Zamenis

Zamenis
Z. longissimus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Zamenis Wagler, 1830

Zamenis is a genus of Old World non-venomous snakes in the family Colubridae.

Etymology

The generic name Zamenis comes from Greek ζαμενής (lat. vehemens, iracundus)[1] meaning "angry", "irritable", "fierce".

Species

The following six species are recognized as being valid:[2]

• Zamenis hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873) – Transcaucasian ratsnake
• Zamenis lineatus (Camerano, 1891) – Italian Aesculapian snake
• Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) – Aesculapian snake
• Zamenis persicus (F. Werner, 1913) – Persian ratsnake
• Zamenis scalaris (Schinz, 1822) – ladder snake
• Zamenis situla (Linnaeus, 1758) – European ratsnake

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

References

1. Wagler, J. (1830). Natürliches System der Amphibien : mit vorangehender Classification der Säugethiere und Vögel : ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Zoologie. Munich, Stuttgart and Tübingen: J.G. Cotta. vi + 354 pp. + one plate, in German and Latin. (Zamenis, new genus, p. 188.) Available online at the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL).
2. Genus Zamenis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.