Rhabdophis

Rhabdophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Species in the genus Rhabdophis are generally called keelback snakes, and are found primarily in Southeast Asia.

Rhabdophis
Rhabdophis subminiatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Genus: Rhabdophis
Fitzinger, 1843
Species

26, see text.

Toxicity

While the term "poisonous snake" is often incorrectly used for a wide variety of venomous snakes, some species of Rhabdophis are in fact poisonous. Keelback snakes have glands that secrete poison they ingest from eating poisonous toads. While both venom and poison are toxins, a venom requires direct delivery, for instance subcutaneously through a snake bite, but can be ingested without harm. A poison can also be absorbed indirectly, e.g., by touch or through the digestive system.[1] At least some members of the genus, such as Rhabdophis subminiatus, are strongly venomous and are thus potentially dangerous to humans.[2][3]

Species

These species are recognized as being valid:[4]

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

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References
  1. Oldfield, Molly; Mitchinson, John (10 September 2010). "QI: Quite Interesting facts about deadly poisons". The Telegraph.
  2. Zotz, R. B.; Mebs, D.; Hirche, H.; Paar, D. (1 January 1991). "Hemostatic changes due to the venom gland extract of the red-necked keelback snake (Rhabdophis subminiatus)". Toxicon. 29 (12): 1501–1508. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(91)90006-D.
  3. Ferlan, I.; Ferlan, A.; King, T.; Russell, F. E. (1 January 1983). "Preliminary studies on the venom of the colubrid snake Rhabdophis subminatus (red-necked keelback)". Toxicon. 21 (4): 570–574. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(83)90137-X.
  4. Genus Rhabdophis at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Rhabdophis barbouri, p. 16; R. swinhonis, p. 258).

Further reading
  • Fitzinger L (1843). Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (Rhabdophis, new genus, p. 27). (in Latin).
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