Oxybelis

Oxybelis
Oxybelis fulgidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Oxybelis
Wagler, 1830
Synonyms

Coluber, Dryinus,[1] Dryophis [2]

Oxybelis is a genus of colubrid snakes, endemic to the Americas, which are commonly known as vine snakes. Though similar in appearance to the Asian species of vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla, they are not related, and are an example of convergent evolution.

Geographic range

They are found from the southwestern United States, through Central America, to the northern countries of South America.

Description

Body slender and laterally compressed, tail long. Head elongated and distinct from neck. Pupil of eye round.[2]

Dorsal scales smooth or weakly keeled, with apical pits, and arranged in 15 or 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals rounded at sides, subcaudals paired (divided).[2]

Maxillary teeth 20-25, subequal, except for the 3-5 most posterior, which are slightly enlarged and grooved on the outer surface. Anterior mandibular teeth strongly enlarged.[2]

Species

There are four widely recognized species in the genus Oxybelis!

References

  1. ↑ Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca and London. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Genus Oxybelis, p. 565.)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ),... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Genus Oxybelis, pp. 189-190, Figure 15.)

Further reading

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