''Limaformosa'' 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 ...

snake Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...

s, commonly known as file snakes, 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 ...

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. ...

. The genus is

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 ...

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 ...

Etymology

The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beautifully formed".

Species

There are six recognized

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:"''Limaformosa'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *''

Limaformosa capensis The Cape file snake (''Limaformosa capensis'') is a species of large, non-venomous snake endemic to Africa, belonging to the family Lamprophiidae. Geographic range ''L. capensis'' is found from Natal northwards through the former Transvaal an ...

'' – Cape file snake *''

Limaformosa chanleri ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

'' – unicolor file snake *''

Limaformosa crossi ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

'' – Crosse's file snake *''

Limaformosa guirali ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

'' – Mocquard's file snake *''

Limaformosa savorgnani ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

'' – Congo file snake *''

Limaformosa vernayi ''Limaformosa'' is a genus of snakes, commonly known as file snakes, in the family Lamprophiidae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Etymology The generic name, ''Limaformosa'', is from Latin ''lima'' meaning "file" + ''formosa'' meaning "beauti ...

'' – Angolan file 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 ''Limaformosa''.

Etymology

Species

References

Further reading