genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
colubrid
Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ev ...
snakes. This
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
is one of several
colubrid
Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ev ...
rat snake
Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. They are medium to large constrictors and are found throughout much of the Northern Hemi ...
s" or "ratsnakes".
The generic name derives from
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...
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.
Species
13 species are recognized:
* ''
Ptyas carinata
''Ptyas carinata'', commonly known as the keeled rat snake, is a species of colubrid snake. It is found in Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia,India, Vietnam and Singapore. This little known species is probably the larg ...
Ptyas dhumnades
''Ptyas'' is a genus of colubrid snakes. 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 s ...
'' (
Cantor
A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. In formal Jewish worship, a cantor is a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds.
In Judaism, a cantor sings and lead ...
, 1842) – Cantor's rat snake
* ''
Ptyas dipsas
''Ptyas'' is a genus of colubrid snakes. 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 ...
'' (
Schlegel
Schlegel is a German occupational surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Anthony Schlegel (born 1981), former American football linebacker
* August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845), German poet, older brother of Friedrich
* Brad Schlege ...
, 1837)
* ''
Ptyas doriae
Doria's green snake (''Ptyas doriae'') is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
Etymology
The specific name, ''doriae'', is in honor of Italian naturalist Giacomo Doria.
Geographic range
''P. doriae'' is ...
Ptyas fusca
''Ptyas fusca'', commonly known as the white-bellied rat snake or brown rat snake, is a species of colubrid snake. It is found in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is ...
Ptyas korros
''Ptyas korros'', commonly known as the Chinese ratsnake or Indo-Chinese rat snake, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Southeast Asia.
Description
Snout obtuse, projecting; eye very large. Rostral visible from above; internasals shorter ...
'' (Schlegel, 1837) – Chinese ratsnake, Indo-Chinese ratsnake
* ''
Ptyas luzonensis
''Ptyas luzonensis'', commonly known as the smooth-scaled mountain rat snake, is a species of Rat snake in the family Colubridae. This snake lives in mountainous area but they go for streams and rivers to hunt and drink. Their favourite or common ...
Ptyas mucosa
''Ptyas mucosa'', commonly known as the oriental ratsnake, Indian rat snake, ''darash'' or ''dhaman'', is a common non-venomous species of colubrid snake found in parts of South and Southeast Asia. Dhamans are large snakes. Typical mature total l ...
'' (
Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
Roux
Roux () is a mixture of flour and fat cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Roux is typically made from equal parts of flour and fat by weight. The flour is added to the melted fat or oil on the stove top, blended until smooth, and cook ...
