Achalinus

Achalinus
Formosa odd-scaled snake, Achalinus f. formosanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Xenodermidae
Genus: Achalinus
W. Peters, 1869[1]

Achalinus (common name: odd-scaled snakes)[2] is a genus of harmless snakes in the family Xenodermidae. Species of the genus are found in China, Japan, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam. Ten species are recognized as being valid.[1][3] Achalinus was previously placed in Colubridae (along with other xenodermids).[4] The nickname "odd-scaled" is due to the fact that their dorsal scales do not overlap one another as in most snakes, but instead are spread out and lie individually similar to pieces of a puzzle. Odd-scaled snakes are known to be burrowers that crawl below the fallen leaves of the forest.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WallachWilliams2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Snakes are Long was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NRDB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Snakes are Long - taxonomy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).