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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+Author: John Wellman
+
+Release Date: September 23, 2011 [EBook #37512]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVISION OF SNAKES OF THE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Tom Cosmas, Joseph Cooper and
+the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+Typographical corrections are listed at the end of this version.
+The list of publications has been compiled after the article's text.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS
+  MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+  Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.
+
+  October 4, 1963
+
+  A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+  (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+  BY
+  JOHN WELLMAN
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
+  LAWRENCE
+  1963
+
+
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+  Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,
+  Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.
+
+  Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.
+  Published October 4, 1963
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
+  Lawrence, Kansas
+
+  PRINTED BY
+  JEAN M. NEIBARGER. STATE PRINTER
+  TOPEKA. KANSAS
+  1963
+
+  [Illustration: Union Label]
+
+  29-5936
+
+
+
+
+A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+BY
+
+JOHN WELLMAN
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                                                  PAGE
+
+ INTRODUCTION                                                      253
+
+ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS                                                   254
+
+ MATERIALS AND METHODS                                             254
+
+ GENUS Conophis Peters                                             255
+   Key to the Species and Subspecies                               257
+   Analysis of Characters                                          257
+   Scutellation                                                    258
+   Size and Proportions                                            258
+   Color Pattern                                                   260
+   Sexual Dimorphism                                               260
+   _C. lineatus_                                                   262
+   _C. lineatus dunni_                                             262
+   _C. lineatus lineatus_                                          267
+   _C. lineatus concolor_                                          270
+   _C. nevermanni_                                                 272
+   _C. pulcher_                                                    274
+   _C. vittatus_                                                   277
+   Skull                                                           282
+   Dentition                                                       288
+   Vertebrae                                                       288
+   Hemipenes                                                       289
+   Food and Feeding                                                289
+   Effect of Poison                                                290
+
+ TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION                             291
+
+ SUMMARY                                                           292
+
+ LITERATURE CITED                                                  293
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Need for a comprehensive systematic review of the snakes of the genus
+_Conophis_ was pointed out by Stuart (1954a, b). Since these snakes
+appeared to be of zoogeographic importance in the Central American
+region, I undertook the review as set forth on the following pages.
+
+
+
+
+ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
+
+
+For permission to examine specimens, and for information concerning
+specimens in their care, I am grateful to Mr. L. C. Battersby and Miss
+Alice G. C. Grandison, British Museum (Natural History); Mr. Charles
+M. Bogert and Dr. Richard G. Zweifel, American Museum of Natural
+History; Dr. Doris M. Cochran, United States National Museum; Prof.
+William B. Davis, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas; Dr.
+Josef Eiselt, Naturhistorisches Museums, Vienna; Prof. Norman Hartweg
+and Prof. Laurence C. Stuart, Museum of Zoology, University of
+Michigan; Dr. Robert F. Inger, Chicago Natural History Museum; Dr.
+Alan E. Leviton, California Academy of Sciences; Mr. Edmond V.
+Malnate, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia; Prof. George S.
+Myers, Stanford University Natural History Museum; Mr. Wilfred T.
+Neill, Ross Allen's Reptile Institute; Mr. Neil D. Richmond, Carnegie
+Museum; Dr. William J. Riemer, University of Florida Collections;
+Prof. Robert C. Stebbins, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of
+California; Prof. Hobart M. Smith, University of Illinois Natural
+History Museum; and Dr. Ernest E. Williams, Museum of Comparative
+Zoology, Harvard.
+
+Prof. William E. Duellman supplied invaluable information and guidance
+in my study. I am grateful to Prof. E. Raymond Hall for use of
+facilities of the Museum of Natural History and editorial assistance.
+I thank Prof. Laurence C. Stuart and Prof. Edward H. Taylor for
+information and suggestions. My own field experience in Middle America
+came as a result of assisting Professor Duellman in his own researches
+supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF-G
+9827). For these things I am deeply grateful. Specimens that I have
+seen alive were collected by field companions Dale L. Hoyt and Jerome
+B. Tulecke. Finally, I am grateful to my wife, Margaret L. Wellman,
+for much help including typing much of the manuscript.
+
+
+
+
+MATERIALS AND METHODS
+
+
+Of the 325 specimens of the genus _Conophis_ available to me,
+representing most of those in museum collections, scale counts were
+made in the usual manner on 309. Ventrals were counted following the
+system proposed by Dowling (1951:97-99); the anal plate was not
+included. The anteroposterior position of the place where reduction
+occurs in the number of the dorsal rows of scales is designated by
+citing the number of the ventral scale directly beneath that place.
+
+Measurements were taken to the nearest millimeter by means of a
+millimeter stick. Body length is the distance from the tip of the
+snout to the posterior edge of the anal plate; tail length, from the
+latter point to the tip of the tail; and total length, the sum of the
+body plus tail.
+
+Descriptions of color are based on preserved specimens. Where
+descriptions of the color of living individuals are given, the data
+were taken from Kodachrome slides made available to me by William E.
+Duellman. Due to the transient nature of the longitudinal dark stripes
+in these snakes, no standard terminology has been devised, except that
+the posterior continuations of the stripes which on the head pass
+through the eye are termed lateral stripes; the posterior
+continuations of the median stripe of the head are termed
+dorsolateral stripes. A paravertebral stripe is one that is present
+on the scale-row on either side of, but not including, the mid-dorsal
+(vertebral) scale-row.
+
+In order to reduce confusion in the discussion of variation, the
+numbers designating the rows of dorsal scales are written as 1st, 2nd,
+whereas the numbers designating the stripes are written as first,
+second.
+
+Except in three dried skeletons, teeth were counted on dentigerous
+bones _in situ_. Since teeth are often missing, the sockets were
+counted in order to obtain an accurate count.
+
+In accounts of the species and subspecies, the observed range of
+variation is followed by the mean in parentheses; in some instances
+the mean is followed by the standard deviation, also in parentheses.
+An example is 65-79 (70.6 ± 3.93).
+
+Each synonymy includes all generic and specific combinations known to
+me that have been used for the genus, and, in addition, references to
+catalogues, checklists, and reports of collections.
+
+Localities of occurrence that are not plotted on the distribution maps
+are recorded in italic type under Specimens Examined. In the list of
+Specimens Examined the localities and specimens are listed in the
+following order: countries in alphabetical order; states or
+departments in alphabetical order in each country; localities in
+alphabetical order in each state or department; museum numbers in
+numerical order after the abbreviations of names of museums. When more
+than one specimen bears a single catalogue number, the number of
+specimens is given in parentheses following the museum catalogue
+number. Specimens for which data are given only as to country or to
+state or department are listed first after the name of that political
+unit under "no specific locality."
+
+The abbreviations for the museum collections are:
+
+  AMNH     American Museum of Natural History
+  ANSP     Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
+  BMNH     British Museum (Natural History)
+  CAS      California Academy of Sciences
+  CNHM     Chicago Natural History Museum
+  ERA-WTN  E. Ross Allen-Wilfred T. Neill, Ross Allen's Reptile Institute
+  KU       University of Kansas Museum of Natural History
+  MCZ      Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard
+  MVZ      Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California
+  NMW      Naturhistorisches Museums Wien, Vienna
+  SU       Stanford University Natural History Museum
+  TCWC     Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Agricultural and
+             Mechanical College of Texas
+  UF       University of Florida Collections
+  UIMNH    University of Illinois Museum of Natural History
+  UMMZ     University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
+  USNM     United States National Museum
+
+
+
+
+Family COLUBRIDAE
+
+Subfamily Xenodontinae
+
+Genus =Conophis= Peters
+
+
+  _Tomodon_ (part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, Erpétologie Générale,
+     7(pt.2):936, February 7(pt.2):936, February 25, 1854 (_lineatus_
+     and _vittatus_); Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 28:455, 1860
+     (_pulcher_).
+
+  _Psammophis_ (part), Günther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in
+    the Collection of the British Museum, London, 1858:135
+    (_lineatus_).
+
+  _Conophis_ Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1860:519-520,
+    pl., fig. 3 (_vittatus_); Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, 13:300, December 28, 1861 (_lineatus concolor_);
+    Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:318-319, February 20,
+    1867 (_lineatus concolor_); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (_pulcher_); Bocourt in
+    Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique
+    et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5, 1886
+    (_lineatus lineatus_); Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., 23:489,
+    October 28, 1886; Hoffmann, Klassen und Ordnungen des
+    Thier-Reichs. Reptilien. Bd. 6, 3:1707, 1890; Cope, Trans.
+    Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:207, April 15, 1895; Dunn, Bull.
+    Antivenin Inst. Amer., 2(1):21, 24, April, 1928; Copeia, no.
+    4:214, December 31, 1937 (_nevermanni_).
+
+  _Tachymenis_ (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16:33,
+    January 9, 1884 (_vittatus_ and _lineatus_).
+
+  _Erythrolamprus_ (in part), Ditmars, Bull. Antivenin Inst.
+    Amer., 2(2):27-29, June.
+
+  _Coniophanes_ (in part), Wettstein, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien,
+    mathem-naturw. kl. 143:37-38, 1934 (_nevermanni_).
+
+_Historical summary._--In 1854 Duméril, Bibron and Duméril described
+and figured _Tomodon lineatum_ from America. In 1860 Peters described
+and figured as a new genus and species, _Conophis vittatus_, based on
+a specimen that he had obtained from a dealer in Hamburg. The
+provenance of this specimen is not known, for it was discovered aboard
+a ship near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was not until 1871
+that Cope included _lineatus_ in the genus _Conophis_. Cope (1861)
+proposed the name _Conophis vittatus_ (_nec_ Peters, 1860). Later
+(1900) he changed its name to _Conophis lineaticeps_. Early
+uncertainty of the relationships of the species _lineatus_ caused
+Günther (1858) to place it in the genus _Psammophis_. With the
+exception of Garman (1884a and 1884b) who placed _lineatus_ in the
+genus _Tachymenis_, and Wettstein (1934) who reported five specimens
+of _Conophis nevermanni_ as _Coniophanes i. imperialis_, all specimens
+reported after 1876 were placed in the genus _Conophis_.
+
+The only previous attempt to review the systematics of this genus was
+made by Smith (1941) who based his study primarily on specimens in the
+United States National Museum. He examined only 28 specimens,
+including none of one species (_nevermanni_).
+
+_Description._--Hemipenis slightly bifurcate having forked sulcus
+spermaticus, large spines near base, and smaller spines or papillae on
+flounces nearer apices; prediastemal maxillary teeth 8-12, subequal in
+length, and followed by short diastema and one enlarged fang or two;
+fangs grooved, only one functional at any one time, unless snake is in
+process of shedding teeth; teeth 6-10 on palatine, 15 to 19 on
+pterygoid, 15 to 21 on dentary; teeth on dentary decreasing in size
+posteriorly; large parotid (venom) gland on either side of head in
+temporal region; head shields of basically unmodified colubrid type
+excepting decurved rostral; rostral concave below and therein modified
+for burrowing; internasals and prefrontals paired; nasals divided;
+loreal single; preocular one, rarely two; postoculars, two;
+supralabials, 7-8, 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th under eye; infralabials,
+8-11, usually 9 or 10; temporals, normally 1 plus 2 plus 3;
+chin-shields subequal in length; ventrals, 149-183, rounded and
+overlapping; caudals, 55-89, paired and imbricate; anal divided;
+dorsal scales smooth and in 19 rows at mid-body with no apical pits
+or keels; scale reduction normally involving fusion of 3rd and 4th
+rows, resulting in 17 scale-rows near tail; tail length more than 20
+per cent of body length; maximum total length exceeding 1.1 meters;
+dorsal color pattern consisting of dark stripes, or no darkening, on
+paler ground-color; ventral surfaces immaculate pale yellowish or
+white, except on specimens having single lateral dark spots on some or
+all ventrals; pupil round; diurnal or crepuscular; feeding primarily
+on small lizards, sometimes on small mammals or other snakes.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid regions of southern México and Central
+America as far south as Costa Rica.
+
+
+KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES
+
+Although many juveniles differ greatly in general coloration from the
+adults, both the juveniles and the adults of any species or subspecies
+can be identified from the following key; juveniles differ from adults
+in extent and intensity of dark pigmentation but not in rows of scales
+involved.
+
+ 1. Seven supralabials (3rd and 4th below orbit); 3 to 8 dark
+    stripes along body                                               2
+
+    Eight supralabials (4th and 5th below orbit); unstriped or with
+    more than 4 dark stripes along body, or dark with 2 or 4 pale
+    stripes                                                          3
+
+ 2. Dark stripes involving no more than one longitudinal
+    scale-row                    _C. lineatus lineatus_ (part), p. 267
+
+    Dark stripes involving at least two adjacent scale-rows
+                                                 _C. vittatus_, p. 277
+
+ 3. Supralabials having black borders above; head and body
+    generally black with 2 or 4 white lines running length
+    of body                                    _C. nevermanni_, p. 272
+
+    Supralabials immaculate or having dark borders below; head
+    and body usually pale with dark stripes, or without stripes      4
+
+ 4. Lateral dark stripe through eye involving upper half of second
+    scale-row; dark stripe on paravertebral row, at least
+    posteriorly                                   _C. pulcher_, p. 274
+
+    Lateral dark stripe becoming indistinct on body, or restricted
+    to 4th or 3rd and 4th rows anteriorly, not involving 2nd
+    scale-row on anterior 1/3 of body (an auxiliary lateral stripe
+    sometimes present involving 2nd row); no paravertebral stripes   5
+
+ 5. Stripes disappearing posteriorly (except for small spots of
+    pigment on scale-row 4 or 7); 1st scale-row unpigmented
+                                        _C. lineatus concolor_, p. 270
+
+    Stripes present posteriorly; 1st scale-row pigmented             6
+
+ 6. Lateral stripes narrow on nape, restricted to 4th scale-row
+    on body                      _C. lineatus lineatus_ (part), p. 267
+
+    Lateral stripes involving 3rd and 4th rows, at least on
+    nape                                   _C. lineatus dunni_, p. 262
+
+
+Analysis of Characters
+
+Characters showing inter-specific and intra-specific variation and
+that have a wide range of variation were analyzed statistically, when
+possible, in order to determine extent of variation. One character
+(see table 3) was analyzed for sexual dimorphism, and for it the
+coefficient of difference is also given. The statistical terms and
+formulae have been adopted from Mayr, Linsley and Usinger (1953).
