Liophis

Liophis
Liophis reginae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Xenodontinae
Genus: Liophis
Wagler, 1830[1]
Species

Numerous, see text

Liophis is a genus of New World colubrid snakes.[2] They have a wide range of nondescript and local names, among these "water snakes", "mapepires", "corals" or "racers".

Taxonomy and systematics

The status of the genus Liophis on the mainland of South America is highly uncertain, and some authorities assign some species to the genera Dromicus, Leimadophis, Lygophis, and Philodryas. Others consider Dromicus and Leimadophis to be synonyms of Liophis.[3]

Selected species
  • Liophis meridionalis (Schenkel, 1901)
  • Liophis miliaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Liophis mossoroensis Hoge & Lima-Verde, 1972
  • Liophis ornatus (Garman, 1887) - Saint Lucia racer
  • Liophis paucidens (Hoge, 1953)
  • Liophis perfuscus Cope, 1862 - Barbados racer
  • Liophis poecilogyrus (Wied, 1824)
  • Liophis reginae (Linnaeus, 1758) - high woods coral
    • Liophis reginae reginae (Linnaeus, 1758)
    • Liophis reginae zweifeli (Roze, 1959)
  • Liophis sagittifer (Jan, 1863)
  • Liophis taeniogaster Jan, 1863
  • Liophis triscalis (Linnaeus, 1758) - kolebra or three-scaled ground snake
  • Liophis typhlus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Liophis viridis Günther, 1862
  • Liophis vitti Dixon, 2000

References

  1. ↑ ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  2. ↑ Dixon, J.R. 1980. The Neotropical colubrid snake genus Liophis: The generic concept. Milwaukee Public Museum. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 40 pp. ISBN 089326055X (paperback).
  3. ↑ Freiberg, M. 1982 Snakes of South America. T.F.H. Publications. Hong Kong. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. ("Note" on pp. 94-95.)

Further reading