Brachyophis
| Brachyophis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Atractaspididae |
| Genus: | Brachyophis Mocquard, 1888 |
| Species: | B. revoili |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyophis revoili Mocquard, 1888[1] | |
Brachyophis or Revoil's short snake is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged venomous snake species, Brachyophis revoili, found in Eastern Africa. Currently, three subspecies are recognized.[2][3]
Description of species
Dorsally Brachyophis revoili is either grayish white with irregular brown crossbands, or dark brown with irregular white crossbands. The ventral scales are broadly edged with brown in front.
One of the type specimens is 25.5 cm (10.0 in) in total length, with a tail only 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long.
Dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows. Ventrals number only 104-115; the anal plate is divided. The subcaudals, 11-13 in number, are not divided.
A portion of the rostral scale is visible from above at least as long as its distance from the frontal. The rostral is wedged between the internasals, which are shorter than the prefrontals. The frontal is hexagonal, longer than broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, and shorter than the parietals. A large pentagonal occipital is seen, the point of which is wedged between the parietals. A small preocular, two small postoculars, seven upper labials are present, the second and third are in contact with the prefrontal, and the third and fourth enter the eye; the fifth and sixth largest are in contact with the parietal. Two pairs of large chin shields, separated from each other on the median line by two series of small scales, occur.[4]
Subspecies
| Subspecies[2] | Taxon author[2] | Common name | Geographic range[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| B. r. cornii | Scortecci, 1932 | coastal central Somalia. | |
| B. r. krameri | Lanza, 1966 | northern end of central Somalia. | |
| B. r. revoili | Mocquard, 1888 | Revoil's short snake | Somalia, Kenya. |
Etymologies
The specific name, revoili, is in honor of Georges Révoil, who collected the type specimen. The subspecific name, cornii, is in honor of Guido Corni, an Italian explorer and governor of Italian Somalia. The subspecific name, krameri, is in honor of Eugen Kramer, a Swiss herpetologist and professor.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ Mocquard, F. 1888. Sur une collection de reptiles et de batraciens rapportés des pays somalis et de Zanzibar par M[onsieur]. G. Révoil. Mémoires Publiés par la Société Philomatique à l'occasione du Centenaire de sa fondation 1788-1888, Paris, pp. 109-134.
- 1 2 3 "Brachyophis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- 1 2 3 Brachyophis revoili at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 August 2014.
- ↑ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. pp. 254-255.
External links
- Brachyophis revoili at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 September 2007.