Elaphe

Taxobox
name = "Elaphe"

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image_caption = Baird's rat snake, "E. bairdi"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Elaphe"
genus_authority = Wagler, 1833

:"Common names: corn snakes, fox snakes, rat snakes, ratsnakes.ITIS|ID=174174|taxon=Elaphe|year=2006|date=28 November] ""Elaphe" is a genus of non-venomous colubrid snakes found in North and Central America. All are powerful constrictors and valuable allies to man in his efforts to control rodent populations. Ten species are currently recognized.

pecies

"*) Not including the nominate subspecies."

Taxonomy

Utiger "et al." (2002) argued that North American Rat Snakes of the genus "Elaphe" are a monophyletic group and thus separate from Old World members of the genus. They therefore resurrected the available name "Pantherophis" Fitzinger for all North American taxa (north of Mexico). [http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=128 "Elaphe obsoleta"] at [http://www.cnah.org/ The Center for North American Herpetology] . Accessed 20 June 2008.]

Crother "et al." (2003) rejected the taxonomic change to "Pantherophis", preferring to retain the current concept of "Elaphe" pending further review. Crother BI, Boundy J, Campbell JA, De Quieroz K, Frost D, Green DM, Highton R, Iverson JB, McDiarmid RW, Meylan PA, Reeder TW, Seidel ME, Sites Jr JW, Tilley SG, Wake DB. 2003. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico: Update. Herp. Rev. 34: 196-203. [http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/depts/biol/pdf/Crother2003a.pdf PDF] at [http://www.selu.edu/ Southeastern Louisiana University] . Accessed 13 July 2008.]

References

Further reading

* Utiger U, Helfenberger N, Schatti B, Schmidt C, Ruf M, Ziswiler V. 2002. Molecular systematics and phylogeny of Old and New World ratsnakes, "Elaphe" Auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). Russian Journal of Herpetology 9(2):105-124.

External links

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