Regina is a genus of semiaquatic natricine colubrid snakes known as crayfish snakes, named after their primary choice of diet. The genus consists of two species which are found in the eastern and central United States.
Regina | |
---|---|
Regina septemvittata, queen snake | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Subfamily: | Natricinae |
Genus: | Regina Baird & Girard, 1853 |
Species
editThe following two species are recognized as being valid.[1]
- Regina grahamii Baird & Girard, 1853 – Graham's crayfish snake
- Regina septemvittata (Say, 1825) – queen snake
Description
editBoth species in the genus Regina have keeled dorsal scales in 19 rows at midbody, and a divided anal plate. The crayfish snakes of the genus Regina have smaller heads than the water snakes of the genus Nerodia.[2]
References
edit- ^ Genus Regina at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Genus Regina, p. 422).
Further reading
edit- Baird SF, Girard C (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Regina, new genus, p. 45).