+Dorsal head shields varied individually and were of no taxonomic
+importance. Osteological and hemipeneal characters did not show enough
+variation to be considered here.
+
+
+Scutellation
+
+Labials, dorsals, ventrals, and subcaudals were the most useful
+scales.
+
+_Labials._--All species usually have eight supralabials except _C.
+vittatus_, which has seven. The only other population having a
+relatively high frequency of occurrence of seven supralabials is _C.
+l. lineatus_. In specimens having eight supralabials, the fourth and
+fifth enter the orbit; in specimens having seven supralabials, the
+third and fourth enter the orbit (the second and third are fused).
+Usually there are ten infralabials, sometimes nine or eleven;
+specimens having seven supralabials usually have nine infralabials,
+sometimes eight, rarely ten.
+
+_Dorsals._--Although there is no variation in the number of rows of
+dorsal scales, there is some in the method of scale reduction. There
+are 19 rows of dorsal scales from close behind the head to about
+midway on the body where two rows are lost, leaving 17 rows from there
+to near the base of the tail. This reduction is accomplished by fusion
+of the scales of the 3rd and 4th rows or sometimes by the dropping out
+of the 3rd row. The place at which reduction occurs in number of
+dorsal scales in relation to the ventral (scale) directly below is
+highly variable and of little taxonomic importance (table 1).
+
+TABLE 1.--VARIATION IN THE PLACE OF DOSAL SCALE REDUCTION IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+
+ ==============+===========+========+=======+======+======+======
+               | Number of |        |       | Std. | Std. | Coe.
+     Taxon     | Specimens | Range  | Mean  | Dev. | Err. | Var.
+ --------------+-----------+--------+-------+------+------+------
+ _l. concolor_ |     45    | 89-114 | 102.5 | 5.57 | 0.83 | 5.43
+ _l. dunni_    |     36    | 91-111 | 102.1 | 4.59 | 0.77 | 4.50
+ _l. lineatus_ |     26    | 91-107 | 100.2 | 3.59 | 0.72 | 3.58
+ _nevermanni_  |      6    | 84- 97 |  93.2 | 4.71 | 1.92 | 5.05
+ _pulcher_     |     26    | 94-119 | 104.6 | 4.90 | 0.96 | 4.68
+ _vittatus_    |    170    | 84-118 | 102.3 | 6.60 | 0.16 | 6.45
+ --------------+-----------+--------+-------+------+------+------
+
+
+_Ventrals._--The number of ventral scutes varies from 149-183, and
+shows no significant variation in the means (table 2).
+
+_Subcaudals._--The number of subcaudal scutes varies from 55 to 89. In
+some populations there is no overlap in the range of variation of
+males and females. The total variation and sexual dimorphism are
+analyzed in table 3.
+
+
+Size and Proportions
+
+Although considerable variation in size is observable, little
+taxonomic use is made of size since sufficient series are not
+available to determine age classes. The subspecies attaining the
+largest size is _C. lineatus concolor_; all others are smaller and of
+about the same size and proportions. The longest specimen, a male of
+_C. l. concolor_, has a body length of 893 mm., a tail length of 274
+mm., and a total length of 1167 mm.
+
+TABLE 2.--VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF VENTRALS IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+
+ ==============+===========+=========+=======+======+======+======
+               | Number of |         |       | Std. | Std. | Coe.
+     Taxon     | Specimens |  Range  | Mean  | Dev. | Err. | Var.
+ --------------+-----------+---------+-------+------+------+------
+ _l. concolor_ |     45    | 158-170 | 163.7 | 1.56 | 0.23 | 0.95
+ _l. dunni_    |     36    | 159-178 | 167.2 | 4.56 | 0.76 | 2.72
+ _l. lineatus_ |     26    | 157-169 | 163.5 | 3.59 | 0.72 | 2.20
+ _nevermanni_  |      6    | 173-183 | 176.5 | 4.00 | 1.63 | 2.27
+ _pulcher_     |     26    | 149-180 | 169.5 | 5.31 | 1.04 | 3.13
+ _vittatus_    |    171    | 149-180 | 163.7 | 6.33 | 0.15 | 3.87
+ --------------+-----------+---------+-------+------+------+------
+
+
+TABLE 3.--SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AS INDICATED BY VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF
+   SUBCAUDALS IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Num. Spc. = Number of Specimens
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+ Coe. Dif. = Coefficient of Difference
+
+ ====================+=====+====+=======+======+======+======+======+=====
+                     |     |Num.|       |      | Std. | Std. | Coe. | Coe.
+        Taxon        | Sex |Spc.| Range | Mean | Dev. | Err. | Var. | Dif.
+ --------------------+-----+----+-------+------+------+------+------+-----
+ _lineatus concolor_ | [M] | 22 | 68-74 | 70.3 | 2.14 | 0.46 | 3.04 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 1.97
+                     | [F] | 16 | 56-65 | 61.8 | 2.18 | 0.55 | 3.53 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _lineatus dunni_    | [M] | 14 | 67-80 | 74.5 | 3.86 | 1.03 | 5.18 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.95
+                     | [F] | 16 | 60-72 | 67.1 | 3.91 | 0.97 | 5.82 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _lineatus lineatus_ | [M] | 11 | 67-73 | 69.8 | 6.17 | 1.85 | 8.84 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.60
+                     | [F] |  9 | 60-66 | 62.4 | 6.17 | 2.06 | 9.89 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _nevermanni_        | [M] |  3 | 82-89 | 85.3 | .... | .... | .... |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | ....
+                     | [F] |  2 | 71-76 | 73.5 | .... | .... | .... |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _pulcher_           | [M] |  7 | 70-79 | 74.3 | 3.11 | 1.17 | 4.19 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.93
+                     | [F] | 11 | 65-71 | 68.2 | 3.42 | 1.08 | 5.01 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _vittatus_          | [M] | 95 | 59-76 | 67.8 | 3.33 | 0.34 | 4.91 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 1.28
+                     | [F] | 58 | 55-66 | 60.0 | 2.75 | 0.36 | 4.58 |
+ --------------------+-----+----+-------+------+------+------+------+-----
+
+
+Color Pattern
+
+This is the primary feature used to separate species and subspecies in
+this genus. The color pattern consists of three black or deep brown
+stripes on the dorsal part of the head, one mid-dorsally, and one on
+each side of the head passing through the eye. On the body, there are
+usually dark longitudinal stripes on a pale tan or white background.
+There may be as few as three in _vittatus_, and as many as 13 in _l.
+dunni_; except that there is none in _C. l. concolor_. There are two
+pairs of primary dark stripes. The first is the body stripe that is
+the posterior extension of the stripe which on the head passes through
+the eye and is termed the lateral stripe. The other primary stripe is
+the posterior continuation of the mid-dorsal head stripe. Usually it
+is split into two dorsolateral stripes on the body. Stripes may be
+present on the scale-row to either side of the primary stripe. These
+stripes are usually dark brown or black and are the secondary stripes.
+Finally, additional stripes may be present that are paler brown and
+bear no direct relationship to the primary stripes. These are
+auxiliary stripes.
+
+Every stripe originates either as broad continuous stripe or as a row
+of spots or dashes, forming a discontinuous stripe, which in some
+specimens becomes continuous posteriorly. The stripes are usually
+black or deep brown, although auxiliary stripes are sometimes paler.
+The dorsal ground color is pale brown, tan, olive, or white; usually
+the ground color is palest ventrally and darkest dorsally.
+
+In some specimens of _Conophis_ the lateral tips of the ventrals are
+spotted, one spot on each end of each ventral. Otherwise, the ventrals
+are immaculate white.
+
+In some species there is considerable ontogenetic change in color
+pattern, although the juveniles bear the basic color characteristics
+of the adults. For example, juveniles of the sympatric species _C.
+lineatus dunni_ and _C. pulcher_ can be separated on the basis of
+which scale-rows are darkly pigmented. _C. l. dunni_ has eight stripes
+in juveniles and as many as 13 in adults. Juveniles show a greater
+contrast between the black stripes and the pale ground color than do
+adults. With increased age (size) the stripes in some populations
+become paler and are split; simultaneously the ground color becomes
+darker.
+
+
+Sexual Dimorphism
+
+Sexual dimorphism is evident in all species and subspecies of
+_Conophis_. Differences always exist in the number of subcaudals and
+in the tail/body ratio; males have more subcaudals and relatively
+longer tails than do females (table 3). Otherwise, there is little
+sexual dimorphism in these snakes. Males and females cannot be
+differentiated by any feature of coloration.
+
+Formulation of a biological concept of the species as defined by Mayr
+(1942) is difficult when most of the data primarily relied upon are
+from preserved specimens. Nevertheless, a total view of variation was
+attempted so that differences within and between populations could be
+recognized. Differences, between populations, that seem to be part of
+a continuous or internal cline (Huxley, 1942) are not used for
+characterizing subspecies.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 1. Patterns of dorsal coloration at
+      mid-body of adults of all species and subspecies of the genus
+      _Conophis_ except _C. lineatus concolor_. A. _C. lineatus
+      dunni_ (UMMZ 107339) from Santa Rosa, Guatemala. B. _C.
+      lineatus dunni_ (UMMZ 116537) from 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa,
+      Nicaragua. C. _C. lineatus dunni_ (ANSP 3480) from "San Jose,"
+      Costa Rica. D. _C. l. lineatus_ (KU 23253) from Río Blanco,
+      20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, Veracruz, México. E. _C. nevermanni_
+      (ANSP 22424) "San Jose," Costa Rica. F. _C. pulcher_ (UIMNH
+      33646) from Soconusco, Chiapas, México. G. _C. vittatus_ (KU
+      39626) from Atencingo, Puebla, México. H. _C. vittatus_ (TCWC
+      9473) from 1 mi. S Colotlipa, Guerrero, México. I. _C.
+      vittatus_ (UMMZ 82653) from "vicinity of" Salina Cruz, Oaxaca,
+      México. Approximately × 3/4.]
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus= (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril)
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+    Érpétologie Genérale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.
+
+_Diagnosis._--No dark pigmentation posterior to nape; lateral dark
+stripe anteriorly passing through eye and posteriorly involving 4th or
+3rd and 4th scale-rows only; first scale-row darkly pigmented; no
+paravertebral dark stripe; six to thirteen (or no) dark stripes at
+mid-body; usually eight (sometimes seven) supralabials immaculate
+white or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--The variation in this species is discussed more
+completely in the descriptions of the subspecies. One hundred and
+seven specimens have 157 to 178 (164.8) ventrals. Eighty-eight of
+these snakes having complete tails have 56 to 80 (68.0) subcaudals;
+the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 222 to 247 (233.5)
+in 87 of these. On 107 specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal
+scale-rows takes place between ventrals 89 and 114 (101.8). Sexual
+dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; there are, on the
+average, fewer subcaudals in females than in males of each subspecies.
+The largest specimen is a male _C. l. concolor_ (USNM 46345) from
+Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, México, having a body length of 893 mm., a tail
+length of 274 mm. and a total length of 1167 mm. The smallest is a
+juvenile _C. l. dunni_ (MCZ 49749) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, having
+a body length of 162 mm., a tail length of 51 mm. and a total length
+of 213 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. Dark color, or lack thereof,
+has been used to separate the subspecies of _C. lineatus_. The
+ground-color is pale brown, pale olive or white, either with no
+stripes on the body or with eight to thirteen dark stripes at
+mid-body. Specimens having dark stripes on the body always have black
+or dark brown pigmentation on the first, 4th and 7th dorsal
+scale-rows. In some there is dark pigmentation on the 2nd, 3rd, 8th
+and 10th rows of scales. The stripes appear on the nape or farther
+posteriorly, usually on the anterior third of the body, either as a
+series of spots or dashes that form a continuous stripe farther
+posteriorly or as a continuous stripe.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally on those specimens having dark stripes present on the
+dorsum; spots are absent on all specimens having no dorsal stripes and
+on some specimens having dorsal stripes. Except for the dark lateral
+spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white. Usually the
+dorsal ground-color is pale tan, especially on the striped forms. The
+ground-color is usually palest on the lower dorsal scale rows and
+darkest dorsally.
