Rhamnophis
| Rhamnophis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Rhamnophis aethiopissa, illustration by G.H. Ford (1862) for Günthers original description. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Rhamnophis Günther, 1862 |
Rhamnophis is a genus of arboreal snakes, commonly known as dagger-tooth tree snakes or large-eyed tree snakes, in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to equatorial sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
The status of this genus has long been subject to debate, and has been treated as a synonym of Thrasops by some authors. Both genera belong to the tribe Dispholidini, and are closely related to the genera Dispholidus, Thelotornis, and Xyelodontophis.
Species
Two species are recognized.[1]
- Rhamnophis aethiopissa Günther, 1862 - splendid dagger-tooth tree snake
- Rhamnophis batesii (Boulenger, 1908) - spotted dagger-tooth tree snake
Etymology
The specific name, batesii, is in honor of American naturalist George Latimer Bates.[2]
References
Further reading
- 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). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I- XXV. (Genus Rhamnophis, p. 632).
- Boulenger GA. 1908. Descriptions of Three new Snakes from Africa. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Eighth Series 2: 93-94. (Thrasops batesii, p. 93).
- Günther A. 1862. On new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Third Series 9: 124-132.
(Genus Rhamnophis, p. 129; species Rhamnophis aethiopissa, p. 129 + Plate X).
External links
- Genus Rhamnophis at The Reptile Database
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