...

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, ''laurenti'', is in honor of Belgian herpetologist

Raymond Ferdinand Laurent Raymond Ferdinand Louis-Philippe Laurent (16 May 1917 – 3 February 2005) was a Belgian herpetologist, who specialized in African and South American amphibians and reptiles. He published more than 200 scientific articles and book chapters. Severa ...

Species

There are five species within the genus ''Mehelya''. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Mehelya egbensis'' – Dunger's file snake *'' Mehelya gabouensis'' – Gabou file snake *'' Mehelya laurenti'' – file snake *'' Mehelya poensis'' – forest file snake, western forest file snake *'' Mehelya stenopthalmus'' – small-eyed file snake ''

Nota bene ( ; plural: ) is the Latin language, Latin phrase meaning ''note well''. In manuscripts, ''nota bene'' is abbreviated in upper-case as NB and N.B., and in lower-case as n.b. and nb; the editorial usages of ''nota bene'' and ''notate bene'' fi ...

'': A Binomial nomenclature, binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Mehelya''.

Geographic range

File snakes are found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope, Cape of South Africa through Zimbabwe and Botswana to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and further.

Description

File snakes are not large snakes, growing to around . Their dorsal scales are most peculiar. Large patches of bare skin are seen, and scales are separated by large gaps. These scales are strongly keeled, giving the snake the feel of a file - hence the common name. Their body shape is triangular in cross section, which has been noted amongst other "cannibalistic" snakes, and may also provide some sort of benefit for them within their burrowing lifestyle.

Habitat

File snakes generally occupy more humid regions, but are found in hotter desert areas, too.

Behaviour

File snakes are, by nature, burrowers. They will occupy old, abandoned burrows of rodents where they shelter from the heat in the relative coolness underground. They are also adept at burrowing for themselves, their flattened head aiding them to push their way through the earth and leaf litter. This genus is nocturnal, becoming active at night to hunt prey – other reptiles.

Diet

The genus ''Mehelya'' feeds mainly on snakes and small lizards, such as geckos. Like many genera that feed solely on snakes, it has developed a triangular body shape as opposed to the plump, rounded body of other snakes.