Philodryas

Philodryas is a genus of colubrid snakes endemic to South America,[2] commonly called green snakes.

Philodryas
Philodryas patagoniensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Dipsadinae
Genus: Philodryas
Wagler, 1830[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms

Atamophis, Callirhinus, Chlorosoma, Dirrhox, Dryophylax, Euophrys, Galeophis, Herpetodryas, Lygophis, Teleolepis, Xenodon [2]

Description

Species in the genus Philodryas share the following characters:

Head distinct from neck, with distinct canthus rostralis. Eye moderate or large. Pupil round. Body cylindrical or slightly laterally compressed. Tail long.

Dorsal scales arranged in 17 to 23 rows at midbody, more or less obliquely. Subcaudals divided (in two rows).

Maxillary teeth smallest anteriorly, 12–15, followed after a gap by two large grooved fangs located just behind the posterior border of the eye.[2]

Venom

Although colubrid snakes are usually harmless to humans, Philodryas are opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snakes[2] and can give a venomous bite. However, they have mild venom; so a bite is unlikely to cause lasting damage to humans.

Species and geographic ranges

There are 21 recognized species.[1][3]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Philodryas.

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References
  1. "Philodryas ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  2. Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Genus Philodryas, p. 127).
  3. "Philodryas ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. http://www.philodryas.com
  5. Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Genus Philodryas, pp. 106-107).

Further reading
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