A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)Wellman, John
Science
A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
Wellman, John
Conophis; Snakes -- Central America
Snakes from areas between Tehuantepec and the margins of the
distribution of this species are variously intermediate between the
extremes described above. In some snakes from these areas the lateral
stripes are broad and include either the dorsal half of the 2nd
scale-row or the ventral half of the 5th scale-row, but not both on
the same specimen. Also, the dorsolateral stripes are broad and
include most of the 9th and a part of the 10th scale-rows. Many
specimens from the area around Tehuantepec, where the three-striped
pattern is prevalent, have an intermediate pattern. Some have white on
the center of the 10th scale-row or lateral stripes that are not so
broad as to include the 3rd and 4th and half of each of the 2nd and
5th scale-rows.
The supralabials are immaculate white or pale tan, except that in some
specimens the dorsalmost part of some supralabials are dark brown or
black as they are included in the ventral boundary of the dark stripe
that passes through the eye. There are no dusky markings on the chin
or on any of the ventral scales.
There is no ontogenetic change in color pattern; juveniles have the
same coloration as adults from the same geographic area.
Color in life is not greatly different from that of preserved
specimens. One specimen (UMMZ 114483) from 10.8 miles south of Oaxaca,
had in life black stripes, a pale yellowish tan dorsal ground-color
and a pale off-white venter.
An excellent photograph of this species appears in Schmidt and Inger
(1957:230) under the name _Conophis lineatus_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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