+
+Three populations are separable as subspecies; one has no stripes on
+the body and occurs in the Yucatán Peninsula. The other two have
+stripes on the dorsum and vary clinally in coloration from the north
+(Veracruz, México) to south (Costa Rica) (Fig. 2). Reasons for
+separating these widespread, variable snakes into two subspecies are
+that they are discontinuous in distribution (the population in
+Veracruz is disjunct from the one that extends from Guatemala to Costa
+Rica), and that these populations have distinctly different color
+patterns.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 2. Selected locality records for the
+      subspecies of _Conophis lineatus_.]
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus dunni= Smith
+
+  _Psammophis lineatus_, Günther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes
+    in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 135, 1858.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Cope, 3rd Ann. Rept. Peabody Acad. Sci.,
+    p. 82, 1871; Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23:204,
+    October 24, 1871; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Günther,
+    Biologia Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Boulenger,
+    Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural
+    History), 3:122-123, 1896; Werner, Arch. Naturges., 90, abt. A,
+    12:143, 1925; Schmidt, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+    12:199-200, November 21, 1928; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan,
+    4:212, 1929; Werner, Zool. Jahrb., 57:184, 1929; Stuart, Occas.
+    Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 292:5, June 29, 1934; Dunn,
+    Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31, 1937.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus similis_ Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:123-124, March 15, 1941 (Type.--United States National
+    Museum, No. 79963; type locality.--Managua, Nicaragua; _nec_
+    Bocourt _in_ Duméril, Bibron and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique
+    au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:647-648, 1886);
+    Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus dunni_ Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.
+    92:394-395, November 5, 1942; Savage, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
+    50:483-486, December 31, 1949; Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+    34(pt. 1):145, October 1, 1951; Neill and Allen, Publ. Res.
+    Div. Ross Allen's Rept. Inst., 2:56, November 10, 1959;
+    Herpetologica, 16:146-148, fig. 2, September 23, 1960.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher pulcher_, Stuart, Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool.
+    Univ. Michigan, 69:79, June 12, 1948; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 45:24, May, 1950; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 49:14, August, 1951; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 65:19-20 (part), March, 1954.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher plagosus_, Mertens, Zool. Anz., 148:93,
+    February, 1952; Abhand. Senken. Naturw. Gesell., 487:61-62,
+    December 1, 1952.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus nevermanni_, Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+    Bull., 37(pt. 1):563-565, fig. 16, October 15, 1955.
+
+
+_Type._--United States National Museum, no. 79963, obtained by Lt. H.
+C. Kellers. Type locality: Managua, Nicaragua. There are also three
+paratypes; one a topotype (USNM 79964), one from "Nicaragua" (USNM
+25237), and one from Esparta, Costa Rica (USNM 37758).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and
+posteriorly involving 3rd and 4th scale-rows; 1st scale-row darkly
+pigmented; no paravertebral dark stripe, although vertebral row
+sometimes darkly pigmented; six to thirteen stripes at mid-body; eight
+supralabials immaculate or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--Thirty-six specimens have 159 to 178 (167.2 ± 4.56)
+ventrals. Thirty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 80
+(70.5 ± 5.36) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 224 to 247 (237.6). In 36 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 91 and 111 (102.1 ±
+4.59). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; 16
+females have 60 to 72 (67.1), and 14 males have 67 to 80 (74.5)
+subcaudals. The largest specimen (ERA-WTN BH-300) is a female from
+Augustine, British Honduras, having a body length of 732 mm., a tail
+length of 183 mm. and a total length of 915 mm. A juvenile (MCZ 49794)
+from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body length of 162 mm., a tail
+length of 51 mm. and a total length of 213 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. The ground-color is pale
+brown or white with dark stripes of black or deep brown present
+dorsally and laterally. Some specimens from Costa Rica have as many as
+13 dark stripes at mid-body (fig. 1, C). In these snakes the first
+row of dorsal scales bears a series of large, slightly elongated, dark
+spots; on the 2nd row a narrow dark brown stripe on the middle of the
+scales; on the 3rd a black stripe on the dorsal one-third to one-half
+of the scales; on the 4th and the 7th rows black stripes on the medial
+half of the scales of each row; on the 8th and 10th (vertebral) rows
+dark brown stripes on the medial third of the scales of each row. A
+specimen from Guatemala (UMMZ 107339) shows the greatest reduction of
+stripes and dark pigmentation (fig. 1, A); it has only eight stripes
+at mid-body: on the first row of dorsal scales a discontinuous stripe
+is formed by a series of dashes; the 3rd row bears a series of small
+black spots near the base and tip of each scale; the 4th and 7th rows
+bear continuous black stripes on the medial third to fourth of the
+scales of each row; the 8th row has extremely small dark spots near
+the tips of some scales.
+
+The primary stripes, characteristic of the species _lineatus_, are
+those on the 1st, 4th and 7th rows of dorsal scales; these are the
+most prominent stripes. In some specimens these primary stripes begin
+as spots or dashes on the nape and become continuous stripes
+posteriorly; in others they are continuous for the length of the body.
+The stripe on the 1st row is most variable; usually it consists of
+only a discontinuous series of dashes for most of its length. The
+secondary stripes are those on the 3rd and 8th rows; of these, only
+the one on the 3rd scale-row is present on the nape. The stripe on the
+3rd row in combination with the dark stripe on the 4th row is the
+posterior continuation of the dark stripe that on the head passes
+through the eye; this stripe is characteristic of _C. lineatus dunni_.
+Both secondary stripes usually begin anteriorly as a series of spots
+or dashes and become continuous stripes posteriorly; occasionally near
+the base of the tail they fuse with the primary stripes on the 4th and
+7th rows. In some specimens in Costa Rica indistinct stripes are
+present on the 10th (posteriorly the 9th) rows, and in some specimens
+in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica similar indistinct stripes are
+present on the 2nd row.
+
+Usually there are more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally on the
+ventrals, but in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the
+dark lateral spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white.
+The dorsal ground-color is a pale brown or brownish white in preserved
+specimens on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th rows of scales where dark
+stripes or spots are not present. The ground-color of the dorsum
+between the 5th rows on each side is a somewhat darker shade of pale
+to medium brown.
+
+Never is more than the lower one-third of each of the supralabials
+brown. In many specimens little or no brown is present on the lower
+margins of these scales. Some of the specimens having brown on the
+supralabials also have dusky markings of tan or gray on the chin and
+infralabials. Specimens from the northern part of the range
+(Guatemala) less frequently have dark chins and supralabials than do
+specimens from the southern part of the range (Costa Rica). There is,
+nevertheless, at any one locality considerable variation in the amount
+of dark pigmentation present on the chin and supralabials, thereby
+indicating that the slight geographic trend in this character is not
+significant.
+
+Probably the most common pattern of dorsal coloration consists of
+eight or ten dark stripes (fig. 1, B). In snakes having this pattern
+the stripes on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th rows are always present and
+prominent, although those on the 1st and 3rd rows sometimes are
+present as discontinuous rows of dashes. The ground-color from the
+venter to the 7th row is usually pale brown, and that dorsally between
+the 7th rows on each side is usually a darker, medium brown. A series
+of spots or dashes or a continuous stripe is sometimes present on the
+8th row of scales.
+
+Snakes having a larger number of dark stripes and more dark
+pigmentation occur in the southern part of the range. There seems to
+be a cline from paler snakes having fewer stripes in the north to
+darker snakes in the south.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 3. Patterns of dorsal coloration at
+      mid-body of juveniles of two sympatric species of _Conophis_.
+      A. _C. lineatus dunni_ (MCZ 49794) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      B. _C. pulcher_ (MCZ 49791) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      Approximately × 1.]
+
+In juveniles, there are six or eight black stripes boldly contrasting
+with a white or pale tan ground-color (fig. 3, A). The first pair of
+stripes is on the 1st scale-row; the second pair, on the 3rd and 4th
+scale-rows; the third pair, on the 7th row; the fourth pair (when
+present), on the 8th row. Ontogenetic change in coloration consists of
+the splitting of the second pair of dark stripes in the juvenile.
+Additional stripes may form later on the 2nd and/or 10th rows of
+dorsal scales.
+
+_Remarks._--Savage (1949:483-486) stated that his specimen of _C. l.
+dunni_ (from Honduras) resembled _l. lineatus_ in having secondary
+stripes on the 2nd and 8th rows and dark pigmentation throughout the
+length of the 2nd row. As can be seen from the preceding discussion of
+variation, a specimen having this color pattern is clearly within the
+observed range of variation of _l. dunni_. The specimen in no way
+represents an intergrade between _C. l. dunni_ and _l. lineatus_.
+
+A specimen in the British Museum (Natural History), catalogued in 1853
+(no. 53.2.4.16), has the locality listed as "México." Since this
+specimen is of _C. l. dunni_ and this subspecies occurs only south of
+México, the locality must be considered erroneous; possibly the
+locality as recorded referred only to the fact that the specimen came
+from tropical Middle America.
+
+The absence of paravertebral stripes, the presence of a lateral
+dark stripe on the nape involving the 3rd and 4th rows of scales,
+and the darkly pigmented 1st scale-row, in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus, distinguish _C. l. dunni_ from all other
+snakes in México and Central America. The only sympatric species of
+this genus, _C. pulcher_, differs in that it has paravertebral stripes
+(though never a vertebral dark stripe). _Conophis pulcher_ has a
+lateral dark stripe that includes the upper half of the second
+scale-row on the anterior part of the body; stripes of _C. l. dunni_
+never include more than the 3rd and 4th rows. Even as juveniles the
+paravertebral row is not darkly pigmented in _C. l. dunni_ as it is in
+_C. pulcher_.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats from sea level to elevations of
+1000 m. from the Cuilco Valley in western Guatemala, El Peten and
+British Honduras southeastward to northeastern and southern Honduras,
+western Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 41 specimens, as follows: BRITISH
+HONDURAS: _Cayo District_: Augustine, ERA-WTN BH-300; _Mountain Pine
+Ridge, 10 mi. E Augustine_, ERA-WTN BH-298.
+
+COSTA RICA: _no specific locality_, AMNH 17309. "_Cartago_," BMNH
+71.11.22.15. _Puntarenas_: 32 km. N Barranca, KU 35630; Esparta, USNM
+37758. "_San José_," ANSP 3480, 12232.
+
+EL SALVADOR: _Morazan_: El Divisadero, CNHM 10999. _San Miguel: San
+Pedro_, MCZ 57061.
+
+GUATEMALA: _El Petén_: Sojio (Toocog), AMNH 69969, 69986.
+_Huehuetenango_: flood plain Río Cuilco, W of Finca Canibal, 18 km. N
+Tacaná, UMMZ 98283. _Santa Rosa_: Santa Rosa, UMMZ 107339.
+
+HONDURAS: _no specific locality_, AMNH 32814, UF 7657. _Cortes:
+Cofradía_, SU 8422; _Gracias_, CNHM 28560; _Hacienda de Santa Ana, W
+San Pedro Sula_, CNHM 5297; San Pedro Sula, UMMZ 68695(2); _near San
+Pedro Sula_, MCZ 27563. _Francisco Morazan: Potrero de Melio, Escuela
+Agricola Pan-americana_, MCZ 49987; Tegucigalpa, MCZ 49784, 49786,
+49789-90, 49792, 49794.
+
+MÉXICO: _no specific locality_, BMNH 53.2.4.16.
+
+NICARAGUA: _no specific locality_, UMMZ 65633, USNM 25237. _Leon_: El
+Polvón, MCZ 5645, 5696. _Managua_: Managua, USNM 79963-64; _3 mi. SW
+Managua_, KU 42315; _8 mi. WNW Managua_, KU 42314; _1 mi. N Sabana
+Grande_, KU 42311-13. _Matagalpa_: 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa, UMMZ 116537.
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus lineatus= (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril)
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+    Érpétologie Genérale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73,
+    February 25, 1854; Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., 5:406-407, 1876.
+
+  _Tomodon lineatus_, Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Fis., Genoa,
+    2(2):234, March 1863; Elenco sistematico degli ofidi. Milano,
+    p. 57, 1863; Muller, Reisen in den Vereinigten Staaten,
+    Canada, und México. Bd. 3. Beitrage zur Geschichte, Statistik,
+    und Zoologie von Mexiko. 3:607, 1865; Jan and Sordelli,
+    Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens, Milano. liv. 19, pl. 6,
+    fig. 3, December, 1866; liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34, November,
+    1881.
+
+  _Tachymenis lineata_ (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16:
+    33, January 9, 1884; Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 8:60-61, July,
+    1884.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Bocourt _in_ Duméril, Bocourt and
+    Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+    Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5, 1886; Cope, Trans. Amer.
+    Philos. Soc., 18:218, pl. 28, fig. 2, (hemipenis), April 15,
+    1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum
+    (Natural History), 3:122-123 (part), 1896; Cope, Ann. Rept. U.
+    S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1242, pl. 26, fig. 2,
+    (hemipenis), 1900; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:212, 1929;
+    Mittleman, Copeia, no. 2:122, June 30, 1944.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus lineatus_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:122, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395,
+    November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407, October 29,
+    1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:43,
+    October 5, 1945; Shannon and Smith, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
+    52:505, December 31, 1949; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+    Bull., 33(pt. 2):351, March 20, 1950; Werler and Smith, Texas
+    Journ. Sci. 4(4):565, December 30, 1952; Fugler and Dixon,
+    Herpetologica, 14:186, December 1, 1958.
