Ptyas

Ptyas
Ptyas mucosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Ptyas
Fitzinger, 1843
Species

13, see text

Synonyms
  • Cyclophiops Boulenger, 1888
  • Zaocys Cope, 1860

Ptyas is a genus of colubrid snakes.[1] This genus is one of several colubrid genera colloquially called "rat snakes" or "ratsnakes".

The generic name derives from Ancient Greek πτυάς, meaning "spitter", which referred to a kind of snake believed to spit venom in the eyes of humans, although in reality none of the Ptyas are known to spit venom.[2][3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference RDB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Ptyas dhumnades - Big-eyed Ratsnake".
  3. ^ "πτυάς". Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.