Alsophis

Alsophis
Alsophis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Xenodontinae
Genus: Alsophis
Fitzinger, 1843
Species

13 or more extant species.
Synonyms

Dromicus

Alsophis is a genus of snake in the Colubridae family. They are among those snakes called "racers" and occur throughout the Caribbean. Alsophis snakes are the world’s rarest form of snake, and are currently critically endangered. Alsophis snakes are small rear fanged snakes, proving them harmless to man. This genus contains at least fourteen described species.[1]

Contents

Alsophis Antiguae

The Alsophis Antiguae is a snake that belongs to the Alsophis family. This snake is probably the rarest snake in the Alsophis genus. This snake can only be found on Great Bird Island, off the coast of Antigua, and there are currently only eighty remaining.(Daltry 119).

Description

Alsophis snakes are all relatively small only growing to about a meter long, and experience sexual dimorphism, meaning that females grow much bigger than males (Savit 420). Alsophis snakes also are rear-fanged meaning they are non venomous (Antiguan 1).

Behavior

Alsophis snakes are harmless to humans and have gentle temperament (Daltry 121). They are diurnal, which means they are active from dawn to dusk except for a rest around mid-day(S Files 1) Some Alsophis snakes have a poor resistance to common diseases not found where the snake is actually from, this couldn’t be more true for the Alsophis Antiguae, which has ended some attempts at captive breeding (S-Files 1)

Selected species

  • Alsophis anomalus
  • Alsophis antiguae – Antiguan Racer
  • Alsophis antillensis – Antilles Racer
  • Alsophis ater – Black Racer
  • Alsophis biserialis
  • Alsophis cantherigerus
  • Alsophis elegans
  • Alsophis melanichnus – Hispaniolan Racer (possibly extinct)
  • Alsophis portoricensis – Puerto Rican Racer
  • Alsophis rijgersmaei – Leeward Island Racer
  • Alsophis rufiventris – Red-bellied Racer
  • †Alsophis sanctaecrucis – Saint Croix Racer (extinct)
  • Alsophis sanctonum
  • Alsophis vudii

References

  1. ^ EOL.org


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