+
+_Type._--Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, no. 3738. Type
+locality.--"México," restricted to Veracruz, Veracruz, México, by
+Smith and Taylor (1950:351). Little is known about the type specimen,
+and nothing, concerning its collector or the locality at which it was
+collected. Smith (1941:122) assumed that the specimen illustrated by
+Bocourt in Duméril, Bocourt, and Mocquard (1886:pl. 38, fig. 5) was
+the type of _C. l. lineatus_. I have also made this assumption
+concerning the identity of the type specimen of this species,
+especially because of the many inconsistencies appearing in the plate
+accompanying the description by Duméril, Bibron and Duméril (1854:pl.
+73), and by Jan and Sordelli (1866:pl. 6). Neither show the nape nor a
+regular number of dorsal scales by which accurate determination of
+color pattern can be made and by means of which _C. l. dunni_ and _C.
+l. lineatus_ can be separated.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and
+posteriorly involving fourth scale-row only; first scale-row darkly
+pigmented; no paravertebral stripe; no dark pigment on vertebral row;
+six or eight dark stripes at mid-body, secondary stripes often present
+posteriorly; usually eight (sometimes seven) supralabials immaculate
+or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--Twenty-six specimens have 157 to 169 (163.5 ± 3.59)
+ventrals. Twenty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 73
+(66.5 ± 4.26) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 224 to 238 (230.1) in nineteen of these. In 26 specimens
+the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scale-rows takes place between
+ventrals 91 and 107 (100.2 ± 3.59). Sexual dimorphism is evident in
+the number of subcaudals; nine females have 60 to 66 (62.4), and 11
+males have 68 to 73 (69.8) subcaudals. The largest specimen (AMNH
+19643) is a male from "México," having a body length of 626 mm., a
+tail length of 168 mm. and a total length of 786 mm. No small
+juveniles have been examined; the smallest specimen (AMNH 19618) is a
+male from Veracruz, México, having a body length of 325 mm., a tail
+length of 90 mm. and a total length of 415 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. In preserved specimens the
+ground-color is white, tannish-white, or often pale blue, with dark
+stripes of black or deep brown present dorsolaterally and laterally.
+Secondary stripes of paler brown are sometimes present, but the pale
+browns have faded badly on many specimens. Normally four black stripes
+are present at mid-body--a lateral pair on the 4th row of dorsal scales
+and a dorsolateral pair on the 7th row (fig. 1, D). The lateral pair
+is the posterior continuation of the stripe that on the head passes
+through the eye; it continues on the nape as a narrow stripe on the
+4th row only. In a few specimens the lateral stripe broadens to
+include the upper third of the 3rd row posterior to the nape. In some
+specimens both the dorsolateral and lateral dark stripes are present
+on the nape as a row of elongated spots or dashes that become
+continuous stripes of even width one-third to one-half of the distance
+posteriorly along the body; in other specimens the stripes are
+continuous on the nape. Posterior to the place of dorsal
+scale-reduction from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion of the 3rd and 4th
+rows, the lateral and dorsolateral stripes are moved downward by one
+row. In some specimens secondary black or dark brown stripes are
+present in the form of a series of dashes on the 5th and 8th rows;
+posterior to the place of scale reduction, these dashes are on the 4th
+and 7th rows. These dashes form a continuous stripe near the base of
+the tail. On the tail the secondary and primary stripes on adjacent
+rows sometimes fuse into a single broader stripe.
+
+Usually the 1st row of dorsal scales is dark brown; in some specimens
+the brown on the 1st or 7th row has faded in preservative. A few
+specimens have small black spots on the moderate brown background of
+the 1st row; in others the 1st row is only a somewhat darker brown
+than the ground-color. The 2nd row sometimes is a medium brown, and
+appears to be an additional stripe.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally; in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the
+lateral spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white. The
+dorsal ground-color is pale brownish-white, white or pale blue between
+the 4th and 7th rows of dorsal scales and dorsally between the 7th
+rows on each side. Stripes are never present on the uniformly pale
+colored 8th, 9th and vertebral scale-rows.
+
+Usually there are eight supralabials on each side; however, seven of
+the 27 specimens examined have seven supralabials on each side, and
+three others have seven on one side, and eight on the other. Never is
+more than the lower third of the supralabials dark brown. In many
+specimens little or no brown is on the supralabials. There is little
+or no brown on the chin.
+
+Variation in coloration and in number of supralabials appears to be of
+no geographic significance.
+
+Although no juveniles have been collected, I expect that juveniles
+resemble adults in coloration. Probably there would be a greater
+contrast between the dark stripes and the pale ground-color in
+juveniles.
+
+In life an adult from three miles northwest of Lerdo de Tejada,
+Veracruz, México (UMMZ 114484), had black stripes on the 4th and 7th
+rows of dorsal scales, and black spots on a brown background on the
+1st row. The 2nd row had a medial, pale to medium brown auxiliary
+stripe on a brownish-white background. Posterior to the nape the 3rd
+row was medium brown. The area between the 4th and 7th rows and the
+dorsum between the 7th row of scales on each side was a pale
+brownish-white. Posterior to the place of scale-reduction the primary
+stripes were displaced downward by one row to the 3rd and 6th rows and
+secondary stripes originated as elongated spots on the 4th and 7th
+rows. Near the tail the secondary stripes were broad and continuous.
+The head was white or tannish-white with three dark brown or black
+stripes.
+
+_Remarks._--In his diagnosis of _C. l. lineatus_, Smith (1941:122)
+states: "lateral dark stripe ... very narrow posterior to nape,
+extending along fourth scale row; posteriorly a stripe along third and
+eighth (farther posteriorly the seventh) scale rows; a narrow dark
+stripe along sixth scale row, continuous throughout length of
+body...." I fail to find a dark stripe on the 6th row throughout the
+length of the body. In all specimens that I have seen, there is a dark
+stripe on the 7th row anteriorly and on the 6th row posteriorly. In
+many specimens the stripes on the 3rd and 8th (posteriorly the 7th)
+scale-rows are absent or present so far posteriorly that the 8th row
+is never involved.
+
+The dark brown on the first scale-row and the presence of a lateral
+dark stripe on the 4th row of dorsal scales only, in combination with
+the characteristics of the genus, distinguish _C. l. lineatus_ from
+all other snakes in México.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats on the coastal plain of Veracruz,
+México, from Tecolutla to Lerdo de Tejada and Piedras Negras (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 27, as follows: MÉXICO: _no specific
+locality_, AMNH 19614-15, 19621-24, 19642-43, NMW 16827. _Veracruz: no
+specific locality_, AMNH 19618-20, CAS 73640, NMW 16829; _4 km. S
+Alvarado_, KU 58124; _14 mi. N Alvarado_, UIMNH 46978; 6 mi. SE Boca
+del Río, UIMNH 28023; Etiopa, 2 mi. S Tecolutla, UIMNH 3847; _ca._ 30
+mi. E Jalapa, AMNH 81948; 3 mi. NW Lerdo de Tejada, UMMZ 114484-85;
+Paso del Macho, USNM 109708; Río Blanco, 20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, KU
+23253; Veracruz, AMNH 19612, UF 8990; _W side Veracruz_, AMNH 19616;
+_2 mi. W Veracruz_, AMNH 19617, 19619.
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus concolor= Cope
+
+  _Conophis vittatus_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    13:300, December 28, 1861 (_nec_ Peters, 1860; type.--United
+    States National Museum, no. 4941; type locality--"Petén,"
+    Guatemala); Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:76, 1887.
+
+  _Conophis concolor_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    18:318-319, February 20, 1867; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bocourt _in_ Duméril,
+    Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans
+    l'Amerique Centrale, 2:648, 1886; Müller, Verh. Ges. Basel,
+    8:263, 1887; Cope, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77; 1887; Ann.
+    Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900; Schmidt and
+    Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:178, October 31,
+    1936; Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:358,
+    December 28, 1937; Smith, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ.
+    Michigan, 388:7, October 31, 1938; Taylor and Smith, Univ.
+    Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:253, July 10, 1939; Smith, Zool. Ser.
+    Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:31, January 30, 1939; Cochran, Bull.
+    U. S. Nat. Mus., 220:167, 1961; Neill and Allen,
+    Herpetologica, 17:44-46, fig. 3, April 15, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_ (in part), Günther, Biologica
+    Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Gaige _in_ Pearse,
+    _et al._ Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ., 457:302, February 5,
+    1936.
+
+  _Conophis lineaticeps_ Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for
+    1898, pp. 1094-95, 1900 (Substitute name for _Conophis
+    vittatus_ Cope, 1861, _nec_ Peters, 1860).
+
+  _Conophis lineatus concolor_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:122-123, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407,
+    October 29, 1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    187:43, October 5, 1945; Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):352, March 20, 1950.
+
+_Types._--Two in the United States National Museum, no. 12368 (two
+specimens). Type locality: "Yucatán," restricted to Chichén Itzá,
+Yucatán, México by Smith and Taylor (1950:352).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Dark stripes either absent posterior to the nape, or
+present as a row of small spots on fourth or seventh scale-row; no
+dark stripe on first scale-row; eight supralabials having dark ventral
+margins.
+
+_Variation._--Forty-five specimens have 158 to 170 (163.7 ± 1.56)
+ventrals. Thirty-eight of these snakes having complete tails have 56
+to 74 (66.7 ± 4.77) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 222 to 245 (230.6). In 45 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 89 and 114 (102.5 ±
+5.57). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; 16
+females have 56 to 65 (61.8), and 22 males have 68 to 74 (70.3)
+subcaudals. The longest specimen (USNM 46395) is a male from Chichén
+Itzá, Yucatán, having a body length of 893 mm., a tail length of 274
+mm., and a total length of 1167 mm. A juvenile (AMNH 38833) from
+Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, has a body length of 194 mm., a tail length of
+50 mm., and a total length of 244 mm.
+
+The venter is immaculate white or pale yellow and the dorsum of the
+body is immaculate pale gray to pale olive. Some specimens have small
+dark brown spots on the tips of the scales of the 4th or of the 7th
+row, but never on both. Only on the nape are spots present on both the
+4th and the 7th rows; these spots are the posterior continuations of
+the dark stripes on the head and on many specimens do not reach the
+nape. Posterior to the place of scale reduction from 19 to 17 rows by
+the fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows of scales, the dark spots (when
+present) are on the 3rd or 6th row of scales.
+
+The coloration of juveniles is the same as that of adults. Color in
+life is thought not too different from that of preserved specimens,
+for notes on the color of living individuals (Neill and Allen,
+1961:44) agree with what I have observed on preserved snakes.
+
+_Remarks._--The specimen from "Petén" (USNM, no. 4941) is the only
+specimen that has a controversial history. As can be seen from the
+synonymy of the species, the relationship of this specimen with the
+rest of the genus has been interpreted in several ways. Smith
+(1941:122-123) stated that the above specimen was catalogued as being
+from El Salvador; however, the locality was presumed by him to be El
+Petén, Guatemala, due to the presence in the bottle of a piece of
+paper inscribed "_Conophis vittatus_, Petén, J. M. Dow." This specimen
+is the one mentioned by Cope (1861:300, 1876:76, and 1900:1094-95),
+and in the first paper is ascribed to Guatemala. In 1900 this specimen
+was named _C. lineaticeps_ by Cope who thought the specimen differed
+significantly from _C. concolor_ (Cope, 1867:318-319). This specimen
+has the coloration normal for _C. l. concolor_ as far posteriorly as
+mid-body; beyond mid-body the dark lines, typical of _C. l. lineatus_
+or of _C. l. dunni_, are present. It is likely that this specimen is
+an intergrade between _C. l. concolor_ and _C. l. dunni_, the other
+subspecies present in Guatemala.
+
+The only specimen not from the Yucatán Peninsula is allegedly from
+Patuca, Honduras (USNM 20271). It was obtained in the 1870's. Possibly
+more collecting will verify the presence of _C. l. concolor_ in
+northern Honduras. This individual may be merely a genetically
+aberrant specimen from an area where normal specimens are _C. l.
+dunni_. Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) suggested that the specimen from
+Patuca implies widely overlapping distributions for _C. l. dunni_ and
+_C. concolor_. The occurrence of _C. l. concolor_ in Honduras needs to
+be verified before this assumption is made. There can, therefore, at
+present be no objection to the view that intergradation between the
+subspecies _C. l. dunni_ and _C. l. concolor_ could occur through a
+relatively broad area of El Petén and British Honduras.
+
+Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) further suggest that the present range of
+_C. l. dunni_ extends "presumably still farther northward toward the
+Méxican state of Veracruz where _C. l. lineatus_ exists." Actually the
+presence of the subspecies _C. l. dunni_ and _C. l. lineatus_ as
+presently disjunct populations implies merely that they were
+presumably a continuous population at some time in the past.
+
+The characteristics of the genus in combination with the reduction of
+dark coloration posterior to the head distinguish this snake from all
+other snakes in México and Central America.
+
+_Distribution._--The Yucatán Peninsula: eastern Campeche, all of
+Yucatán, probably in Quintana Roo, and the northern third of British
+Honduras. A record for northeastern Honduras is questioned (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 48, as follows: BRITISH HONDURAS:
+_Belize District_: 13.0 mi. W, 1.5 mi. S Belize, ERA-WTN BH-1562.
+
+GUATEMALA: _El Petén, no specific locality_, USNM 4941.
+
+HONDURAS: _Colón_: Patuca, USNM 20271.
