Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Scientific name Polemon | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Rank Genus | |
Similar Elapotinus, Micrelaps, Macrelaps, Amblyodipsas, Aparallactus | ||
Polemon is a genus of rear-fanged venomous snakes endemic to Africa. Thirteen species are recognized.
Contents
The common name of this genus is snake-eaters, for their habit of feeding mainly on smaller snakes.
Description
The maxillary is very short, with three small teeth, followed, after an interspace, by a very large, grooved fang situated anterior to the eye. The third and fourth mandibular teeth are large and fang-like. The head is small, and not distinct from neck. The eyes are minute, with round pupils. The nostrils are in a divided nasal which does not touch the rostral, the internasal forms a suture with the first upper labial. No loreal is present. The parietal is narrowly in contact with an upper labial.
This snake's body is cylindrical, with a very short tail. Dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and are arranged in 15 rows. The ventrals are rounded; the subcaudals are single (entire), or double (divided).
Species
*) Not including the nominate subspecies.