ANIMALS - REPTILES - SNAKES - BRAZILIAN GREEN RACER (PHILODRYAS AESTIVA)

Animals - Reptiles - Snakes

Brazilian Green Racer (Philodryas aestiva)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Subphylum : Vertebrata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Suborder : Serpentes
Family : Colubridae
Subfamily : Xenodontinae
Genus : Philodryas
Species : P. Aestiva

Description:

The Brazilian Green Racer (Philodryas aestiva) is a Snake in the genus Philodryas, so it shares the following characters:

Head distinct from neck, with distinct canthus rostralis. Eye moderate or large. Pupil round. Body cylindrical or slightly laterally compressed. Tail long.

Dorsal scales arranged in 17 to 23 rows at midbody, more or less obliquely. Subcaudals divided (in two rows).

Maxillary teeth smallest anteriorly, 12-15, followed after a gap by two large grooved fangs located just behind the posterior border of the eye.

Although colubrid snakes are usually harmless to humans, Philodryas are opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snakes and can give a venomous bite. However, they have mild venom; so a bite is unlikely to cause lasting damage to humans.

Binomial Name:

Name : Philodryas aestiva
Taxonomist : André Marie Constant Duméril (Amiens - France), Gabriel Bibron (Paris - France), Auguste Henri André Duméril (Paris - France)
Year : 1854
Subspecies : 2 (Aestiva, Subcarinata)
Synonyms : Dryophylax aestivus, Philodryas aestivus, Tropidodryas aestivus, Philodryas campicola

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 8 of 10, from Wetland Animals Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: June 5th, 2015
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 10 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated