| Meizodon | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Meizodon Fischer, 1856 [1] |
| Species | |
Five recognized species, see article. | |
Meizodon is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The genus Meizodon contains five species, all of which are poorly known and are endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. [2]
Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Meizodon.
The specific name, krameri, is in honor of Swiss herpetologist Eugen Kramer (1921-2004). [3]
Colubridae is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica.
The Indian egg-eating snake or Indian egg-eater is a rare species of egg-eating snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is also called Westermann's snake, reflecting its scientific name. The snake belongs to the monotypic genus Elachistodon.
The dwarf beaked snake, also called the western beaked snake, is a species of snake, which is endemic to southern Africa. It is in the monotypic genus Dipsina.
The Colubrinae are a subfamily of the family Colubridae of snakes. It includes numerous genera, and although taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number, The Reptile Database lists 717 species in 92 genera as of September 2019. It is the second largest subfamily of colubrids, after Dipsadinae. Many of the most commonly known snakes are members of this subfamily, including rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, and indigo snakes.
Dendrophidion is a genus of New World colubrid snakes commonly referred to as forest racers.
Macroprotodon is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. All of the member species of the genus are commonly known as false smooth snakes.
Spalerosophis is a small genus of snakes in the family Colubridae.
Amblyodipsas is a genus of snakes found in Africa. Currently, 9 species are recognized. These snakes are often known as purple-glossed snakes or glossy snakes. Although rear-fanged, all species are considered harmless, but their venom has not been well studied. They should not be confused with the glossy snakes of the genus Arizona, which are found in North America.
The twig snakes, also commonly known as bird snakes or vine snakes, are a genus of rear-fanged venomous snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is native to Africa. All species in the genus have a slender and elongated profile, a long tail, a narrow head, and a pointed snout. The eye of all species has a horizontal pupil, shaped like a keyhole, which gives twig snakes binocular vision. Twig snakes are greyish-brown with faint light and dark markings. When threatened, they inflate the throat to display bold black markings between the scales. Twig snake bites are potentially deadly: the venom is hemotoxic, affecting the blood clotting mechanism and causing uncontrolled bleeding and internal hemorrhaging. Bites by twig snakes have caused death in humans; famous herpetologist Robert Mertens died after being bitten by his pet savanna vine snake. However, envenomed bites are extremely rare when not handling the snake, as the fangs can't breach the skin except in a few places like the web between the thumb and fingers.
Colubroidea is a superfamily of snakes in the clade Colubroides that includes Colubridae, with some studies splitting Colubridae into multiple families that make up Colubroidea. Historically, Colubroidea also included other caenophidian snakes such as cobras and vipers, as these snakes form a clade. However these groups are now divided into several distinct, but related, families. Zaher et al. (2009) proposed to redefine Colubroidea for colubrids and related families, while designating Colubroides as the group containing vipers and cobras as well as colubroids. The ReptileDatabase considers Colubroidea to be composed of Colubridae and the members of its sister group, Elapoidea, and does not recognize the division of Colubridae into multiple families.
The short racer, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to northeastern Africa.
Boiga bourreti is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.
Dasypeltis atra, commonly known as the African egg-eating snake or montane egg-eater, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Toxicodryas pulverulenta, commonly known as Fischer's cat snake, Fischer's tree snake, and the powdered tree snake, is a species of rear-fanged venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Meizodon regularis, the eastern crowned smooth snake, is a species of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae. It is found in Africa.
Bamanophis is a genus of snake in the family Colubridae. The genus contains the sole species Bamanophis dorri, which is native to West Africa.
Meizodon coronatus, the western crowned snake, is a species of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae. It is found in Africa.
Meizodon krameri, the Tana Delta smooth snake, is a species of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae. It is found in Kenya.
Meizodon plumbiceps, the black-headed smooth snake, is a species of snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae. It is found in Africa and the Arabian peninsula.
Meizodon semiornatus, the semiornate smooth snake or semiornate snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae. It is found in Africa.