Psammodynastes

Psammodynastes is a genus of elapoid snakes, containing two species native to tropical and subtropical Asia. It is the only member of the family Psammodynastidae. They are also known as mock vipers due to their superficial resemblance to true vipers. Their Batesian mimicry of vipers extends to them having a fake venom fang at the front of the mouth revealed during threat displays, although they are actually rear-fanged snakes with weak venom meant for small animals.^[1][2][3]

Psammodynastes
Psammodynastes pulverulentus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Superfamily:	Elapoidea
Family:	Psammodynastidae Das et al., 2024
Genus:	Psammodynastes Günther, 1858
Species
P. pictus Günther, 1858 P. pulverulentus (Boie, 1827)
Synonyms
Psammodynastiinae Hoser, 2013

It was formerly placed in the family Pseudaspididae (alternatively the subfamily Pseudaspidinae of Lamprophiidae), which otherwise contains two monotypic snake genera native to Africa. However, more recent studies have found it to represent a basal member of the Elapoidea, more derived than Cyclocoridae but sister to the rest of the expansive group. It is thought to have diverged from the rest of the group during the early-mid Eocene.^[2][3]

Although both species in this genus co-occur in parts of Indonesia, they occupy different habitats, with P. pictus appearing to be significantly more dependent on aquatic habitats and having piscivorous tendencies. Meanwhile, P. pulverulentus appears to be a specialist skink predator.^[4]

Species

• Psammodynastes pictus Günther, 1858—painted mock viper
• Psammodynastes pulverulentus (Boie, 1827)—common mock viper

References

1. "Search results | The Reptile Database". reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
2. Das, Sunandan; Greenbaum, Eli; Brecko, Jonathan; Pauwels, Olivier S. G.; Ruane, Sara; Pirro, Stacy; Merilä, Juha (2024-04-25). "Phylogenomics of Psammodynastes and Buhoma (Elapoidea: Serpentes), with the description of a new Asian snake family". Scientific Reports. 14 (1): 9489. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-60215-2. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 11045840.
3. Helsinki, University of. "Viper-mimicking snake from Asia is a unique branch in the reptile evolutionary tree". phys.org. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
4. Asad, Sami; Wilting, Andreas; Siku, Joseph; Mark-Oliver Rödel (2020). "Possible spatial separation at macro-habitat scales between two congeneric Psammodynastes species, including observations of fishing behaviour in Psammodynastes pictus". Salamandra. 56 (4): 411–415. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.12301.36325.