棕树蛇

棕树蛇
保护状况
	; 无危（IUCN 3.1）
科学分类
界：	动物界 Animalia
门：	脊索动物门 Chordata
纲：	爬行纲 Reptilia
目：	有鳞目 Squamata
亚目：	蛇亚目 Serpentes
科：	游蛇科 Colubridae
属：	林蛇属 Boiga
种：	棕树蛇 B. irregularis
二名法
	Boiga irregularis; Merrem（英语：Blasius Merrem）, 1802
异名
	Coluber irregularis Merrem, 1802; Boiga irregularis Fitzinger, 1826; Dipsas irregularis Boie, 1827; Triglyphodon irregularis Duméril & Bibron, 1854; Dipsadomorphus irregularis Boulenger, 1896

棕树蛇（学名：Boiga irregularis；英语：brown tree snake）是林蛇属下的一种树栖蛇，原产于澳大利亚东部和北部沿海、印度尼西亚东部、巴布亚新几内亚和美拉尼西亚西部多个岛屿上。棕树蛇因为入侵关岛并对当地鸟类繁衍造成毁灭性的打击而闻名。^[1]国际自然保护联盟物种存续委员会的入侵物种专家小组（ISSG）列为世界百大外来入侵种。

特征与习性

虽然是树栖蛇，但棕树蛇也会出现在草地和稀疏林地。在巴布亚新几内亚，其活动范围最高为海拔1,200米（3,900英尺）。^[2]一般在夜间到地面捕食，白天则躲在树冠、空木、岩隙甚至是房檐下的阴暗角落里。^[3]^[4]棕树蛇一般体长1—2米（3.3—6.6英尺），蛇身细长可以迅速通过狭小的缝隙。身体颜色从褐色到黄绿色不等，也有带红色斑点的米黄色个体。^[4]可以长期不吃东西。^[4]

食物

棕树蛇的食物包括鸟类、蜥蜴、蝙蝠和小型啮齿动物。^[5]^[6]因此有时也会袭击家禽及笼鸟。^[7]

因为缺乏天敌且有丰富的食物来源，入侵关岛的棕树蛇的体型愈来愈大，超过了正常的1—2米（3.3—6.6英尺）。^[5]在关岛记录中最大的棕树蛇可长到3米（9.8英尺）。^[5]

繁衍

棕树蛇的繁衍并没有得到深入研究。^[5]雌性的会产下4-12枚椭圆形的卵。^[2]^[5]依据气候和食物丰富程度，雌性每年可产卵一至二次。^[5]产卵地点选择在空木、岩隙和其他可以抵御高温和干燥的地点。^[5]^[8]某些情况下，雌性棕树蛇可在交配后将受精卵储存在体内数年之久。^[4]

毒液

棕树蛇受到威胁时就会变得极具攻击性，^[5]在嘴的后部有两个较小的毒牙，其表面有沟槽。^[9]由于其毒牙并不是中空构造，因此造成咬伤时也只有少量的毒液会进入猎物体内。毒液具有微弱的神经毒性，可能也有细胞毒性。对成年男性影响很小，而儿童会有较强的反应。^[5]^[9]

入侵物种

1952年棕树蛇突然出现在关岛，原因可能是货船运输。^[5]^[9]对棕树蛇来说，这里有丰富的食物来源，并且在当地除去红树巨蜥和野猪之外再无天敌，关岛上的棕树蛇数量开始急剧增加。^[5]造成了许多当地物种灭绝以及数千起断电等事故，给当地居民的生活造成了相当的不便。^[5]而关岛作为西太平洋地区海运枢纽，与其有联系的其他诸岛因此也面临著棕树蛇入侵的威胁。^[5]为解决这一问题，当地政府专门训练了警犬来搜寻可能藏身于货船上的棕树蛇。^[10]不过虽然如此，还是在威克岛、天宁岛、罗塔岛、冲绳县、迪戈加西亚岛和夏威夷发现了其踪迹，甚至连美国本土的德克萨斯州也有报导发现棕树蛇。^[11]而塞班岛上的棕树蛇已经有了扩张的迹象。^[5]

现在关岛上的棕树蛇数量已经开始下降，平均每公顷约有30至50条棕树蛇。^[12]原因可能是食物来源减少及人类捕杀。^[12]

数量控制

目前棕树蛇有2种天敌已被确认，即红腹伊澳蛇（英语：Red-bellied black snake）和剧毒的海蟾蜍。此外还有55种潜在的天敌。^[13]但因为其天敌本身侵略性较强，因此引入天敌并不是控制其数量的好方法。^[14]

除去天敌之外，棕树蛇对薄荷及对乙酰氨基酚过敏，在实验中含有80毫克对乙酰氨基酚的老鼠尸体可以致死棕树蛇。^[15]

