Zilantophis

Zilantophis
Temporal range: Zanclean
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: †Zilantophis
Species:
†Z. schuberti
Binomial name
†Zilantophis schuberti
Jasinski and Moscato, 2017

Zilantophis is an extinct monotypic genus of colubrid snake that lived in Tennessee during the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch.

Etymology

The generic name Zilantophis is composed of the roots Zilant, a Russian word for a legendary creature similar to a dragon or wyvern, and ophis, the Greek word for snake. The specific epithet of the type species, Zilantophis schuberti, honours the palaeontologist Blaine W. Schubert for his contributions to the study of the Gray Fossil Site and its herpetofauna.

References

  1. ↑ "Zilantophis". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Zilantophis schuberti". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Jasinski, Steven E.; Moscato, David A. (3 April 2017). "Late Hemphillian Colubrid Snakes (Serpentes, Colubridae) from the Gray Fossil Site of Northeastern Tennessee". Journal of Herpetology. 51 (2): 245. doi:10.1670/16-020. ISSN 0022-1511. Retrieved 26 July 2026 – via BioOne Digital Library.