+
+MÉXICO: _Campeche_: Champotón, UMMZ 73063-66; Encarnación, CNHM
+106462. _Yucatán: no specific locality_, BMNH 80.7.13.30; Chichén
+Itzá, AMNH 38826, 38833, CNHM 20610-11, 26986-87, 36299-300, 36303-04,
+36307, 36316, MCZ 7422, 28748, UMMZ 68236, 73060-62, 80806, USNM
+46395; Kantunil, CNHM 36301, 36305-06, 36308-09, 36312-13; _Libré
+Union_, CNHM 36298, 36302, 36310-11, 36314; Mayapán, CNHM 40720;
+Mérida, CNHM 19411, 19413, NMW 16828; Progreso, CNHM 40721; Tekom,
+CNHM 49374; Yokdzonot, CNHM 36315.
+
+
+=Conophis nevermanni= Dunn
+
+  _Coniophanes imperialis imperialis_, Wettstein, Sitz. Akad.
+    Wiss. Wien. mathem-naturw. Kl., 143:37-38, 1934.
+
+  _Conophis nevermanni_ Dunn, Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31,
+    1937; Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+    Savage, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:484, December 31, 1949;
+    Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 34(pt. 1): 145-146, October
+    1, 1951.
+
+_Type._--Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, no. 22423,
+obtained by Emmet R. Dunn from Prof. Manuel Valerio. Type locality:
+Río Poas de Aserri (a few miles south of San José), Costa Rica.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Head and body dark brown or black above with two or four
+white stripes along body; usually two white lines on head immediately
+above eye passing from canthus rosetralis posteriorly to connect with
+white stripe on 6th row of dorsal scales; eight supralabials with
+black margins above.
+
+_Variation._--Six specimens have 173 to 183 (176.5 ± 4.00) ventrals.
+Five of these snakes having complete tails have 71 to 89 (80.6 ± 7.15)
+subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 250 to
+263 (257.0). In the six specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal
+scales takes place between ventrals 84 and 97 (93.2 ± 4.71). Sexual
+dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; two females have 71
+and 76 (73.5), and three males have 82 to 89 (85.3) subcaudals. The
+longest specimen (ANSP 22424) is a female from San José, Costa Rica,
+having a body length of 660 mm., a tail length of 168 mm. and a total
+length of 828 mm.
+
+The dorsal coloration (fig. 1, E) varies from a black ground-color
+with two or four narrow white stripes to a dark brown ground-color
+with a series of black stripes and four white stripes. In the black
+specimens there are no dark stripes. The darkest specimen (NMW
+16838:1) has only two white stripes; these more or less continuous
+stripes are on the ventral third of the 2nd row of scales and
+occasionally on the dorsalmost part of the first scale-row. The venter
+is immaculate white except for black on the tips of the ventral
+scales. The dorsum above the 2nd scale-row is uniform black. There are
+no white stripes on the head.
+
+The palest specimen (NMW 16838:2) has four dorsal white stripes; the
+lateral pair of these stripes is on the ventral half of the 2nd and
+the dorsal third of the 1st scale-rows; the dorsolateral pair is on
+the dorsal two-thirds of the 6th and the ventral third of the 7th rows
+of scales. This latter stripe is the posterior continuation of the
+white stripe on the head, which originates immediately posterior to
+the rostral scale and passes posteriorly along the canthus rostralis
+and along the lateral margin of the supraocular scale to the nape.
+Posterior to the place of scale reduction, the dorsolateral white
+stripe is displaced ventrally one scale-row. Except for black flecks
+or spots on the lateral margins of the ventrals, the venter is
+immaculate white. The dorsum above the lateral white stripes is brown
+and black; there is a pair of dorsolateral white stripes. The dorsal
+half of the 2nd, most of the 3rd, 4th and 5th rows of scales are
+black; the dorsal margin of the 3rd, both margins of the 4th, and the
+ventral margin of the 5th rows are paler brown. The dorsal two-thirds
+of the 7th, all but the dorsal most part of the 8th, and the middle
+two-thirds of the 10th scale-rows are black; the areas between are a
+medium brown.
+
+Only six specimens are available on which to base a description of the
+variation in this species. Furthermore, there are no juveniles, notes
+on the colors of living individuals, or photographs of this species.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 4. Selected locality records for _Conophis
+      pulcher_ and _Conophis nevermanni_.]
+
+_Remarks._--Taylor (1955:563-565) hesitantly referred a specimen (KU
+35630) from 32 kilometers north of Barranca, Puntarenas Province,
+Costa Rica, to _Conophis lineatus nevermanni_. This specimen, a
+female, has 169 ventrals and ventral scale-reduction taking place
+opposite the 109th ventral; both of these characters are well out of
+the range of _C. nevermanni_. Furthermore, the ventral margins of the
+supralabials are brown, and the pale dorsal stripes are tan and too
+wide for _C. nevermanni_ (compare figs. 1, C and E). The specimen
+definitely is _C. lineatus dunni_, and corresponds well with another
+specimen from Costa Rica (ANSP 12232).
+
+The dark brown or black dorsum with two or four white stripes and the
+presence of eight supralabials having dark brown dorsal margins, in
+combination with the characters of the genus, serve to distinguish
+_Conophis nevermanni_ from other Central American snakes.
+
+_Distribution._--Pacific coastal plain of northwestern Costa Rica and
+the Meseta Central of central Costa Rica (fig. 4).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of six, as follows: COSTA RICA:
+_Guanacaste_: Bebedero, Río Tenorio, NMW 16838(5). "_San José_," ANSP
+22424.
+
+
+=Conophis pulcher= Cope
+
+  _Tomodon lineatus_ (in part), Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. London,
+    28:455, 1860.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    20(5):308, 1869; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bocourt _in_ Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard,
+    Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale,
+    2:646-648, pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886; Ferrai-Perez, Proc. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., p. 196, September 28, 1886; Cope, Bull. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194,
+    April 15, 1895; Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095,
+    1900; Alvarez del Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas, pp. 154-155,
+    1960.
+
+  _Tomodon pulcher_, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 408, 1876.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher_ var. _similis_ Bocourt _in_ Duméril,
+    Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans
+    l'Amerique Centrale, 2:647-648, pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886
+    [Type.--Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, no. 6090;
+    type locality.--unknown, restricted to Tonalá, Chiapas, by
+    Smith and Taylor (1950:326)].
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Günther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, p.
+    165, March, 1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the
+    British Museum (Natural History), 3:122-123, 1896; Stuart,
+    Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 292:5, June 29, 1934;
+    Slevin, Proc. California Acad. Sci. 4th Ser., 23:409, December
+    29, 1939.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher pulcher_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:121, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395,
+    November 5, 1942; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ.
+    Michigan, 65:19-20 (part), March, 1954; Contr. Lab. Vert.
+    Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:63, November, 1954; Cochran, Bull. U.
+    S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher plagosus_ Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci. 31:121-122, March 15, 1941 (Type.--United States National
+    Museum, no. 109707; type locality: Tonalá, Chiapas); Smith and
+    Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):326, March 20,
+    1950; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+    65:19-20, March, 1954; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher similis_, Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    187:43-44, October 5, 1945; Univ.  Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):43-44, March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos
+    Recursos Nat. Renov. pp. 132-133, 1953.
+
+_Types._--Three in the United States National Museum, nos. 6751 (2
+specimens) and 6803, obtained by Henery Hague. Type locality: "Petén,"
+or "Verapaz," Guatemala. There is much doubt about localities for many
+of Hague's specimens collected in the 1860's (Stuart, 1948:10). Since
+_Conophis pulcher_ is found predominantly in semi-arid environments,
+the types might have come from the semi-arid Cahabón, Negro, or Salamá
+river basins--all places near the sugar plantation that Hague managed
+at San Jerónimo, Baja Verapaz. Possibly the types were obtained from
+as far away as the Motagua Valley or the southeastern highlands of
+Guatemala, both of which areas Hague is known to have visited.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Paravertebral stripes present at least posteriorly (fig.
+1, F); eight or ten stripes at mid-body; lateral dark stripe passing
+through eye anteriorly and including at least upper one-half of second
+scale-row from neck region posteriorly to place of scale reduction
+near mid-body; eight supralabials immaculate or having dark ventral
+margins.
+
+_Variation._--Twenty-six specimens have 161 to 182 (169.5 ± 5.31)
+ventrals. Eighteen of these snakes with complete tails have 65 to 79
+(70.6 ± 3.93) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 231 to 251 (239.3). In 26 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 94 and 119 (104.6 ±
+4.90). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals;
+eleven females have 65 to 71 (68.2), and seven males have 70 to 79
+(74.3) subcaudals. The longest specimen (AMNH 58364) is a female from
+El Zamarano, Honduras, having a body length of 703 mm., a tail length
+of 164 mm. and a total length of 867 mm. The smallest juvenile (MCZ
+49793) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body length of 162 mm., a
+tail length of 46 mm. and a total length of 208 mm.
+
+The dorsal ground-color is pale brown or white; black or dark brown
+stripes are present dorsally and laterally. Normally ten stripes are
+present at mid-body; the first pair on the first row of dorsal scales;
+the second pair on the upper half of 2nd and lower part of 3rd rows;
+the third pair on 4th row; the fourth pair on 7th and sometimes part
+of 8th rows; the fifth pair (paravertebral stripes) on the 9th row.
+Posterior to the place of reduction from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion
+of the 3rd and 4th rows, the third, fourth and fifth pairs of stripes
+are displaced downward one row. Sometimes the second and third pairs
+of stripes are fused resulting in only eight stripes at mid-body. On
+some specimens the fourth and fifth pairs of stripes are close
+together, but in none are they fused so as to result in a pattern of
+six stripes at mid-body.
+
+The paravertebral stripes begin anteriorly on the nape or at any point
+on the anterior one-third of the body and continue as discrete stripes
+onto the base of the tail. Anteriorly these stripes are always broken
+into a series of dashes; posteriorly the stripes are continuous. In
+specimens in which the paravertebral stripes do not begin on the
+anterior-most part of the body, there is no paravertebral pigmentation
+anteriorly.
+
+In addition to the paravertebrals, the other dorsal dark stripes are
+variable. In some specimens the stripes are present anteriorly and
+gradually disappear near mid-body (the first dark stripe only on three
+specimens). In other specimens the stripes are present anteriorly as
+dashes and become continuous at mid-body; in others the stripes are
+continuous throughout. Posteriorly continuous stripes are of uniform
+width; anteriorly sometimes they are wide on the tip of each scale and
+narrow on the base (fig. 1, F). The variation in continuity and width
+described above is found in all of the dorsal dark stripes.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally; in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the dark
+lateral spots, when present, the ventrals are immaculate white.
+Usually the dorsal ground-color is a pale tan, especially between the
+first and second, and the third and fourth dark stripes. The areas
+between the second and third dark stripes and across the dorsum
+between the fourth stripes on each side are pale brown. In some
+specimens the dorsum between the paravertebral stripes is still paler
+brown.
+
+Never is more than the lower third of the supralabials brown. Many
+specimens have little brown, and others none. In most of those
+specimens having brown on the supralabials, the chin and infralabials
+are dusky tan or gray. There is little or no brown on the supralabials
+or the chin in the northern part of the range (Chiapas), whereas the
+greatest amount of brown on the labials and chin is found on some
+specimens from the southern part of the range (Honduras). Since there
+is considerable variation in the amount of brown on the chin and
+labials of specimens from single localities, the slight geographic
+trend in this character seemingly is not significant.
+
+In juveniles six black or dark brown stripes boldly contrast with a
+white or pale tan ground-color. At mid-body the first pair of dark
+stripes is on the 1st scale row; the second pair on the 3rd and 4th
+rows; the third pair on the 7th, 8th and at least the lower half of
+the 9th rows (fig. 3, B). Ontogenetic change in coloration consists of
+the splitting of the second and third pairs of dark stripes in the
+juvenile. The first stripe does not split. Consequently adults have
+ten dark stripes.
+
+In life an adult from Tonalá, Chiapas, had black stripes. The
+ground-color below the second stripe, and between the third and fourth
+dark stripes was tan. The area between the second and third dark
+stripes was reddish-brown, as was the dorsum between the fourth pair
+of dark stripes, except that the 10th scale-row was paler.
+
+Three excellent photographs of this species have been published under
+the name _Conophis lineatus_ (Ditmars, 1931:pls. 26 and 27).
+
+_Remarks._--Smith (1941:121-122) described _C. pulcher plagosus_ from
+Tonalá, Chiapas, and characterized the subspecies by its having "(1)
+the ventrals completely unspotted; (2) secondary lines on
+paravertebral rows not continuous posteriorly; (3) all other lines on
+body also somewhat spotted in appearance; (4) dusky markings on chin
+and supralabial border very dim (less distinct than in _p. pulcher_ or
+any member of the _lineatus_ series)." Although all Chiapan specimens
+lack ventral spots, specimens from Guatemala have no spots, small
+spots, or large spots. Even in specimens from Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
+the southernmost limit of the range, the spotting varies from a few
+inconspicuous spots to many large spots. Paravertebral rows were
+continuous posteriorly in all specimens examined by me. Likewise, all
+other stripes were continuous bands of uniform width posteriorly,
+having appeared anteriorly as rows of spots or dashes. The amount of
+brown on the chin and labials has been shown previously not to be
+geographically significant. The absence of characters of adequate
+significance to separate populations precludes the naming of
+subspecies in this species.
+
+Mertens (1952a:93, and 1952b:61-62) designated three specimens from El
+Salvador as _C. pulcher plagosus_. In the latter paper, Mertens, on
+the basis of a description of a specimen of "_C. lineatus_" from
+Divisadero, El Salvador, given by Schmidt (1928:200), referred that
+specimen also to _C. pulcher plagosus_. I have examined this specimen
+and refer it to _C. lineatus dunni_. Although I have not seen Merten's
+specimens, on the basis of the excellent descriptions given by Mertens
+(1952b:61-62), I refer the three Salvadoranean specimens to _C.
+lineatus dunni_.
+
+The presence of paravertebral stripes in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus distinguish _Conophis pulcher_ from all
+other snakes in southern México and Central America. The only
+sympatric species of this genus, _C. lineatus dunni_, differs in that
+it lacks paravertebral stripes, although it may have a single
+vertebral stripe. _Conophis lineatus dunni_ has lateral dark stripes
+that are present on the 3rd and 4th scale-rows, never on the anterior
+third of the body as in _C. pulcher_. Even in juveniles the third pair
+of dark stripes includes the lower part of the 9th scale-row in _C.
+pulcher_, whereas the dorsal most dark stripe of _C. lineatus dunni_
+never includes more than the lower part of the 8th scale-row.
+
+_Distribution._--Pacific coastal region of Chiapas, México,
+southeastward into Guatemala; southeastern highlands and the dry
+valley of central and eastern Guatemala; Caribbean lowlands of
+Honduras southward to the region of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (fig. 4).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 27, as follows: GUATEMALA: _no
+specific locality_, CNHM 22912, NMW 16830. _Jutiapa_: Hacienda Mongoy,
+UMMZ 106725. _El Progreso_: El Progreso, CAS 67000; _El Rancho_, UMMZ
+106724; _San Antonio_, CAS 66999. "Peten," USNM 6751(2), 6803.
+_Sacatepequez_: Dueñas, BMNH 64.1.26.17, 64.1.26.126-127. _Zacapa_:
+Pepesca, AMNH 72555-56.
+
+HONDURAS: _no specific locality_, AMNH 58364. _Cortes_: San Pedro
+Sula, CNHM 5295-96. _Francisco Morazan: El Zamarano_, AMNH 70189;
+Tegucigalpa, MCZ 49785, 49787-88, 49791, 49793, 49795.
+
+MÉXICO: _Chiapas_: _Soconusco_, UIMNH 33646-47; Tonalá, USNM 109707.
+
+
+=Conophis vittatus= Peters
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part), Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+    Érpétologie Genérale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus_ Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp.
+    519-520, pl.,  fig. 3, October, 1860; Cope, Proc. Amer.
+    Philos. Soc., 11:162, 1870; Bocourt _in_ Duméril, Bocourt and
+    Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+    Centrale, 2:644-646, pl. 38, fig. 7, 1886; Günther, Biologia
+    Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Boulenger, Catalogue
+    of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History),
+    3:123-124, 1896; Cope, Amer. Nat., 30:1024, 1896; Ann. Rept.
+    U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1232, 1900; Gadow,
+    Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 2:225, 1905; Amaral, Mem. Inst.
+    Butantan, 4:211, 1929; Gadow, Jorullo, p. 55, 1930; Smith,
+    Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:31-32, January 30, 1939;
+    Taylor and Smith, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:252-253, pl. 23,
+    July 10, 1939; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+    65:23, March, 1954; Alvarez del Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas, pp.
+    153-154, 1960.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    16(3):167, 1864 [_nec_ Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+    Érpétologie Genérale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73,
+    February 25, 1854; specimen from Colima]; Sumichrast, Arch.
+    Sci. Nat., p. 246, 1873.
+
+  _Tomodon vittatus_, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 407, 1876.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti sumichrasti_ Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat.
+    Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Types.--United
+    States National Museum, nos. 29123, 30258; type
+    locality.--Tehuantepec, México); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    32:77, 1887; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):334, March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos
+    Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 124, 1953.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti viduus_ Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci.,
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Type.--United States
+    National Museum, no. 30259; type locality.--Tehuantepec,
+    México); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Cochran,
+    Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti_, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc.,
+    18:271, August 11, 1879; Sumichrast, Bull. Soc. Zool. France,
+    p. 182, 1880; Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194, April
+    15, 1895; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Tachymenis lineata_ (in part), Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool.,
+    8:60-61, July, 1884.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus sumichrasti_, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl.
+    Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus videns_ Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    for 1898, p. 1095, 1900 (apparent _lapus_ for _viduus_).
+
+  _Conophis vittatus vittatus_, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl.
+    Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900; Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:119-120, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Ann. Carnegie Mus., 30:91, November 2, 1944;
+    Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:44, October 5,
+    1945; Smith, Rev. Soc. Mexicanos Hist. Nat., 7:71, December,
+    1946; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):331, March 20, 1950; Davis and Smith, Herpetologica, 8:134,
+    January 30, 1953; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos Recursos
+    Nat. Renov., p. 130, 1953; Peters, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool.
+    Univ. Michigan, 554:22, June 23, 1954; Duellman, Occas. Papers
+    Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 560:15, October 22, 1954; Webb and
+    Fugler, Herpetologica, 13:35, March 30, 1957; Duellman, Occas.
+    Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:15, March 21, 1958;
+    Zweifel, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1949:2, 5, June 17, 1959;
+    Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 15(1):91-92,
+    December 20, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis vittata_, Gadow, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 2:196,
+    1905; Through Southern México, p. 181, 1908.
+
+  _Conophis viduus_, Smith, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+    24:31, January 30, 1939; Hartweg and Oliver, Misc. Publ. Mus.
+    Zool. Univ. Michigan, 47:26-27, July 13, 1940.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus viduus_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:120-121, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Woodbury and Woodbury, Journ. Washington
+    Acad. Sci., 34(11):370, 1944; Smith and Taylor, Proc. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., 187:44, October 5, 1945; Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+    33(pt. 2):340, March 20, 1950; Werler and Smith, Texas Journ.
+    Sci., 4:565, fig. 16, December 30, 1952; Maldonado-Koerdell,
+    Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 130, 1953; Davis and
+    Dixon, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 72:82-83, July 24, 1959.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus vittatus_ × _Conophis vittatus viduus_,
+    Alvarez del Toro and Smith, Herpetologica, 12:13, March 6,
+    1956.
+
+_Type._--Zoologisches Museum Berlin. Type locality not given, for the
+specimen was purchased from a dealer in Hamburg. The type locality was
+first restricted to "Acapulco," Guerrero, by Smith (1941:119), then to
+Laguna Coyuca, Guerrero, México, by Smith and Taylor (1950:331).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Three or four dorsal dark stripes, each involving two or
+more adjacent scale-rows; never having brown or black on the 1st
+scale-row; seven supralabials immaculate white or pale tannish-white.
+
+_Variation._--One hundred seventy-one specimens have 149 to 181 (163.7
+± 6.33) ventrals. One hundred fifty-three of these having complete
+tails have 55 to 76 (64.8 ± 4.90) subcaudals; the number of ventrals
+plus subcaudals varies from 214 to 245 (228.5). In 170 specimens the
+reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 84
+and 118 (102.3 ± 6.60). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of
+subcaudals; 58 females have 55 to 66 (60.0) and 95 males have 59 to 76
+(67.8) subcaudals. The longest specimen (AMNH 68004) is a male from
+Escurano, Oaxaca, México, having a body length of 668 mm., a tail
+length of 182 mm. and a total length of 850 mm. A juvenile (CNHM
+40435) from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, México, has a body length of 133 mm.,
+a tail length of 31 mm. and a total length of 164 mm.
+
+Variation in coloration is of such magnitude that it has been used as
+the basis for recognition of subspecies. Unfortunately, until this
+time, most specimens reported upon in the literature represented the
+two extremes of variation. After examining the coloration of 174
+specimens with respect to geographic distribution, I conclude that
+only one highly variable species is represented. Specimens from the
+northern and western parts of the range (Michoacán, Colima, and
+Durango) have the color pattern of _C. vittatus_ as described by
+Peters (1860:518-521); these snakes have four narrow black stripes on
+a white or pale tan background, and an immaculate white venter. The
+lateral dark stripe, which on the head passes through the eye, is
+present on the dorsal half of the 3rd and the ventral half of the 4th
+scale-rows; the dorsolateral dark stripe, which passes along the
+middle of the head and splits on the nape, is present on the middle of
+the 8th scale-row. The other extreme in color pattern consists of
+three broad stripes; the two dorsolateral stripes are fused. This
+pattern is prevalent in specimens from the area around Tehuantepec,
+Oaxaca. The lateral stripes include the dorsal half to two-thirds of
+the 2nd, all of the 3rd and 4th, and half of the 5th scale-rows; the
+fused dorsolateral stripes sometimes cover all of the area dorsal to
+and including the dorsal third of the 7th scale-row.
+
+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_.
+
+_Remarks._--I have been unable to find variation of geographic
+importance in scutellation in this species. A wide range of variation
+in the characters of scutellation is present in specimens from most
+localities; it shows no significant clinal or geographic trends. As I
+have stated previously, in the discussion of variation, coloration has
+been the feature primarily used by previous workers to distinguish two
+"subspecies" for this species; _C. vittatus vittatus_ having four
+black stripes and _C. vittatus viduus_ having three black stripes.
+Most of the three-striped snakes occur in the vicinity of Tehuantepec,
+Oaxaca, whereas the four-striped snakes are found near the margins of
+the range of the species in Durango, Colima, Michoacán, Morelos and
+Puebla. Specimens that would have to be considered intergrades between
+the "subspecies" are found in Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
+At the time the subspecies were proposed only specimens from
+Tehuantepec or from marginal areas were known. Utilizing the large
+number of specimens of this species presently available, geographic
+variation is found to be clinal, from those with three stripes from
+near Tehuantepec, through several intermediate patterns present on
+specimens from single localities in Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, to
+those with four dark stripes in areas farthest removed to the north
+and west from Tehuantepec. Since only coloration shows geographic
+variation, and since this variation represents a continuous cline,
+subspecies cannot be recognized for this species.
+
+The presence and position of the three or four dark stripes on the
+body and the absence of brown on the 1st scale-row or on the ventral
+scales, in combination with the generic characters, distinguish
+_Conophis vittatus_ from all other Méxican snakes. The only other
+snake that occurs in western México that has been confused with _C.
+vittatus_ is _Coniophanes piceivittus taylori_, which has 25, instead
+of 19, scale-rows.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats on Pacific slopes from extreme
+southern Durango southeastward to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, and
+inland in the eastern Balsas Basin to Morelos and western Puebla
+(fig. 5).
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 5. Selected locality records for _Conophis
+      vittatus_.]
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 174, as follows: MÉXICO: _no specific
+locality_, AMNH 66150-52, SU 9465. _Chiapas_: Piedra Parada, USNM
+121453. _Pizo de Oro_, UIMNH 40821. Tuxtla Gutierrez, Parque Madero,
+UIMNH 37992-93, 38036-37. _Colima: no specific locality_, MCZ 46860,
+USNM 31394, 31396-97. 1 mi. SW Colima, AMNH 12783. S of Manzanillo,
+AMNH 19641. _Durango_: Hacienda de Gabriel, AMNH 14217. _Guerrero:
+Acahuizotla_, TCWC 7419, 9469. _1 mi. W Acahuizotla_, TCWC 7418. 3 mi.
+W Acapulco, AMNH 71626. _6 mi. E Acapulco_, TCWC 9476-77. _10 mi. S
+Acapulco_, TCWC 8578. _Agua del Obispo_, CNHM 104948, TCWC 11586. near
+Chilpancingo, MVZ 45067, UMMZ 85722-23. _1 mi. SW Colotlipa_, TCWC
+9471-74. _2 mi. SW Colotlipa_, TCWC 9475. 14 mi. S Ixtapán de la Sal,
+KU 67648. _Laguna Coyuca_, CNHM 25881, UMMZ 80942. near La Unión, AMNH
+66337. _Magueyes, Laguna Coyuca_, AMNH 66149. _Playa Encantada_, TCWC
+9470. 1 mi. S Tierra Colorada, KU 67649. near _Xaltinanguis, km. 405_,
+CNHM 104947. _Michoacán_: Coalcomán, UMMZ 104693. _1/2 mi. SE
+Coalcomán_, UMMZ 104492. _1 mi. N. Coalcomán_, UMMZ 112543. _1 mi. NE
+Coalcomán_, UMMZ 104692. Puerta de la Playa, UMMZ 105155. 12 mi. S
+Tzitzio (by road), UMMZ 99153. _Morelos: 12 km. NW Axochiapan_, TCWC
+7311, UIMNH 17613, 25924. 7 mi. SE Cuernavaca, MVZ 32258. _Huajintlán,
+km. 133_, CNHM 103270. 12 km. S Puente de Ixtla, km. 133, CNHM 104949.
+_Oaxaca: Bisiliana_, AMNH 68010. _near Caoba, foot of Cerro Arenal_,
+AMNH 68009. _Cerro Arenal_, AMNH 68000-03. _Cerro de Laollaga_, UIMNH
+36213. _Cerro de San Pedro_, UIMNH 17616. _Cerro Palma de Oro_, UIMNH
+37116. "_C. Madrena, Sto. T. Quieri_," UIMNH 46904. near Chivela, MCZ
+25021. Cinco Cerros, UIMNH 37114. _Dami Liesa_, AMNH 66877, UIMNH
+6158, 37115. _Escuranos_, AMNH 66873-74, 68004-06. _Finca Santa
+Teresa, 2 km. NW Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82648. _Huilotepec_, AMNH 66878,
+UIMNH 40820. _between Huilotepec and Tehuantepec_, AMNH 65106, UMMZ
+82644-45. _Las Tejas_, UIMNH 6151-54. _Mixtequilla_, UIMNH 6157,
+36211. _between Mixtequilla Mountains and Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82652.
+_between Niltepec and "Carixxal,"_ AMNH 68876. 10.8 mi. SE Oaxaca,
+UMMZ 114483. _Quiengola_, UIMNH 17617. _between Quiengola Mountains
+and Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82647. _Rancho Poso Río, 6 km. S Tehuantepec_,
+UIMNH 6144-49, 37117-19, UMMZ 82649-51. _Rincón Bamba_, CNHM
+105129-30, UIMNH 17615. _Salazar_, AMNH 66875. _vicinity of Salina
+Cruz_, UMMZ 82653. _San Gerónimo_, AMNH 4306, CNHM 1457. _San Lucas
+Ixtepec_, UIMNH 36206. San Juan Lajarcia, UIMNH 36212. San Mateo del
+Mar, AMNH 65914. _San Pablo_, UIMNH 36207. _Santa María (Cerro de
+Liesa)_, AMNH 68011. Tapanatepec, MCZ 27806-11. Tehuantepec, AMNH
+19644, 65107-09, 65907-13 plus 7, 66871-72, 66879, 68007-08, CNHM
+40435-36, 105126-28, MCZ 46403, UIMNH 6150, 17614, 17618, 29692,
+36208, 37120-21, UMMZ 82642-43, 82646, USNM 109709-14, _1-2 leagues
+SSE Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82639-41. Tenango, UIMNH 36209-10. between
+Tlacolulita and Tequisistlán, CNHM 105125. _Yerba Santa_, UIMNH
+6155-56. Puebla: Atencingo, KU 39626.
+
+
+Skull
+
+In studying the osteology of the genus _Conophis_, I have examined
+two complete skeletons (one _C. vittatus_ and one _C. lineatus_); two
+additional skulls of _C. vittatus_ and _C. lineatus_; and 24 sets of
+dentigerous bones, representing all of the species. Terminology
+of the skeletal elements is that of Duellman (1958), Parker (1878),
+Radovanovic (1937) and Szunyoghy (1932). The drawing of
+the right side of the skull of a specimen of _Tomodon lineatus_ that
+appears in Jan and Sordelli (1881:liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34) is of little
+value due to its small size and lack of detail.
+
+The skull of _Conophis_ is typical of a relatively unspecialized
+colubrid snake. Skulls of _Conophis lineatus concolor_ and _C. vittatus_
+closely resemble each other. The following description is based
+primarily on the skull of _C. lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-778).
+
+The elements are discussed in the following order: nasal region,
+cranium and associated elements, maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch,
+mandible, dentition, and vertebrae.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 6. The skull, lacking dentigerous bones, of
+      _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal,
+      (B) lateral, and (C) ventral views. × 3.]
+
+_Nasal region._--The premaxillary is relatively heavy and has a
+concavity posteroventrally. The lateral processes slope downward, but
+remain fairly thick, and do not project far laterally. This shape
+(fig. 6) tends to strengthen the nasal region; this anterior
+strengthening may be a reflection of the fossorial habits of these
+snakes. There are no posterior processes of the premaxillary; thus the
+line of fusion with the nasals and septo-maxillaries is broad. The
+nasal plate is more than twice as long as wide. The nasals are
+relatively flat above, although each curves slightly downward medially
+and fuses into the medial nasal septum; laterally each nasal is
+narrower and deflected downward, forming a small dorsal shield over
+the nasal cavity. The septo-maxillaries are closely associated with
+the vomers and form the cavity in which the organ of Jacobson is
+situated. The broad medial part of the septo-maxillary forms the roof
+and anterior border of the cavity, whereas the anterior part of the
+vomer contains the main part of the capsule and forms the posterior
+and most of the lateral borders of the cavity. The vomer has a thin
+anterior ridge that gradually disappears before it reaches the border
+of the premaxillary. The vomer is approximately U-shaped, when viewed
+from below. It has no posterior process and does not articulate with
+the parasphenoid; there is a sizeable gap between the two bones. The
+septo-maxillary has a lateral process that terminally is directed
+slightly anteriorly.
+
+_Cranium and associated elements._--The frontal is almost three times
+as long as it is wide; it is flat above with an emarginate
+dorsolateral margin that forms the upper limit of the optic capsule.
+Ventrally the frontal is concave and forms the median limits of the
+optic cavity. Farther ventrally the frontal joins with the
+parasphenoid, which at this place forms the ventral extent of the
+skull, and together with the basisphenoid forms the ventral part of
+the posterior three-fourths of the skull. In ventral aspect, the
+parasphenoid is a long, thin bone, slightly expanded anteriorly. It
+forms the anterior floor of the optic foramen; whereas the frontal
+forms the anterior roof of the same opening. The frontal and its
+septo-maxillary process surround the olfactory fenestra. The
+prefrontal articulates with the anterolateral process of the frontal.
+The posterior surface of the prefrontal forms the anterior wall of the
+orbit of the eye. The articulating surface upon which the median
+process of the maxillary bone rests is situated ventrally. The
+anterior dorsal surface of the prefrontal, together with the
+anterolateral edge of the frontal, extends slightly over the nasal
+cavity, affording some degree of protection for the contained organs
+and forming the posterior border of the cavity. A small nasal process
+also extends anteriorly from the ventrolateral surface of the
+prefrontal. The orbital-nasalis foramen is located in the anterior
+surface of the prefrontal. The parietals are fused into one large bone
+that forms the roof and sides of the middle part of the cranial
+cavity. From its suture with the frontal, the dorsal surface of the
+parietal is relatively flat in the area bounded laterally by the
+parietal crests, which extend posteromedially from the anterolateral
+corners of the bone and converge medially at a point near its
+posterior margin. A slight posterior extension of the parietal crests
+forms the supratemporal crest, which is present on the posterior part
+of the parietal and on the anterior part of the supraoccipital. The
+postfrontals are attached to the anterolateral processes of the
+parietal. Together the anterior surfaces of these two bones form the
+posterior rim of the orbit of the eye. The postfrontal extends
+laterally and ventrally and has a terminal extension that projects
+anterolaterally. In an articulated skull the trans-palatine articulates
+with the ventrolateral articulating surface of the postfrontal.
+Anteromedially, the parietal forms the roof and posterior margin of
+the optic foramen. The basisphenoid, which is fused with the
+parasphenoid, also forms a small part of the posteroventral margin of
+the optic foramen. The basisphenoid forms the floor of the middle part
+of the cranial cavity and the ventromedial down-pouching that
+contains the pituitary body. Posterolateral to the parietal and dorsal
+to the posterior part of the basisphenoid is the prootic. Laterally
+this bone is deeply emarginate; posteriorly it forms a large part of
+the otic notch, through which the columella passes. The columella is a
+long, thin bony rod that terminates posteriorly in cartilage. It is
+the cartilagenous part of the columella that connects with the
+external sound detecting mechanism. There are several foramina on the
+lateral surface of the prootic. On the anterolateral surface of the
+prootic, branches of the trigeminal nerve pass through three foramina
+whereas the facial nerve passes through the single posterior foramen
+near the otic notch. The squamosal is attached dorsoventrally to the
+posterior part of the parietal and to the lateral part of the prootic.
+At this place of attachment there is on the prootic a relatively heavy
+crest that forms a rather broad articulating base. The squamosal is
+long, flat, and curves slightly in a dorsal direction throughout its
+length; it becomes thinner and narrower posteriorly. The posterior
+third of the squamosal forms a broad base by means of which the
+squamosal articulates with the quadrate. The columella and the
+squamosal extend posteriorly beyond the limits of the braincase.
+Posteriorly the skull consists of four bones: an unpaired median
+dorsal supraoccipital, an unpaired median ventral basioccipital and
+two lateral exoccipitals. The basioccipital does not have noticeable
+pterygoid processes, but is rather smooth ventrally and only slightly
+emarginate on its posterolateral margins. Posteriorly, this bone forms
+the ventral part of the occipital condyle. The rest of the condyle, on
+each side, is formed by the exoccipitals. The exoccipitals also form
+part of the base to which the squamosal is attached. The exoccipitals
+extend around the sides of the foramen magnum and meet dorsally. Each
+exoccipital also forms the posterior part of the otic notch, which
+traverses the exoccipital. The exoccipitals bear moderate occipital
+crests that extend posterolaterally across the supraoccipital as
+branches from the supratemporal crest. The supraoccipital also has a
+medial crest that extends a short distance posteriorly from the
+supratemporal crest onto the exoccipitals at their dorsal line of
+fusion.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 7. The maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch of
+      _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal,
+      (B) lateral, and (C) ventral views. × 3. Teeth shown by means
+      of broken lines were represented only by their sockets.]
+
+_Maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch._--In an articulated skull, the
+anterior edge of the maxillary is immediately posterior to the lateral
+tip of the premaxillary (fig. 7). The maxillary is curved moderately
+laterally and is not robust at its tip, but it becomes heavier about
+one-third of its length posteriorly. A dorsomedian process begins at
+about one-third of its distance from the anterior end; the prefrontal
+articulates with this process. The process is broad and almost flat,
+except that at its medial end, an elongate, rounded knob extends
+ventrally. The dorsomedian process of the maxillary extends toward,
+but does not meet, a lateral process from the palatine. The maxillary
+teeth are set in sockets on the ventral surface of the bone. Just
+posterior to the level of the last prediastemal tooth is the median
+trans-palatine process that articulates with the anteromedian part of
+the trans-palatine. Immediately posterior to this process, the
+maxillary narrows slightly; then it broadens to form an obliquely
+oriented knob. The posteroventral surface of the posterior knob of the
+maxillary bears one or two enlarged maxillary teeth. (These teeth are
+discussed further in the section on Dentition.) The anterolateral part
+of the trans-palatine articulates with the dorsal surface of the
+posterior knob of the maxillary. Toward the middle of its length, the
+trans-palatine narrows considerably; then it broadens again and
+articulates with the pterygoid. The palatine is slightly rounded at
+its anterior end, which extends anteriorly to the posterior margin of
+the vacuity containing Jacobson's organ. The palatine extends
+posteriorly to the trans-palatine process of the maxilla, where the
+palatine articulates with the pterygoid. A posterior pterygoid process
+from the palatine projects posteromedially from the end of the
+palatine and overlaps the anterior end of the pterygoid. Just less
+than one-half the distance from the anterior end of the palatine,
+there is a lateral process that curves ventrolaterally forming a blunt
+tip posteriorly. Slightly more posteriorly and on the medial side of
+the palatine, is a medial sphenoid process, which is thin, rather
+broad, and curves ventromedially; ultimately it comes to lie near the
+anterior part of the parasphenoid. The palatine teeth are set in
+shallow sockets on the ventral edge of the bone. Of the bones of the
+maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch, those on the pterygoid extend farthest
+posteriorly. The pterygoid is broad medially and posteriorly, although
+pointed at its posterior tip. The trans-palatine articulates in a
+broad line at about one-third of the distance along the lateral margin
+of the pterygoid. Immediately posterior to this articulation, there is
+a median ridge on the pterygoid; lateral to the pterygoid ridge is an
+abrupt hollow, the pterygoid groove. Posteromedially, this groove
+becomes gradually more shallow and disappears. The dorsal surface of
+the pterygoid is rounded anteriorly and somewhat flattened
+posteriorly, whereas the ventral surface is gently rounded along its
+length, except that there is a high median crest. The pterygoid teeth
+are situated in shallow sockets along this crest. The teeth diminish
+in size posteriorly.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 8. The left mandible and associated
+      quadrate of _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing
+      (A) lateral and (B) medial views. × 3. Teeth shown by means of
+      broken lines were represented only by their sockets.]
+
+_Mandible._--The dentary (fig. 8) is compressed laterally and rounded
+below. The teeth, which are longest about one-third of the way from
+the anterior end of the dentary, are set in sockets on the medial side
+of the bone. The posterior half of the dentary overlies the fused
+surangular-prearticular part of the articular. Ventrally, the
+posterior part of the dentary underlies the splenial, which is set in
+a median trench within the dentary. Near the common suture of the
+dentary and the splenial is the large inferior alveolar foramen;
+completely within the splenial and ventral to the inferior alveolar
+foramen is the anterior mylohyoid foramen. Posterior to the splenial
+and also forming a part of the ventral surface of the mandible is the
+wedge-shaped angular, which lies directly beneath the fused
+surangular-prearticular. As has been implied, the articular, the
+surangular, and the prearticular are fused. The prearticular part of
+this bone forms a part of Meckel's canal. In the surangular part,
+immediately posterior to the end of the dentary, is the large
+surangular foramen. Lying in a longitudinal axis along the medial
+surface of the articular is a high crest, dorsal to which is a deep
+hollow. The lateral wall of the articular above this hollow is thin
+and rounded dorsally; the ventral surface is uniformly round and
+slightly curved dorsally, except that it ends with a short tympanic
+crest, which projects beyond the articulation with the quadrate. Where
+the quadrate articulates with the dorsolateral surface of the
+posterior portion of the squamosal, the former is broad and has a high
+mid-lateral crest, which extends about one-third of the distance down
+the quadrate before disappearing. The columellar process (the place of
+fusion of the columella) is about two-thirds of the way down the
+medial surface of the quadrate. Ventrally the quadrate has a narrow
+neck dorsal to its articulation with the articular. The articulation
+is formed by two lateral flanges of the quadrate that fit over a
+medial ridge formed by the articular.