参考文献

^ Invasive Species: Animals - Brown Tree Snake （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）, National Agricultural Library, United States Department of Agriculture, Retrieved 2010-08-31
^ ^2.0 ^2.1 Bomford, M; F.Kraus. Predicting establishment for alien reptiles and amphibians: a role for climate matching.. 11:713-724. Biological Invasions. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ Campbell, S.R.; S.P. Mackessy. Microhabitat use by Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis): Effects of moonlight and prey.. 42(2):246-250. Journal of Herpetology. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Fritts, T.H.; G.H. Rodda. The role of introduced species in the degradation of island ecosystems: A case history of Guam.. 29:113-140. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 1998. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ ^5.00 ^5.01 ^5.02 ^5.03 ^5.04 ^5.05 ^5.06 ^5.07 ^5.08 ^5.09 ^5.10 ^5.11 ^5.12 ^5.13 Fritts, T.H.; D. Leasman-Tanner. The Brown Treesnake on Guam: How the arrival of one invasive species damaged the ecology, commerce, electrical systems, and human health on Guam: A comprehensive information source. U.S. Department of the Interior. 2001 [2008-09-11]. （原始内容存档于2008-12-07）.
^ Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis; King, Ruth Allen. (2004). Varanoid Lizards of the World. Indiana University Press, 588 pages ISBN 0-253-34366-6
^ D'Evelyn, S.T.; N. Tauri. Learning-by-catching: Uncertain invasive-species populations and the value of information.. 89(4):284-292(2). Journal of Environmental Management. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ Savidge, Julie, Fiona Qualls, and Gordon Rodda. "Reproductive Biology of the Brown Tree Snake, Boiga Irregularis (Reptilia: Colubridae), During Colonization of Guam and Comparison with That in Their Native Range." Pacific Science, 61.2 (2007): 191-199.
^ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Mehrtens, John. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling. 1987. ISBN 0-8069-6461-8.
^ Vice, Daniel. Working Dogs: The Last Line of Defense for Preventing Dispersal of Brown Tree Snakes from Guam. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助)
^ Kraus, Fred. ALIEN SPECIES. Department of Land and Natural Resources State of Hawaii. 2004 [2008-09-11]. （原始内容存档于2008-08-02）.
^ ^12.0 ^12.1 Mortensen, H.S.; Y.L. Dupont. snake in paradise: Disturbance of plant reproduction following extirpation of bird flower-visitors on Guam.. 141(8):2146-2154. Biological Conservation. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ Caudell, J.N.; M.R. Conover. "Predation of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) in Australia.. 49(2-3):107-111. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 2001. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ Burnett, K.M.; S. D'Evelyn. " Beyond the lamppost: Optimal prevention and control of the Brown Tree Snake in Hawaii. 67(1):66-74. Ecological Economics. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);
^ Engeman, R.A.; M.A. Linnell. The effect of trap spacing on the capture of brown tree snakes on Guam. USDA National Wildlife Research Center. 2003. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

外部链接

Species Profile- Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）, National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for brown tree snake.

警告：默认排序键“Brown Tree Snake”覆盖了之前的默认排序键“Boiga irregularis”。

[1] Invasive Species: Animals - Brown Tree Snake （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）, National Agricultural Library, United States Department of Agriculture, Retrieved 2010-08-31

[Bomford-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Bomford, M; F.Kraus. Predicting establishment for alien reptiles and amphibians: a role for climate matching.. 11:713-724. Biological Invasions. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Campbell-3] Campbell, S.R.; S.P. Mackessy. Microhabitat use by Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis): Effects of moonlight and prey.. 42(2):246-250. Journal of Herpetology. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Fritts,Rodda-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Fritts, T.H.; G.H. Rodda. The role of introduced species in the degradation of island ecosystems: A case history of Guam.. 29:113-140. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 1998. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Fritts-5] 5.00 ^5.01 ^5.02 ^5.03 ^5.04 ^5.05 ^5.06 ^5.07 ^5.08 ^5.09 ^5.10 ^5.11 ^5.12 ^5.13 Fritts, T.H.; D. Leasman-Tanner. The Brown Treesnake on Guam: How the arrival of one invasive species damaged the ecology, commerce, electrical systems, and human health on Guam: A comprehensive information source. U.S. Department of the Interior. 2001 [2008-09-11]. （原始内容存档于2008-12-07）.

[Pianka-6] Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis; King, Ruth Allen. (2004). Varanoid Lizards of the World. Indiana University Press, 588 pages ISBN 0-253-34366-6

[D'Evelyn-7] D'Evelyn, S.T.; N. Tauri. Learning-by-catching: Uncertain invasive-species populations and the value of information.. 89(4):284-292(2). Journal of Environmental Management. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Savidge-8] Savidge, Julie, Fiona Qualls, and Gordon Rodda. "Reproductive Biology of the Brown Tree Snake, Boiga Irregularis (Reptilia: Colubridae), During Colonization of Guam and Comparison with That in Their Native Range." Pacific Science, 61.2 (2007): 191-199.

[Mehrtens-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Mehrtens, John. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling. 1987. ISBN 0-8069-6461-8.

[Vice-10] Vice, Daniel. Working Dogs: The Last Line of Defense for Preventing Dispersal of Brown Tree Snakes from Guam. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助)

[Kraus-11] Kraus, Fred. ALIEN SPECIES. Department of Land and Natural Resources State of Hawaii. 2004 [2008-09-11]. （原始内容存档于2008-08-02）.

[Mortensen-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Mortensen, H.S.; Y.L. Dupont. snake in paradise: Disturbance of plant reproduction following extirpation of bird flower-visitors on Guam.. 141(8):2146-2154. Biological Conservation. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Caudell-13] Caudell, J.N.; M.R. Conover. "Predation of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) in Australia.. 49(2-3):107-111. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 2001. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Burnett-14] Burnett, K.M.; S. D'Evelyn. " Beyond the lamppost: Optimal prevention and control of the Brown Tree Snake in Hawaii. 67(1):66-74. Ecological Economics. 2008. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

[Engeman-15] Engeman, R.A.; M.A. Linnell. The effect of trap spacing on the capture of brown tree snakes on Guam. USDA National Wildlife Research Center. 2003. 缺少或|url=为空 (帮助);

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