Biology:Phyllorhynchus

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Short description: Genus of snakes

Phyllorhynchus
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus browni fortitus).jpg
Phyllorhychus browni
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Phyllorhynchus
Stejneger, 1890

Phyllorhynchus is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico[1]

Species

The genus Phyllorhynchus contains two species which are recognized as being valid.[1]

  • Phyllorhynchus browni Stejneger, 1890 - saddled leafnose snake
  • Phyllorhynchus decurtatus (Cope, 1868) - spotted leafnose snake

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phyllorhynchus.

Description

Snakes of the genus Phyllorhynchus are heavy-bodied, but small, 6 to 20 in (15 to 51 cm) in total length, which includes a short tail. The snout is short and shovel-like. The rostral scale is enlarged and has free lateral edges.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Genus Phyllorhynchus at The Reptile Database.
  2. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Genus Phyllorhynchus, p. 69, Figure 19, h-j; p. 569, map 45).

Further reading

  • Tucson Herpetological Society: Saddled Leaf-Nosed Snake
  • Cope ED (1868). "Sixth Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 20: 305–313. (Phimothyra decurtata, new species, pp. 310–311).
  • Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series ®. Boston and New York: Houghton MifflinCompany. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN:978-0-395-98272-3. (Phyllorhynchus browni, pp. 349–350 + Plate 47 + Map 135; P. decurtatus, p. 349 + Plate 47 + Map 136).
  • Stejneger L (1890). "On a new genus and species of Colubrine snakes from North America". Proceedings of the United States National Museum Museum 13: 151–155. (Phyllorhynchus, new genus, p. 151; P. browni, new species, pp. 152–153).

Wikidata ☰ Q511283 entry