==============================+====================+================== SUBSPECIES | Ventrals | Caudals +---------+---------+---------+--------- | Range | Mean | Range | Mean ------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------- _deppei deppei_ | | | | 34 ♂♂ | 210-231 | 220.4 | 53-69 | 61.5 16 ♀♀ | 209-232 | 218.2 | 52-61 | 57.2 | | | | _deppei jani_ | | | | 12 ♂♂ | 215-235 | 225.1 | 56-68 | 62.6 3 ♀♀ | 228-231 | 229.0 | 52-60 | 56.0 | | | | _lineaticollis lineaticollis_ | | | | 13 ♂♂ | 231-258 | 239.5 | 54-72 | 64.9 9 ♀♀ | 229-249 | 241.3 | 55-68 | 60.6 | | | | _lineaticollis gibsoni_ | | | | 2 ♂♂ | 234 | 234.0 | 61-65 | 63.0 4 ♀♀ | 241-246 | 243.7 | 57-63 | 59.0 ------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------- _Coloration._--The dorsal ground color is tan or straw; the dorsal pattern consists basically of dark middorsal blotches and dark lateral intercalary spots. Number of blotches, color of blotches posteriorly, width of pale interspaces between anterior blotches, and color of lateral intercalary spots vary considerably geographically. In some populations (_lineaticollis_ and _gibsoni_) the anterior blotches are divided medially forming either a pair of dark stripes on the anterior part of the body or a series of paired spots. Details of coloration are described in the following accounts. ACCOUNTS OF THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES [Illustration: FIG. 1. México and Guatemala showing the distribution of the subspecies of _Pituophis deppei_ and _P. lineaticollis_.] Study of _Pituophis deppei_ (_auctorum_) revealed the presence of sympatric populations of two distinct species of _Pituophis_ differing from each other in scutellation and coloration. The nomenclature resulting from the required rearrangement necessitates the recognition of 1) _deppei_ as a species, 2) _jani_ as a subspecies of _deppei_, 3) _lineaticollis_ (with _brevilineata_ as a synonym) as a species distinct from _deppei_, and 4) _gibsoni_ as a subspecies of _lineaticollis_. Known geographic distributions of these named taxa are shown in Figure 1. =Pituophis deppei deppei= Duméril _Elaphis deppei_ Duméril, Mem. Acad. Inst. France, vol. 23, p. 453, 1853; Duméril and Bibron, Erpétologie générale, vol. 7, p. 268, February 25, 1854.