''Coelognathus'' 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 ...

of seven

rat snake Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. They are medium to large constrictors and are found throughout much of the Northern Hemisph ...

s from South and Southeast Asia that were formerly assigned to the genus ''

Elaphe ''Elaphe'' is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. ''Elaphe'' is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. ''Elaphe'' species are medium to large constrictors by nature. Althoug ...

''. Based on morphological evidence and

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...

similarities, in 2001, Helfenberger revalidated the name ''Coelognathus'' that had originally been proposed by

Leopold Fitzinger Leopold Joseph Franz Johann Fitzinger (13 April 1802 – 20 September 1884) was an Austrian zoologist. Fitzinger was born in Vienna and studied botany at the University of Vienna under Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin. He worked at the Vienna Naturhis ...

in 1843. The distinction between ''Coelognathus'' and ''Elaphe'' was further supported by

mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...

sequence and additional morphological evidence in 2005.

Species

These species are recognized:"''Coelognathus'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *''

Coelognathus enganensis ''Coelognathus'' is a genus of seven rat snakes from South and Southeast Asia that were formerly assigned to the genus ''Elaphe''. Based on morphological evidence and protein similarities, in 2001, Helfenberger revalidated the name ''Coelognat ...

'' *''

Coelognathus erythrurus ''Coelognathus erythrurus'', commonly known as the Philippine rat snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. Geographic range The snake is found in the Philippines and Indonesia. Subspecies * ''Coelognathus erythrurus celebensis'' ( ...

'' – Philippine rat snake *''

Coelognathus flavolineatus ''Coelognathus flavolineatus'', the black copper rat snake or yellow striped snake, is a species of colubrid snake found in Southeast Asia. This species was previously recognized in the genus ''Elaphe''. Distribution * Brunei Darussalam * Camb ...

'' – yellow-striped rat snake *''

Coelognathus helena The common trinket snake (''Coelognathus helena'') is a nonvenomous constrictor species of colubrid snake native to south Central Asia. Etymology The specific name of this snake, ''helena'', is thought to be a reference to Helen of Troy, consi ...

'' – trinket snake *''

Coelognathus philippinus ''Coelognathus'' is a genus of seven rat snakes from South and Southeast Asia that were formerly assigned to the genus ''Elaphe''. Based on morphological evidence and protein similarities, in 2001, Helfenberger revalidated the name ''Coelognat ...

'' – reddish rat snake *''

Coelognathus radiatus ''Coelognathus radiatus'', commonly known as the radiated ratsnake, copperhead rat snake, or copper-headed trinket snake, is a nonvenomous species of colubrid snake. Temperament These snakes are usually defensive in nature which makes it hard ...

'' – copperhead rat snake *''

Coelognathus subradiatus The Indonesian ratsnake (''Coelognathus subradiatus'') is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. Geographic range The snake is found in Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and O ...

'' - Indonesian rat snake ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Coelognathus''.

Species

References

Further reading