Lycodryas is a genus of snakes in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. The genus contains nine species, seven of which are endemic to the island of Madagascar, and two to the Comoros Islands.[2] Its sister taxon is Phisalixella.[1] All of the species are harmless to humans.

Lycodryas
Lycodryas maculatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pseudoxyrhophiidae
Subfamily: Pseudoxyrhophiinae
Genus: Lycodryas
Günther, 1879
Type species
Lycodryas sanctijohannis
Günther, 1879
Species

9 recognized species, see text

Synonyms[1]

Stenophis Boulenger, 1896

Ecology

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Lycodryas are arboreal snakes that are believed to be active hunters. However, their ecology is generally poorly known.[1]

 
Lycodryas citrinus
 
Female Lycodryas cococola

Description

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Lycodryas are markedly elongated, slender-bodied snakes with often striking coloration. The head is distinct. They typically have 8 (range: 7–9) upper labials and 6–10 lower labials, 1 loreal scale, 17–19 rows of dorsal scales at mid-body and 13 or 15 rows of dorsal scales at the last ventral, 185–284 ventral scales, anal plate that is usually divided, and 70–130 subcaudal scales. The contracted pupil is a small vertical ellipse.[1]

Species

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The following nine species are recognized as being valid.[2]

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Nagy, Zoltán T.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2010). "Systematics of the snake genera Stenophis and Lycodryas from Madagascar and the Comoros". Zoologica Scripta. 39 (5): 426–435. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2010.00435.x.
  2. ^ a b Lycodryas at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 October 2023.

Further reading

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  • Günther A (1879). "On Mammals and Reptiles from Johanna, Comoro Islands". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Fifth Series 3: 215–219. (Lycodryas, new genus, p. 218).