View source for Alsophis

{{Short description|Genus of snakes}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name              = ''Alsophis''
| image             = Alsophis antillensis at Rosalie-a03.jpg
| image_caption     = ''[[Alsophis antillensis]]''
| taxon             = Alsophis
| authority         = [[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1843
| display_parents   = 2
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision       = 8, see [[#Species|text]]
| synonyms          =
''Dromicus''
}}

'''''Alsophis''''' is a [[genus]] of [[snake]]s in the [[subfamily]] [[Dipsadinae]] of the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Colubridae]]. [[Species]] in the genus ''Alsophis'' are among those snakes [[Common name|commonly]] called "racers". ''Alsophis'' species are endemic to the [[Lesser Antilles]] in the [[Caribbean]]. One [[species]] in the genus ''Alsophis'', ''A. antiguae'', is one of the world's rarest known snakes. Snakes of the genus ''Alsophis'' are small and [[Opisthoglyphous|rear-fanged]], and they are considered harmless to humans.  This genus contains nine described species which are recognized as being valid.<ref>[http://www.eol.org/pages/33372 EOL.org]</ref> Several species once included in this genus have been placed in the [[Genus|genera]] ''[[Borikenophis]]'' and ''[[Pseudalsophis]]''.

==Rarity of species==
''[[Alsophis antiguae]]'' is the rarest snake in the genus ''Alsophis''. This snake once occurred on [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]], but by 1995, only 50 individuals remained on [[Great Bird Island]], off the coast of Antigua.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Daltry|first1=Jenny C.|last2=Bloxam|first2=Quentin|last3=Cooper|first3=Gillian|last4=Day|first4=Mark L.|last5=Hartley|first5=John|last6=Henry|first6=McRonnie|last7=Lindsay|first7=Kevel|last8=Smith|first8=Brian E.|year=2001|title=Five years of conserving the 'world's rarest snake', the Antiguan racer ''Alsophis antiguae''|journal=Oryx|volume=35|issue=2|pages=119–127|doi=10.1017/s0030605300031677|doi-access=free}}</ref> Following the removal of invasive alien predators and successful reintroductions to a further three islands (Rabbit in 1999, Green Island in 2001, and York Island in 2008), the total population has increased to more than 1,000 individuals.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fauna & Flora International|title=Antiguan racer|newspaper=Fauna & Flora International |url=http://www.fauna-flora.org/species/antiguan-racer/|access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

==Description==
Snakes of the genus ''Alsophis'' are all relatively small, usually less than about {{cvt|1|m|ft}} in body length. Females tend to be larger than males. these racers are rear-fanged, with enlarged teeth at the rear of their upper jaws.

==Behavior==
''Alsophis'' species are harmless to humans and most have a gentle temperament. They are [[Diurnality|diurnal]], usually active from dawn to dusk.

==Species==
Listed alphabetically by [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]].<ref>{{ EMBL genus|genus=Alsophis}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
*''[[Alsophis antiguae]]'' {{small|[[Hampton Wildman Parker|Parker]], 1933}} – Antiguan racer   
*''[[Alsophis antillensis]]'' {{small|([[Hermann Schlegel|Schlegel]], 1837)}} – Antilles racer, Guadeloupe racer, Leeward racer  
*''[[Alsophis cantherigerus]]'' 
*''[[Alsophis danforthi]]'' {{small|[[Doris Mable Cochran|Cochran]], 1938}}
*''[[Alsophis manselli]]'' {{small|Parker, 1933}} – Montserrat racer<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Daltry, J.C. |author2=Henderson, R.W. |author3=Powell, R. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=''Alsophis manselli'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T190567A115325863 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T190567A71748201.en |access-date=1 May 2021}}</ref>
*''[[Alsophis rijgersmaei]]'' {{small|[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1869}} – Anguilla racer, Anguilla Bank racer, [[Leeward island racer|Leeward Islands racer]]
*''[[Alsophis rufiventris]]'' {{small|([[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]] & [[Auguste Duméril|A.H.A. Duméril]], 1876)}} – orange-bellied racer, [[red-bellied racer]], Saba racer
*''[[Alsophis sanctonum]]'' {{small|[[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], 1915}}
*''[[Alsophis sibonius]]'' {{small|Cope, 1879}} – Antilles racer, Dominica racer, Dominican racer, Leeward racer<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Henderson, R.W. |author2=Powell, R. |date=2019 |title=''Alsophis sibonius'' |volume=2019 |page=e.T190569A71748211 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T190569A71748211.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

''[[Nota bene]]'': A [[Binomial nomenclature|binomial authority]] in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Alsophis''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikispecies}}
* [http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2013/01/galapagos-racers.html Life is Short, but Snakes are Long]
* [http://www.fauna-flora.org/species/antiguan-racer/ Antiguan racer at Fauna & Flora International]
* [http://www.eco-index.org/search/results.cfm?ProjectID=1418#.VViVW5OH-K8 Offshore Islands Conservation Programme]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2840205}}

[[Category:Alsophis| ]]
[[Category:Snake genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]
[[Category:Snakes of the Caribbean]]

{{Dipsadinae-stub}}