Coelognathus

Coelognathus
Montane trinket snake (Coelognathus helena monticollaris)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Coelognathus
Fitzinger, 1843
Indonesian ratsnake (Coelognathus subradiatus) in Baucau District, East Timor.

Coelognathus is a genus of seven species of rat snakes in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species, which are native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, were formerly assigned to the genus Elaphe. Based on morphological evidence and protein similarities, in 2001, Helfenberger revalidated the name Coelognathus that had originally been proposed by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843.[1] The distinction between Coelognathus and Elaphe was further supported by mitochondrial DNA sequence and additional morphological evidence in 2005.[2]

  1. ^ Helfenberger N (2001). "Phylogenetic relationships of Old World ratsnakes based on visceral organ topography, osteology, and allozyme variation". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 8: 1–62.
  2. ^ Utiger U; Schätti B; Helfenberger N (2005). "The Oriental colubrine genus Coelognathus Fitzinger, 1843, and classification of Old and New World racers and ratsnakes (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae, Colubrinae)". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 12 (1): 32–53.