''Ithycyphus'' 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
venomous snake
Venomous snakes are Species (biology), species of the Suborder (biology), suborder Snake, Serpentes that are capable of producing Snake venom, venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The v ...
s 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 ...
Pseudoxyrhophiidae
The Pseudoxyrhophiidae is a family of elapoid snakes, found mostly in Madagascar. They were formerly placed as a subfamily of the Lamprophiidae, but have been more recently identified as a distinct family.
It contains about 22 genera in two s ...
. The genus is found only on the island of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
.
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 ...
in the genus ''Ithycyphus'' are potentially harmful to humans (see ''
Ithycyphus miniatus
''Ithycyphus miniatus'' is a species of venomous snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The species is native to Madagascar.
Venom
''I. miniatus'' is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and extensive bleed ...
'').
Species
Five
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 ...
are recognized as being valid.
*''
Ithycyphus blanci''
Domergue, 1988
*''
Ithycyphus goudoti''
(Schlegel
Schlegel is a German occupational surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Anthony Schlegel (born 1981), former American football linebacker
* August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845), German poet, older brother of Friedrich
* Brad Schlege ...
, 1837) – forest night snake
*''
Ithycyphus miniatus
''Ithycyphus miniatus'' is a species of venomous snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The species is native to Madagascar.
Venom
''I. miniatus'' is calm and reluctant to bite, but has a venom capable of causing severe pain and extensive bleed ...
''
(Schlegel, 1837) – tiny night snake
*''
Ithycyphus oursi
''Ithycyphus'' is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The genus is found only on the island of Madagascar. Species in the genus ''Ithycyphus'' are potentially harmful to humans (see ''Ithycyphus miniatus'').
Species
Fiv ...
''
Domergue, 1986
*''
Ithycyphus perineti
''Ithycyphus'' is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The genus is found only on the island of Madagascar. Species in the genus ''Ithycyphus'' are potentially harmful to humans (see '' Ithycyphus miniatus'').
Species
Fi ...
''
Domergue, 1986
References
Further reading
*
Boulenger GA (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Genus ''Ithycyphus'', p. 34).
*
Günther A (1873). "Description of a new Snake from Madagascar". ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Fourth Series'' 11: 374–375. (''Ithycyphus'', new genus).
Snake genera
Taxa named by Albert Günther
Reptiles of Madagascar
Pseudoxyrhophiidae
{{Madagascar-stub