Dryophylax dixoni

Dryophylax dixoni
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Dryophylax
Species:	D. dixoni
Binomial name
Dryophylax dixoni Bailey & Thomas, 2007

Dryophylax dixoni is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Venezuela and Colombia. ^[2]

Taxonomy

Full classification

Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Infraorder	Alethinophidia
Superfamily	Colubroidea
Family	Colubridae
Subfamily	Dipsadinae
Clade	Caenophidia
Genus	Dryophylax
Species	D. dixoni

Etymology

D. dixoni is named after American heptologist, James R. Dixon (Texas 1928-2015). It is also called Thamnodynastes dixoni. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Description

This species is characterized as a snake with a typical pattern with smooth, weakly keeled scales arranged in 19-19-15 configuration. It has a divided cloacal plate and chin stripes. Males have 120-160 ventrical scales, while females have 141-150. There are 12-15 maxillary teeth present with 2 enlarged teeth. Most individuals have 12-15+2G teeth organization. Its hemipenis is very slender and spineless. ^[2]

Habitat and behavior

D. dixoni is found in Venezuela (Apure) and Southeastern Colombia. Its type locality is Hato La Guanota, 4km west of San Fernando in Apure state.

Life cycle

It features an ovoviviparous reproductive cycle.

References

1. Ines Hladki, A.; Ramírez Pinilla, M.; Renjifo, J.; Urbina, N.; Schargel, W. & Rivas, G. (2015). "Thamnodynastes dixoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015 e.T177576A67509910.
2. "Dryophylax dixoni". Reptile Database. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
3. Bailey, Joseph R.; Thomas, Robert A.; Silva Jr, Nelson Jorge da (2005-12-01). "A revision of the South American snake genus Thamnodynastes Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes, Colubridae, Tachymenini): I. Two new species of Thamnodynastes from Central Brazil and adjacent areas, with a redefinition of and neotype designation for Thamnodynastes pallidus (Linnaeus, 1758)". Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology. 4 (2): 83. doi: 10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v4i2p83-101 . ISSN   2316-9079.
4. Crother, Brian I. (2015). "Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. By Van Wallach, Kenneth L. Williams, and Jeff Boundy. Boca Raton (Florida): CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group). $149.95. xxvii + 1209 p.; index. ISBN: 978-1-4822-0847-4. 2014". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 90 (1): 101–102. doi:10.1086/679952. ISSN   0033-5770.
5. TREVINE, VIVIAN C.; CAICEDO-PORTILLA, JOSÉ RANCÉS; HOOGMOED, MARINUS; THOMAS, ROBERT A.; FRANCO, FRANCISCO L.; MONTINGELLI, GIOVANNA G.; OSORNO-MUÑOZ, MARIELA; ZAHER, HUSSAM (2021-04-09). "A new species of Thamnodynastes Wagler, 1830 from western Amazonia, with notes on morphology for members of the Thamnodynastes pallidus group (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Tachymenini)". Zootaxa. 4952 (2): 235–256. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4952.2.2. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   33903366.