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Lamprophiidae
The Lamprophiidae are a family of snakes found throughout much of Africa, including the Seychelles. There are 89 species as of July 2022. Biology Lamprophiids are a very diverse group of snakes. Many are terrestrial but some are fossorial (e.g. ''Amblyodipsas'') or semi-aquatic (e.g. ''Lycodonomorphus''). Some are fast-moving (e.g. ''Psammophis'') whereas others are slow (e.g. ''Duberria''). They are found in deserts, grasslands, tropical forests and mountains. Together they feed on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Some species use constriction to subdue their prey (e.g. ''Boaedon''). When other snake families were formerly included within the Lamprophiidae, they were considered even more diverse in biology, although this is now known to not be the case. Most species are oviparous. Classification Most lamprophiids were historically considered to be members of the subfamily Lamprophiinae in the family Colubridae. The following classification follows ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colubridae
Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica. Description While most colubrids are not venomous (or have venom that is not known to be harmful to humans) and are mostly harmless, a few groups, such as genus ''Boiga'', can produce medically significant injuries. In addition, the boomslang, the twig snakes, and the Asian genus ''Rhabdophis'' have caused human fatalities. Some colubrids are described as opisthoglyphous (often called "rear-fanged"), meaning they have elongated, grooved teeth located in the back of their upper jaws. It is likely that opisthoglyphous dentition evolved many times in the history of snakes and is an evolutionary precursor to the fangs of vipers and elapids, which are located in the front of the mouth. Classification In the pas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elapoidea
The Elapoidea are a Superfamily (biology), superfamily of snakes in the clade Colubroides, traditionally comprising the families Lamprophiidae and Elapidae. Advanced genomic sequence studies, however, have found lamprophiids to be paraphyletic in respect to elapids. In describing the subfamily Cyclocorinae, Weinell et al. (2017) suggested some or all subfamilies of Lamprophiidae should be reevaluated at full family status as a way to prevent the alternative, which is classifying them as elapids. This was followed in later studies such as Zaher et al. (2019). The Reptile Database considers Elapoidea to be synonymous with its sister group Colubroidea (in contrast to other studies that distinguish between both), as it does not recognize the division of Colubridae into multiple families that comprise Colubroidea, and thus instead considers Colubroidea to be composed of Colubridae + the multiple families comprising Elapoidea. Below is the phylogeny of Elapoidea after Weinell et al. ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boaedon
''Boaedon'' is a genus of African lamprophiids consisting of the "brown" house snakes. The genus was originally described by Duméril but the species contained were reclassified as Lamprophis by Fitzinger in 1843, this taxonomy remained widely accepted until November 2010 when a phylogenetic study was published by C.M.R Kelly et al. who resurrected the ''Boaedon'' clade.Kelly, C.M.R., et al. Molecular systematics of the African snake family ''Lamprophiidae'', Fitzinger, 1843 (''Serpentes'': ''Elapoidea''), with particular focus on the genera ''Lamprophis'', Fitzinger 1843 and ''Mehelya'', Csiki 1903. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. (2010), Although commonly regarded as belonging to the Colubridae, primary literature usually lists them, and related species, as belonging to the family Lamprophiidae within the superfamily which includes the venomous cobras and mambas, Elapoidea. Species There are currently 21 species in ''Boaedon'', however new species are frequently being describe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gonionotophis
''Gonionotophis'' is a genus of snakes, known Common name, commonly as African ground snakes and file snakes, in the Family (biology), family Lamprophiidae. The genus is Endemism, endemic to Central Africa. Species There are three recognized species in the genus:Christoper M. R. Kelly, Kelly CMR, William Roy Branch, Branch WR, Donald George Broadley, Broadley DG, Nigel P. Barker, Barker NP, Martin H. Villet, Villet MH (2010). "Molecular systematics of the African snake family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes: Elapoidea), with particular focus on the genera ''Lamprophis'' Fitzinger 1843 and ''Mehelya'' Csiki 1903". ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 58 (3): 415-426.. www.reptile-database.org. *''Gonionotophis brussauxi'' – Brussaux's file snake, Mocquard's African ground snake *''Gonionotophis grantii'' – Grant's African ground snake, Grant's file snake, savanna lesser file snake *''Gonionotophis klingi'' – Kling's file snake, Matschie's African ground snak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bofa Erlangeri
''Bofa erlangeri'', also known commonly as the Ethiopian house snake, is a species of snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Ethiopia. Taxonomy ''B. erlangeri'' is the only species in the genus ''Bofa''. Etymology The specific name, ''erlangeri'', is in honor of German ornithologist Carlo von Erlanger, who was one of the collectors of the holotype. Sternfeld R (1908). Geographic range ''B. erlangeri'' is found in the central plateau of Ethiopia. Habitat The preferred natural habitats of ''B. erlangeri'' are forest and grassland, at altitudes of , and it has also been found in farmland. Description ''B. erlangeri'' may attain a total length (including tail) of . Diet ''B. erlangeri'' preys Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ... upon rodent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boaedon Capensis
''Boaedon capensis'', the Cape house snake, also known as the brown house snake, is a species of lamprophiid from Botswana, South Africa (from KwaZulu-Natal all the way through to the Western Cape), Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are a non-venomous lamprophiid. This species was previously grouped in the genus ''Lamprophis'' but is regrouped with the genus '' Boaedon''. Appearance Cape house snakes are usually dark brown on top, but the colour varies greatly from almost black through brown to olive green. The stripes that stretch from the rostral scale through the eye to the back of the head are very strong, thick, and bold. This species may have a lateral stripe running down the flanks, often resembling the links of a chain. They also sometimes have lateral stripes running along either side of the spine. Linking lines between the lateral striping is not uncommon. These body markings tend to be a paler brown/cream in colour on top of the often dark, chocolate-brown bas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hormonotus
''Hormonotus'' is a genus of snakes. At present, this genus is monotypic, as there is only one commonly accepted species in it, ''Hormonotus modestus'', commonly known as the Uganda house snake or yellow forest snake. It is widespread in tropical Africa. Its sister taxon is '' Inyoka swazicus'', the Swazi rock snake. Distribution The snake is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (RoC − Brazzaville), Gabon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and some other parts of Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area .... References Lamprophiidae Monotypic snake genera Snakes of Africa Reptiles of Angola Reptiles of Cameroon Vertebrates of the Central African Republic Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Reptiles of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gracililima
The black file snake (''Gracililima nyassae''), also known commonly as the dwarf file snake or the Nyassa file snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Lamprophiinae of the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Africa. Taxonomy ''Gracililima nyassae'' is the only species in the genus ''Gracililima''. The species was previously placed in the genera ''Gonionotophis'', ''Mehelya'', and ''Simocephalus''. Etymology The generic name, ''Gracililima'' is from Latin ''gracili-'' meaning "slender" + ''lima'' meaning "file". The specific name, ''nyassae'', refers to the type locality, "Lake Nyassa" (= Lake Malawi). Geographic range ''G. nyassae'' is found in Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Description ''G. nyassae'' is a small snake. The female may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . The male is shorter, around SVL. Dorsally it is dar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chamaelycus
''Chamaelycus'' is a genus of snakes, commonly referred to as banded snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Central Africa. Species The following three species are recognized as being valid.. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Chamaelycus christyi'' Boulenger, 1919 – Christy's banded snake *'' Chamaelycus fasciatus'' ( Günther, 1858) – African banded snake *'' Chamaelycus parkeri'' (Angel, 1934) – Parker's banded snake ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Chamaelycus''. Taxonomy The species formerly known as ''Chamaelycus werneri'' , is considered to be a synonym of ''C. fasciatus''. Etymology The specific names, ''christyi'', ''parkeri'', and ''werneri'', are in honor of Drs. Cuthbert Christy, Hampton Wildman Parker, and Franz Werner Franz Josef Maria Werner (15 August 1867 in Vienna – 28 February 1939 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist and explorer. Sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inyoka
''Inyoka'' is a monotypic genus of southern African snakes. The word "inyoka" means "snake" in Zulu, Xhosa, Swahili, Shona and other African languages. These snakes were previously grouped in the genus ''Lamprophis'' but were found to be closer related to '' Hormonotus''; a substantial genetic divergence between them and a 1900 km gap between their geographic ranges meant a new genus was erected for ''Lamprophis swazicus'', the sole species of the new genus. Species ''Inyoka swazicus'' is commonly known as the Swazi rock snake or Swaziland house snake. It is found in the eastern South Africa and in Eswatini. It inhabits rocky outcrops in grassland and savanna at altitudes of asl. Although listed as a " Lower Risk/Near Threatened" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lycodonomorphus
''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being valid. *'' Lycodonomorphus bicolor'' — Tanganyika white-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus inornatus'' — Olive house snake, Olive ground snake *'' Lycodonomorphus laevissimus'' — Dusky-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus leleupi'' — Congo dark-bellied water snake, Mulanje water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus mlanjensis'' — Mlanje white-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris'' — Floodplain water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus rufulus'' — Common brown water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus'' — Eastern Congo white-bellied water snake, Lined water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus whytii'' — Whyte's water snake ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Snakes
Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints than their lizard ancestors, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads (cranial kinesis). To accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. Lizards have evolved elongate bodies without limbs or with greatly reduced limbs about twenty-five times independently via convergent evolution, leading to many lineages of legless lizards. These resemble snakes, but several common groups of legless lizards have eyelids and external ears, which snakes lack, although this rule is not universal (see Amphisbaenia, D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
