| Polemon gabonensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Atractaspididae |
| Genus: | Polemon |
| Species: | P. gabonensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Polemon gabonensis (A.H.A. Duméril, 1856) | |
| Synonyms [1] [2] | |
Polemon gabonensis, or the Gaboon snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. [3] It is endemic to Africa. [4]
It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Togo. [5]
Dorsally dark brown or olive, with three darker stripes, or all blackish. Upper lip white. A pale brownish band across the occiput. Ventrals, subcaudals, and terminal caudal scute white.
Adults may attain a total length of 51 cm (20 inches), with a tail 23 mm (7⁄8 inch) long.
Dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, arranged in 15 rows. Ventrals 214-249; anal plate divided; subcaudals 16-24, also divided (in two rows).
Diameter of eye 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 its distance from the mouth. Rostral broader than high, barely visible from above. Internasals as long as or slightly shorter than the prefrontals. Frontal slightly broader than the supraocular, 1+1⁄3 to 1+1⁄2 times as long as broad, as long as its distance from the rostral, much shorter than the parietals. Nasal entire or imperfectly divided. One preocular, in contact with the nasal. One or two postoculars. Temporals 1+1. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye. First lower labial forming a suture with its fellow behind the mental. Four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Two pairs of chin shields, the anterior pair longer than the posterior pair. [6]
Two subspecies are recognized including the nominate race.
The subspecific name, schmidti, is in honor of American herpetologist Karl Patterson Schmidt.
Sibynophis subpunctatus, commonly known as Duméril's black-headed snake or Jerdon's many-toothed snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Günther's black snake is a species of poorly known lamprophiid snake endemic to central Africa. It is the only member of the genus, Bothrolycus. This snake is notable as one of the few snakes with notable sexual dimorphism, as well as possessing a small pit anterior to the eye. While superficially similar to the thermal pits of vipers, its function remains unknown.
Elapotinus is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged snake species, Elapotinus picteti. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It is also known commonly as Jan's snake in honor of Italian herpetologist Giorgio Jan. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Hypoptophis is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) mildly venomous snake species, Hypoptophis wilsonii. The species, which is endemic to Africa, is in the subfamily Aparallactinae of the family Atractaspididae. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Macrelaps is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) venomous snake species, M. microlepidotus, endemic to South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognised.
The Cameroon racer, Poecilopholis cameronensis, is a species of rear-fanged mildly venomous snake endemic to Africa. Poecilopholis is a monotypic genus created for this species.
Aparallactus lineatus, or the lined centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae.
Aparallactus niger is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Western Africa.
Polemon acanthias, or Reinhardt's snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.
Polemon barthii, or the Guinea snake-eater, is a species of rear-fanged mildly venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Polemon christyi, also known commonly as Christy's snake-eater and the eastern snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the subfamily Aparallactinae of the family Atractaspididae. The species is native to Central Africa and East Africa.
Polemon collaris, or the collared snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.
Polemon gracilis, or the graceful snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.
Polemon neuwiedi, called commonly the Ivory Coast snake-eater or Neuwied's polemon, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to West Africa.
Polemon notatus is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.
Aparallactus capensis, or the Cape centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the Atractaspididae family.
Aparallactus lunulatus, or the reticulated centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae, which is endemic to Africa.
Aparallactus modestus, or the western forest centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the Atractaspididae family.
Aparallactus nigriceps, or the Mozambique centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae.
Aparallactus werneri, or the Usambara centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania.