Overview
Poecilopholis is a monotypic genus created for the fangless venomous snake species, Poecilopholis cameronensis, which is endemic to Africa.
As the specific name implies, Poecilopholis cameronensis is found in Cameroon.[1]
Description of genus (diagnosis)
Maxillary with about ten small subequal teeth. Head small, not distinct from neck. Eye small, with round pupil. Nostril pierced in a single nasal. No internasals. Only one prefrontal, in contact with the rostral. No loreal, preocular in contact with the nasal. Body cylindrical; tail short. Dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, in 15 rows. Subcaudals in two rows.[2]
Description of species
Dorsally blackish olive, the lateral scales with whitish centers. Upper lip and a triangular patch from behind the upper labials to the outer border of the parietal white. Ventrally white, the ventral scales edged with dark olive.
The type specimen is 52 cm (20? inches) in total length, with a tail 43 mm (1? inch) long.
Dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, in 15 rows. Ventrals 178; anal plate divided; subcaudals also divided.
Snout rounded. Rostral bent over the snout between the rather large nasals, forming a suture with the single prefrontal. Prefrontal twice as broad as long. Frontal slightly longer than broad, slightly longer than the prefrontal, ? the length of the parietals. One preocular, and two postoculars. An elongate anterior temporal. Five upper labials, third entering the eye. Three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Two pairs of small chin shields, the anterior pair slightly shorter than the posterior pair.[3]
Subspecies
No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
ype specimen is 52 cm (20? inches) in total length, with a tail 43 mm (1? inch) long.Dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, in 15 rows. Ventrals 178; anal plate divided; subcaudals also divided.
Snout rounded. Rostral bent over the snout between the rather large nasals, forming a suture with the single prefrontal. Prefrontal twice as broad as long. Frontal slightly longer than broad, slightly longer than the prefrontal, ? the length of the parietals. One preocular, and two postoculars. An elongate anterior temporal. Five upper labials, third entering the eye. Three lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Two pairs of small chin shields, the anterior pair slightly shorter than the posterior pair.[3]
Subspecies
No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
References
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1903. Description of new Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. XII.-SEVENTH SERIES. pp. 350-354.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1903. Description of new Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. XII.-SEVENTH SERIES. pp. 350-354.
- ^ "Poecilopholis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=700187. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
See also
- Snakebite.
External links
- Poecilopholis cameronensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 September 2007.
Taxonomy
The Genus Poecilopholis is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1 species and subspecies in the Genus Poecilopholis: P. cameronensis (Cameroon Racer)
References
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1903. Description of new Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. XII.-SEVENTH SERIES. pp. 350-354.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1903. Description of new Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. XII.-SEVENTH SERIES. pp. 350-354.
- ^ "Poecilopholis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/Singl eRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=700187. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
Sources
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