Dendrophidion rufiterminorum

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Colubroidea

Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Unikonta Cladus: Opisthokonta Cladus: Holozoa Regnum: Animalia Subregnum: Eumetazoa Cladus: Bilateria Cladus: Nephrozoa Superphylum: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Megaclassis: Osteichthyes Cladus: Sarcopterygii Cladus: Rhipidistia Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes Cladus: Elpistostegalia Superclassis: Tetrapoda Cladus: Reptiliomorpha Cladus: Amniota Classis: Reptilia Cladus: Eureptilia Cladus: Romeriida Subclassis: Diapsida Cladus: Sauria Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha Superordo: Lepidosauria Ordo: Squamata Cladus: Unidentata, Episquamata Cladus: Toxicofera Subordo: Serpentes Infraordo: Caenophidia Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Dendrophidion
Species: Dendrophidion rufiterminorum

Name

• Dendrophidion rufiterminorum Cadle & Savage, 2012

Holotype: LSUMZ 8901, an adult male. Collected 19 July 1963 by Stephen M. Russell and Angelo W. Palmisano (Wilson 1966).

Type locality: 1 mi W Baldy Sibun, Cayo district, Belize [17°00’ N, 88°46’ W].

Etymology: The name is a Latin noun meaning “of reddish ends”, referring to the most salient and diagnostic color characteristic of this species, its red head and tail. It is a compound word derived from rufus (red or reddish) + terminus (end or limit), a second declension masculine noun in genitive plural form (terminorum) to reflect the fact that both ends are red.

References

• Cadle, J.E. & Savage, J.M. 2012. Systematics of the Dendrophidion nuchale complex (Serpentes: Colubridae) with the description of a new species from Central America. Zootaxa 3513(1): 1–50. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3513.1.1 Reference page. 
• Dendrophidion rufiterminorum at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 8 april 2015.