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Leioheterodon madagascariensis (DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL, 1854)

IUCN Red List - leioheterodon madagascariensis - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaPseudoxyrhophiidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common Names 
SynonymHeterodon madagascariensis DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 776
Anomalodon madagascariensis — JAN 1865
Anomalodon madagascariensis — MÜLLER 1881
Lioheterodon madagascariensis — BOULENGER 1893: 269
Leioheterodon madagascariensis — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 330
Lioheterodon madagascariensis — WRIGHT 1995
Leioheterodon madagascariensis — D’CRUZE et al. 2007
Leioheterodon madagascariensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 365
Leioheterodon madagascarienis — RANDRIAMIALISOA et al. 2023 (in error) 
DistributionMadagascar, Comoro Islands (introduced), Nossi Be = Nosy Bé, Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Komba  
Reproductionoviparous 
Typessyntype: MCZ R-2202 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (genus Leioheterodon): Maxillary teeth 10 to 12, followed, after an interspace, by a pair of strongly enlarged fangs; mandibular teeth subequal. Head scarcely distinct from neck; snout pointed, projecting: rostral large, subtrihedral; eye large, with round pupil. Body eylindrical; scales smooth, with apical pits, in 21 or 23 rows; ventrals rounded or obtusely angulate laterally. Tail moderate; subcaudals all or part in two rows. Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column. (Boulenger 1893)


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CommentType species: Heterodon madagascariensis DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854 is the type species of the genus Leioheterodon JAN 1863: 227. 
EtymologyNamed after the type locality.

The genus was apparently named after Greek leios (λείος), smooth, plain, Greek heteros (ἕτερος), of another kind, different, and Greek odous (ὀδούς), tooth, for the heterogenous teeth in this genus.  
References
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  • Anonymous 1994. The madagascan hognose snake (Leioheterodon madagascariensis). Reptilian 2 (3): 35-36
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