Pseudalsophis, Mollov, 2009

Grazziotin, Hussam Zaher 1 Felipe Gobbi, Cadle, John E., Murphy, Robert W., Moura-Leite, Julio Cesar de & Bonatto, Sandro L., 2009, Molecular phylogeny of advanced snakes (Serpentes, Caenophidia) with an emphasis on South American Xenodontines: a revised classification and descriptions of new taxa, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 49 (11), pp. 115-153 : 142-143

Pseudalsophis new genus

Type-species: L.[ygophis ( Lygophis )] elegans Tschudi, 1845 ).

Etymology: Pseudo- (Greek, “false, erroneous”) + Alsophis , in allusion to the morphological similarity with Alsophis Fitzinger sensu stricto, gender masculine.

Diagnosis: Hemipenis generally deeply bilobed, bicalyculate, semicapitate, with a forked sulcus spermaticus dividing on the proximal half of the body, with branches extending centrolineally until the base of the capitula, here it takes a centrifugal position on the lobe, ending in the distal region; intrasulcar region mostly nude, without spines; enlarged lateral spines of moderate size and numerous; capitula formed by diminutive papillate calyces and are most restricted to the sulcate side; asulcate and medial surfaces of the lobes almost completely nude, except for the presence of a medial papillate and inflated crest or ridge that runs from the lobular crotch to the distal edge of each capitulum; vestigial body calyces along all the internal region of the lobes.

Content: Pseudalsophis elegans (Tschudi, 1845) new combination; Pseudalsophis dorsalis (Steindachner, 1876) Pseudalsophis hoodensis (Van Denburgh, 1912) new combination; Pseudalsophis occidentalis (Van Denburgh, 1912) new combination; Pseudalsophis biserialis (Günther, 1860) new combination; Pseudalsophis steindachneri (Van Denburgh, 1912) new combination; Pseudalsophis slevini (Van Denburgh, 1912) new combination.

TRIBE PSOMOPHIINI new tribe (Clade 36)

Diagnosis: (100%, 36). Hemipenis bicapitate, with pseudocalyces, and with large spinulate papillae on the sulcate sides; premaxillary bone with peculiar expanded lateral flanges ( Myers & Cadle, 1994).

Content: Psomophis Myers & Cadle, 1994 (type-genus of the tribe by monotypy).

TRIBE ELAPOMORPHINI Jan, 1862 (Clade 38)

Elapomorphinae Jan, 1862: 3.

Type-genus: Elapomorphus Wiegmann (in Fitzinger), 1843.

Diagnosis: (86%, 6). Reduced number of supralabial scales (6); nasal plate entire; frontal bones dorsally included by the antero-lateral processes of the parietal, and almost excluded from the reduced optic foramen; exoccipitals in contact on the dorsal surface of the condyle; second supralabial scale contacting the eye; AMES displaced posteriorly to reveal the Harderian gland; hypertrophied muscle retractor quadrati with an extensive insertion zone; U-shaped fronto-parietal suture; reduction or loss of the quadrato-maxillary ligament; no more than two teeth on the palatine process of the pterygoid, anteriorly to the ectopterygoid articulation; dentigerous process of the dentary short ( Ferrarezzi, 1993, 1994b; Savitzky, 1979; Zaher, 1994b).

Content: Apostolepis Cope, 1861 ; Elapomorphus Wiegmann (in Fitzinger), 1843; Phalotris Cope, 1862 .

TRIBE TROPIDODRYADINI new tribe