Tachymenis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tachymenis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Tachymenis
Wiegmann, 1835
Species

See text.

Tachymenis is a genus of venomous snakes belonging to the family Colubridae. They are commonly known as slender snakes or short-tailed snakes and are primarily found in southern South America. Tachymenis are capable of producing a medically significant bite, with at least one species, T. peruviana, responsible for human fatalities.[1]

Species

The following species are recognized by ITIS:[2]

  • Tachymenis affinis Boulenger, 1896
  • Tachymenis attenuata Walker, 1945
  • Tachymenis chilensis (Schlegel, 1837)
  • Tachymenis elongata Despax, 1910
  • Tachymenis peruviana Wiegmann, 1835
  • Tachymenis tarmensis Walker, 1945

Other sources may recognize as much as 17 distinct species:[3][4]

  • Tachymenis affinis (Boulenger's slender snake)
  • Tachymenis attenuata (Walker's slender snake)
  • Tachymenis bitorquata
  • Tachymenis boulengerii
  • Tachymenis brasiliensis
  • Tachymenis chilensis (Chilean slender snake)
  • Tachymenis decipiens
  • Tachymenis dromiciformis
  • Tachymenis elongata (Depax's slender snake)
  • Tachymenis hypoconia
  • Tachymenis infralineatus
  • Tachymenis melanocephala
  • Tachymenis nototaenia
  • Tachymenis peruviana (Peru slender snake, Cola Corta Del Perú)
  • Tachymenis surinamensis
  • Tachymenis taeniata
  • Tachymenis tarmensis (Slender snake)

References

  1. Mackessy, Stephen P. (June 2002). "Biochemistry and pharmacology of colubrid snake venoms". Journal of Toxicology: Toxin Reviews 21 (1–2): 43–83. doi:10.1081/TXR-120004741. Retrieved 2009-09-26. "Most [colubrids] may not produce a venom capable of causing serious damage to humans, but at least five species (Dispholidus typus, Thelotornis capensis, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Philodryas olfersii and Tachymenis peruviana) have caused human fatalities" 
  2. "Tachymenis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 March 2011. 
  3. Tachymenis. Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  4. Tachymenis (Genus). ZipcodeZoo.com, 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.