Saphenophis

Saphenophis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Dipsadinae
Genus:	Saphenophis Myers, 1973

Saphenophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.[1] The genus is native to northwestern South America.

Geographic range

Species in the genus Saphenophis are found in Colombia and Ecuador.[1]

Species

Five species are recognized as being valid.[1]

• Saphenophis antioquiensis (Dunn, 1943) - Dunn's saphenophis snake
• Saphenophis atahuallpae (Steindachner, 1901) - Atahuallpa saphenophis snake
• Saphenophis boursieri (Jan, 1867)
• Saphenophis sneiderni Myers, 1973 - saphenophis snake
• Saphenophis tristriatus (Rendahl & Vestergren, 1941)

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Saphenophis.

Etymology

The specific name, boursieri, is in honor of French ornithologist Jules Bourcier.[2]

The specific name, sneiderni, is in honor of Swedish taxidermist Kjell von Sneidern (1910–2000), who collected natural history specimens in Colombia.[2]

References

1. Genus Saphenophis at The Reptile Database.
2. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Saphenophis boursieri, p. 35; Saphenophis sneiderni, p. 247).

Further reading

• Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Genus Saphenophis, p. 109).
• Myers CW (1973). "A New Genus for Andean Snakes Related to Lygophis boursieri and a New Species (Colubridae)". American Museum Novitates (2522): 1-37. (Saphenophis, new genus, p. 2; Saphenophis sneiderni, new species, p. 22).