Phalotris

Phalotris is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. All species of the genus Phalotris are native to South America.^[1] The specific name, mertensi, is in honor of German herpetologist Robert Mertens.^[2] The specific name, normanscotti, is in honor of Norman Scott, Jr., in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of the herpetofauna of Paraguay.^[3]

Phalotris
Phalotris matogrossensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Dipsadinae
Genus:	Phalotris Cope, 1862

Venom

The venom of the genus Phalotris was poorly characterized, due to the low amount produced by snakes of the family Colubridae. A more detailed characterization of particularly interesting proteins could only be viable by obtaining recombinant proteins. However, there is a report of an incident of snakebite by a Phalotris, which resulted in headache, local and oral mucosa hemorrhage, edema, and renal failure. Another incident report occurred with a 37-year-old biologist, whose symptoms were immediate local pain, bleeding, and edema. A few hours later, there was headache, systemic hemorrhage, fever, myalgia, and dark urine. A study of the venom of Phalotris mertensi showed a myotoxic action three times greater than Bothrops jararaca.^[4][5]

Species

The following 19 species are recognized as being valid.^[1]

• Phalotris bilineatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – Dumeril's diadem snake
• Phalotris concolor Ferrarezzi, 1993
• Phalotris cuyanus (Cei, 1984)
• Phalotris illustrator Scrocchi, Giraudo & Nenda, 2022
• Phalotris labiomaculatus de Lema, 2002
• Phalotris lativittatus Ferrarezzi, 1993
• Phalotris lemniscatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – Duméril's diadem snake, Pampeana black headed snake
• Phalotris matogrossensis de Lema, D'Agostini & Cappellari, 2005 – Mato Grosso burrowing snake
• Phalotris mertensi (Hoge, 1955)
• Phalotris multipunctatus Puorto & Ferrarezzi, 1993
• Phalotris nasutus (Gomes, 1915)
• Phalotris nigrilatus Ferrarezzi, 1993
• Phalotris normanscotti Cabral & Cacciali, 2015 – Chaco burrowing snake
• Phalotris reticulatus (W. Peters, 1860)
• Phalotris sansebastiani Jansen & G. Köhler, 2008
• Phalotris shawnella P. Smith, Brouard & Cacciali, 2022^[6]
• Phalotris spegazzinii (Boulenger, 1913)
• Phalotris suspectus (Amaral, 1924) – Dumeril's diadem snake
• Phalotris tricolor (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – tricolored burrowing snake

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phalotris.