Dipsas

{{Short description|Genus of snakes}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Dipsas catesbyi in Ecuador.jpg

| image_caption = Dipsas catesbyi in Ecuador

| taxon = Dipsas

| authority = Laurenti, 1768

}}

Dipsas is a genus of nonvenomous New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus Sibynomorphus has been moved here. Species of the genus Dipsas are known as snail-eaters.

Taxonomy

The genus Dipsas includes over 50 distinct species.{{ITIS|id=585657|taxon=Dipsas |accessdate=10 February 2011}}

The following species are recognized as being valid.{{EMBL genus|genus=Dipsas}}. www.reptile-database.org.

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  • Dipsas peruana {{small|(Boettger, 1898)}} – Peruvian snail-eater, Peru snail-eater

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

Description

Dipsas species are slender, small to medium-sized snakes, often no longer than {{Convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and rarely longer than {{Convert|100|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Coloration and color pattern may vary, but often consist of black and brown, frequently with alternating rings separated by white.

Distribution and habitat

Species in the genus Dipsas are found from southern Mexico through Central America and South America, as far as Argentina and Paraguay.{{smallcaps|de Lima, Ana Caroline}}; {{smallcaps|da Costa Prudente, Ana Lúcia}} (2009). "Morphological variation and systematics of Dipsas catesbyi (Sentzen, 1796) and Dipsas pavonina Schlegel, 1837 (Serpentes: Dipsadinae)". [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/index.html Zootaxa] 2203: 31-48. [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/z02203p048f.pdf Abstract & excerpt]{{cite journal|last=Cadle|first=John E.|author-link=species:John E. Cadle |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.3099/0027-4100%282005%29158%5B67%3ASOSOTD%5D2.0.CO%3B2 |title=Systematics of snakes of the Dipsas oreas complex (Colubridae: Dipsadinae) in western Ecuador and Peru, with revalidation of D. elegans (Boulenger) and D. ellipsifera (Boulenger)|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology|volume=158|issue=3|pages=67–136|year=2005|doi=10.3099/0027-4100(2005)158[67:SOSOTD]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=33701271 |access-date=2011-02-11}}

Behavior and diet

Species in the genus Dipsas are mostly arboreal snakes that mainly feed on land snails and slugs.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikispecies}}

  • Freiberg MA (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. {{ISBN|0-87666-912-7}}. (Genus Dipsas, pp. 93–94).
  • Laurenti JN (1768). Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I-V. (Dipsas, new genus, pp. 89–90). (in Latin).

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Category:Reptiles of Central America

Category:Reptiles of South America

Category:Snake genera

Category:Taxa named by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti