Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Plate 4.58
Wagler's snake or Merrem's snake (
Waglerophis merremi
), Brazil
. Also
referred to as “mock vipers” (a common name used for a variety of species in South
America and Asia) these are large, robust, monotypic snakes that have enlarged, nongrooved,
posterior maxillary teeth. In a recent taxonomic review of the Dipsadidae, Zaher et al. (2009)
synonymized
Waglerophis
with
Xenodon
. This is a species that should be handled cautiously.
Although little documentation of bites is available, a glancing finger bite resulted in sharp
pain and freely bleeding tooth puncture wounds; however, a retrospective review reported only
mild effects (see
Table 4.1
).
Photo copyright to David A. Warrell.
(A)
Plate 4.59
(A and B) False-Fer-de-Lance; Falsa Coitara (
Xenodon neuwiedii
), Cajamar,
Brazil.
The xenodontine dipsadid genus,
Xenodon
, contains approximately five neotropical
species. These snakes are sometimes mistaken for lance-headed vipers (
Bothrops
spp.),
although their mimicry of these may be questionable.
