| Xenocalamus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Xenocalamus bicolor (Slender Quill-snouted Snake) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Atractaspididae |
| Subfamily: | Aparallactinae |
| Genus: | Xenocalamus Günther, 1868 |
Xenocalamus is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes in the family Atractaspididae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Five species are recognized as being valid. [1]
Snakes of the genus Xenocalamus exhibit the following characters:
Maxillary very short, with five teeth gradually increasing in size and followed, after an interspace, by two large grooved fangs situated below the eye. Anterior mandibular teeth slightly larger than the posterior ones. Palate toothless.
Head small, not distinct from neck. Snout pointed, very prominent, very flattened. Rostral very large with obtuse horizontal edge, flat below. Eye minute, with round pupil. Nostril between two nasals, the posterior nasal very large. No loreal. Prefrontals absent (fused with the frontal). No anterior temporal.
Body cylindrical; tail very short, obtuse.
Dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, arranged in 17 rows. Ventrals rounded; subcaudals in two rows. [2]
| Genus Xenocalamus -- 5 species | ||||
| Species [1] | Taxon author [1] | Subspecies* [1] | Common name [3] | Geographic range [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X. bicolor | Günther, 1868 | australis lineatus machadoi maculatus pernasutus | slender quill-snouted snake | Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Botswana, Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. |
| X. mechowii | W. Peters, 1881 | inornatus | elongate quill-snouted snake | Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, |
| X. michelli | L. Müller, 1911 | ———— | Michell's quill-snouted snake | southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| X. sabiensis | Broadley, 1971 | ———— | Sabi quill-snouted snake | Zimbabwe to Mozambique. |
| X. transvaalensis | Methuen, 1919 | ———— | Transvaal quill-snouted snake | North Transvaal and Zululand in Republic of South Africa, southern Mozambique, Botswana. |
*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
Atractaspis is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Atractaspidae, also known as the stiletto snakes. The genus is endemic to Africa and the Middle East. The genus contains 15 species that are recognized by ITIS. Others recognize as many as 21 species. 23 are listed here.
Platyceps gracilis, commonly known as the graceful racer or slender racer, is a species of snake endemic to India.
The calamaria reed snake is a species of snake found in some parts of South Asia.
Lycodon aulicus, commonly known as the Indian wolf snake or common wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Early naturalists have suggested its resemblance to the venomous common krait as an instance of Batesian mimicry.
Ptyas korros, commonly known as the Chinese rat snake or Indo-Chinese rat snake, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Southeast Asia.
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.
Trachischium is a genus of snakes, known commonly as slender snakes or worm-eating snakes, in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Asia.
Psammophis is a genus of snakes in the family Psammophiidae. The genus comprises 33 species, which are found in Africa and Asia. Psammophis are diurnal and prey on lizards and rodents which they actively hunt. All species in the genus are venomous, and the venom is considered mild and not dangerous to humans.
Micrelaps is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes. It is the only genus in the family Micrelapidae. The genus is native to Africa and the Middle East, and there are four species that are recognized as being valid.
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.
Aparallactus is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 11 species are recognized.
Brachyophis is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged mildly venomous snake species, Brachyophis revoili, commonly known as Revoil's short snake, which is endemic to Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized as being valid.
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.
Polemon is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes in the family Atractaspididae. The genus is endemic to Africa. Fifteen species are recognized as being valid.
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 gracilis, or the graceful snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It 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.
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