''Arrhyton'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...

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 joi ...

, commonly known as island racers or racerlets, in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 ever ...

. The genus contains 9 described

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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Geographic range

All species in the genus ''Arrhyton'' are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid. *'' Arrhyton ainictum'' – Cuban island racer *'' Arrhyton albicollum'' – Gibara white-collared racerlet *'' Arrhyton dolichura'' – Habana island racer *'' Arrhyton procerum'' – Zapata long-tailed groundsnake *'' Arrhyton redimitum'' – Oriente brown-capped racerlet *'' Arrhyton supernum'' – Oriente black groundsnake *'' Arrhyton taeniatum'' – Günther's island racer *'' Arrhyton tanyplectum'' – San Vincente island racer *'' Arrhyton vittatum'' – common island racer

References

* Boulenger GA (1894). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Genus ''Arrhyton'', p. 251). * Günther A (1858). ''Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (''Arrhyton'', new genus, p. 240, 244). * Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). ''A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles''. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (''Arrhyton dolichurum'', p. 177; ''A. taeniatum'', p. 178; ''A. vittatum'', pp. 178–179). Arrhyton Snakes of the Caribbean Endemic fauna of Cuba Reptiles of Cuba Snake genera Taxa named by Albert Günther {{Colubrids-stub

Geographic range

Species

References

Further reading