Coniophanes
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Coniophanes is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as black-striped snakes, but they also have many other common names. The genus consists of 17 species, and despite the common name, not all of them display striping.
Geographic range
Species of Coniophanes are found primarily in Mexico and Central America, but range as far north as southern Texas in the United States, and as far south as Peru in South America.
Description
Snakes of the genus Coniophanes grow to a total length (including tail) of Script error: No such module "convert". and are typically brown in color, with black striping down the sides and center of the back, and a red or orange underside. Some of the species, such as C. alvarezi, are solid brown.
Habitat and behavior
Coniophanes snakes are secretive burrowers. They spend most of their time digging into loose soils, forest leaf litter, or under rotting cactus. They are nocturnal, emerging from their underground retreats in the late evening to feed on frogs, lizards, small rodents, and smaller snakes.
Reproduction
Species in the genus Coniophanes are oviparous, laying clutches of up to 10 eggs in loose soil. The eggs hatch in around 40 days, depending on relative temperature and humidity. Hatchlings are about Script error: No such module "convert". in length.
Species
The following 17 species are recognized as being valid.[1]
- C. alvarezi Campbell, 1989Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Chiapan stripeless snake – Mexico
- C. andresensis Bailey, 1937Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Isla San Andrés snake – Isla San Andrés, Colombia
- C. bipunctatus (Günther, 1858)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – two-spotted snake – Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, and Costa Rica
- C. b. bipunctatus (Günther, 1858)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. b. biseriatus H.M. Smith, 1940Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. dromiciformis (W. Peters, 1863)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Peters' running snake – Ecuador and Peru
- C. fissidens (Günther, 1858)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – yellowbelly snake – Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia
- C. f. convergens Shannon & H.M. Smith, 1950Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. f. dispersus H.M. Smith, 1941Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. f. fissidens (Günther, 1858)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. f. proterops (Cope, 1860)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. f. punctigularis (Cope, 1860)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. imperialis (Baird & Girard, 1859)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – black-striped snake – United States (Texas), Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras
- C. joanae Myers, 1966Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Panama
- C. lateritius Cope, 1862Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – stripeless snake – Mexico
- C. longinquus Cadle, 1989Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Ecuador, Peru
- C. melanocephalus (W. Peters, 1869)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Mexico
- C. meridanus Schmidt & Andrews, 1936Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – peninsula stripeless snake – Mexico
- C. michoacanensis Flores-Villela & E.N. Smith, 2009Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Mexico
- C. piceivittis Cope, 1870Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Cope's black-striped snake – Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
- C. p. frangivirgatus J. Peters, 1950Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. p. piceivittis Cope, 1870Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- C. quinquevittatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – five-striped snake – Mexico and Guatemala
- C. schmidti Bailey, 1937Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – faded black-striped snake – Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
- C. taeniata (W. Peters, 1870)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Cope's black-striped snake – Mexico
- C. taylori Hall, 1951Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Mexico
Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Coniophanes.
References
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- ↑ "Coniophanes ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
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Further reading
- Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. Template:ISBN. (Genus Coniophanes, p. 93).
- Hallowell E (1860). In: Cope ED (1860). "Catalogue of the Colubridæ in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with notes and descriptions of new species. Part 2". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 12: 241-266. (Coniophanes, new genus, p. 248).
External links
- Herps of Texas: Coniophanes imperialis
- Genus Coniophanes at The Reptile Database
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