Phrynonax

Phrynonax is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to the New World

Phrynonax
Phrynonax poecilonotus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Phrynonax Cope, 1862
Synonyms
Ahaetulla, Chironius, Herpetodryas, Natrix, Pseustes, Spilotes, Synchalinus, Tropidodipsas

Geographic range

Species in the genus Phrynonax are found in South America, Central America, and Mexico.^[1]

Species

Three species are recognized as being valid.^[1]

• Phrynonax poecilonotus (Günther, 1858) - puffing snake
• Phrynonax sexcarinatus (Wagler, 1824) - northeastern puffing snake
• Phrynonax shropshirei Barbour & Amaral, 1924 - Shropshire's puffing snake

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

Etymology

The specific name, shropshirei, is in honor of James B. Shropshire, "Chief Sanitary Inspector, U.S. Army, Canal Zone", who collected the paratype.^[2][3]