+
+
+Dentition
+
+Teeth on the maxillary and pterygoid decrease in size posteriorly,
+whereas those of the dentary do likewise except for the first one or
+two that are usually slightly smaller than those immediately
+posterior. The palatine teeth are subequal in size. The enlarged,
+grooved teeth on the maxillary are in shallow sockets on the
+posteroventral surface of the posterior knob of the maxillary. These
+teeth point posteriorly. The grooves are deep and are situated
+anterolaterally. One or two enlarged grooved teeth are present on a
+given maxillary. There seems to be a correlation between the type of
+preservation, the age of the snake, and the number of grooved teeth.
+Old (large) individuals always have only one grooved tooth that is
+rooted and functional, whereas some of the younger animals have two in
+place. Usually replacement teeth are present in alcoholic specimens,
+but these unrooted teeth are lost in the preparation of dried
+skeletons. Thus, it seems that in _Conophis_ only one pair of grooved
+teeth is functional at any one time, although usually replacement
+teeth are present behind and beside the functional one. Some specimens
+have one tooth in the medial socket on one side and one in the lateral
+socket on the other. Replacement teeth on the maxillary and dentary
+are present in the buccal tissue on the medial side of the bones,
+whereas on the palatines and pterygoids, the replacement teeth are
+present laterally. Apparently there are no significant differences in
+dentition among the members of the genus _Conophis_.
+
+
+Vertebrae
+
+The fiftieth vertebra of _Conophis vittatus_ (UMMZ 82642) can be
+described as follows: The neural spine is elongate, thin and low; the
+posterior edge is sharply emarginate, and the anterior edge is only
+slightly emarginate. The zygosphene is thin dorsoventrally; in a
+ventral or dorsal view the zygosphene has a slightly concave anterior
+edge, the flat surface of which is oriented ventrolaterally. The
+centrum is elongate and triangular from below; it is widest at the
+paradiapophyses and narrowest at the short condylar neck. The condylus
+is directed posteriorly. The centrum, when viewed laterally, is
+slightly concave and has prominent subcentral ridges that extend from
+the median side of the paradiapophysial articular surfaces posteriorly
+to the neck of the condylus. The paradiapophysial articular surfaces
+are well developed and have two facets. The diapophysial surface is
+larger and more spherical than the parapophysial one. The
+parapophysial process projects beyond the parapophysial articular
+surface and is nearly even with the lip of the cotyle, which is
+slightly oval. The neural arch is slightly depressed; its width is
+somewhat less than the width of the cotyle. The articular surfaces of
+the postzygapophyses are oval and are directed posterolaterally. There
+is a strongly developed concave interzygapophysial ridge. A
+well-developed accessory spine extends laterally beyond the oval
+articular facets of the pre-zygapophysis and forms a slightly
+flattened, blunt spine. Excellent drawings of the middle thoracic
+vertebra of _Conophis lineatus dunni_ from Honduras were published by
+Auffenberg (1958:6).
+
+
+Hemipenes
+
+The hemipenes of _Conophis_ are moderately caliculate, having spines
+covering the surface from the base to near the apex (fig. 9). These
+spines are largest near the base and are reduced to small papillate
+projections near the apex. The apex terminates in a small disc having
+three to five laminae in _C. vittatus_ and one lamina in _C. lineatus
+concolor_. The sulcus is bifurcate; the fork is near the base and
+almost gives the appearance of two sulci on some specimens. Distally
+the apices are widely separated, and the intervening space gives the
+hemipenis a slightly bilobed appearance in some species (especially
+_C. vittatus_) or a deeply bilobed appearance in others (especially
+_C. lineatus concolor_).
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 9. The everted left hemipenis of _Conophis
+      vittatus_ (UMMZ 82650). × 5.]
+
+The everted hemipenis reaches posteriorly to the eighth subcaudal
+scale. The sulcus bifurcates at the third subcaudal scale. The
+situation is similar _in situ_ (Cope, 1895:pl. 28, fig. 2).
+
+There are no apparent hemipenial differences among the species of the
+genus _Conophis_. As can be seen in the above description, the
+hemipenis of _C. vittatus_ is less bilobed and has a more pronounced
+disc at the apex than the others. The hemipenis of _C. lineatus
+concolor_ is most bilobed, but has the smallest apical disc. The other
+species and subspecies vary widely within these extremes.
+
+
+Food and Feeding
+
+_Conophis_ eats mostly small lizards, especially _Cnemidophorus_. In
+México _Conophis_ occurs in semi-arid habitat where _Cnemidophorus_ is
+common. A specimen each of _Conophis vittatus_ and _C. lineatus
+lineatus_ were obtained while I was collecting _Cnemidophorus_. The
+only record of _Conophis_ having fed on a warm-blooded vertebrate was
+obtained in the course of this study, when I recovered from the
+stomach of a _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (CNHM 36299) from Chichén
+Itzá, Yucatán, a heteromyid rodent (_Heteromys gaumeri_).
+
+Ralph Axtell (personal communication) observed _Conophis_ actively
+searching for food at dusk. His observations were made near
+Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and the snakes were seen to chase lizards of the
+genus _Cnemidophorus_. Near Alvarado, Veracruz, in the late afternoon,
+I watched a _Conophis lineatus lineatus_ follow a lizard into a hole.
+
+Mittleman (1944:122) presents the only discussion of the mode of
+feeding of a captive specimen of _Conophis lineatus_ ssp. When
+presented with a _Thamnophis_ slightly smaller than itself, the
+_Conophis_ struck, and within eight minutes immobilized the
+_Thamnophis_. Within one-half hour the _Thamnophis_ was swallowed.
+Three days later the _Conophis_ ate another _Thamnophis_, though still
+distended from its first meal; nine days later it ate a _Storeria_. In
+the course of several months, the _Conophis_ ate various toads and
+hylids and two more _Storeria_. Apparently members of the genus
+_Conophis_ do not constrict their prey, but rely upon a combination of
+loss of blood and action of the venom to completely immobilize their
+prey.
+
+Ditmars (1931:pls. 26-27) showed three photographs of "_Conophis
+lineatus_" (actually _Conophis pulcher_) ingesting another snake,
+identified by him as a young _Ophis (= Xenodon) colubrinus_.
+
+
+Effect of Poison
+
+The rear fangs of these snakes are large for the size of the snake.
+Various collectors have been bitten, and several reports of the effect
+of the poison have been published. The snakes are aggressive and bite
+constantly while being handled. A field companion, Dale L. Hoyt, was
+bitten on the forefinger by a specimen of _C. l. lineatus_ and
+immediately felt a burning sensation. The finger swelled, much as it
+would if stung by a wasp, but it returned to normal size in about
+twenty-four hours. Ditmars (1931:legend pl. 27) reported immediate
+burning pain and a localized swelling, an inch in diameter and half an
+inch high, which lasted for several hours. Mertens (1952b:83) reported
+merely that the hand of the gardener at the Instituto Tropical in San
+Salvador bled strongly for a full hour. Edward H. Taylor was bitten by
+a specimen of _Conophis vittatus_ (Taylor and Smith, 1939:252); pain
+and swelling lasted for some time. Taylor (personal communication) is
+still troubled by damage incurred by that bite, which apparently
+resulted in mechanical damage to the second joint of the middle
+finger, for the joint swells when the finger is used or exercised.
+William E. Duellman (personal communication) was bitten on the hand in
+July, 1956. There was immediate pain and localized swelling, both of
+which disappeared several hours later.
+
+
+
+
+TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION
+
+
+The genus _Conophis_ is known only from the Recent. Except that
+_Conophis_ belongs to the subfamily xenodontinae and probably is of
+New World origin, little is known about the relationships of the
+genus. Auffenberg (1958) described a new genus and species of fossil
+colubrid snake from the Miocene of Montana as _Dryinoides oxyrhachis_
+and compared it with several recent genera. This specimen, of which
+there is a relatively complete skull and a series of vertebrae, seems
+most closely to resemble a specimen of _Conophis lineatus dunni_ (UF
+7657) from Honduras, with which it was compared in basic osteology.
+The two genera could be related, for the progenitors of _Conophis_
+possibly inhabited much of North America in the Miocene.
+
+Another possibility is that the main stock of the xenodontines reached
+South America in earliest Tertiary times, and that the formation of
+the Panamanian and Colombian seaways that separated South America and
+Central America from the Late Paleocene to the middle of the Pliocene
+left the _Conophis_ stock isolated in Middle America where members of
+the genus dispersed through semi-arid habitats.
+
+Turning our attention now to the species within the genus, instead of
+the genus as a whole, _Conophis vittatus_ is readily set apart from
+other members of the genus on the basis of the universal presence of
+seven supralabials. In basic coloration it also differs, having no
+stripe on the 1st scale-row, or spots on the venter, and a maximum of
+four broad stripes on the body. The other species appear to be more
+closely related; these make up the _C. lineatus_-group. _Conophis
+nevermanni_ differs so much from the other species that it might be
+placed in a separate group. Nevertheless, the basic striped pattern,
+which is masked by the increased melanism of many specimens, indicates
+that _nevermanni_ is more closely related to the _lineatus_-group than
+to _vittatus_. The _lineatus_-group, thus, consists of _pulcher_,
+_nevermanni_ and the three subspecies of _lineatus_. In this group the
+color pattern is characterized by the high frequency of ventral
+spotting, darkening of part of the supralabials, dark pigmentation on
+the 1st scale-row, and more than four dark stripes on the body of
+adults. _Conophis lineatus concolor_, on which the dark pigmentation
+on the body apparently is secondarily lost, is an exception.
+
+If differences in color pattern be used as an indication of the
+relationships between the species and subspecies of the genus
+_Conophis_, I would consider _C. vittatus_ the most divergent unit.
+The subspecies of _lineatus_ closely resemble one another and, as a
+unit, resemble _pulcher_ from which they differ primarily in the
+position of the dorsalmost stripes. _Conophis nevermanni_ is more
+divergent than is _pulcher_ from the species _lineatus_, but probably
+is not so far removed from _lineatus_ as is _vittatus_.
+
+In the light of what has been pointed out immediately above with
+respect to resemblances of, and differences between, the species, an
+hypothesis to account for their formation and for their presence in
+the areas where they are today is the following: Concurrent with
+climatic fluctuations in the Late Pliocene and Pleistocene, the
+northernmost population differentiated into the species _vittatus_,
+and has subsequently spread north and west from the region of
+Tehuantepec, México. During the same period _nevermanni_ became
+isolated in northern Costa Rica.
+
+The species _pulcher_ probably differentiated from the remaining
+_lineatus_ stock during the Early Pleistocene orogenic upheaval in
+Guatemala. The _pulcher_ stock was isolated on the Pacific Coastal
+slopes of Guatemala, while _lineatus_ moved through the subhumid
+corridor of northern Middle America into México and southward toward
+Costa Rica (Stuart, 1954a). In the Late Pleistocene and Recent,
+_pulcher_ moved back across the central Guatemalan highlands occupying
+its present range in northern Middle America. Primarily because of the
+formation of unsuitable habitat (wet forest) that presently separates
+the geographic ranges of populations of _lineatus_, this species
+differentiated into three subspecies.
+
+
+
+
+SUMMARY
+
+
+The genus _Conophis_ Peters, 1860, contains four species. Three are
+monotypic and the fourth has three subspecies, making a total of six
+taxa.
+
+The genus is characterized by maxillary teeth of equal size followed
+by a diastema and two enlarged grooved fangs. The scales are smooth,
+in 19 rows at mid-body, and 17 nearer the tail. The anal is divided,
+apical pits are lacking, the head shields are normal for a colubrid,
+and the hemipenis is bilobed having many large basal spines.
+
+The six taxa are separated primarily on the basis of color pattern,
+but characters of scutellation, including numbers of dorsals,
+ventrals, caudals, and places of reduction of the number of dorsal
+scale-rows, were analyzed.
+
+Snakes of this genus are distributed throughout semi-arid environments
+from southern México southward into Costa Rica. They feed upon
+lizards, primarily of the genus _Cnemidophorus_; in addition they are
+known to eat small rodents and other snakes.
+
+_Conophis_ is a member of the subfamily Xenodontinae and, as presently
+understood, has no known living close relatives. A single specimen of
+_Dryinoides_ from the Miocene of Montana has been compared with this
+genus. The genus _Conophis_ is thought to have evolved in Middle
+America. The present distribution and differentiation probably are
+primarily the result of climatic fluctuations in Middle America, which
+produced the areas of subhumid environment where _Conophis_ presently
+lives.
+
+
+
+
+LITERATURE CITED
+
+
+AUFFENBERG, W.
+
+    1958.  A new genus of colubrid snake from the Upper Miocene of
+           North America. Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1874:1-16. February 27.
+
+
+COPE, E. D.
+
+    1861.  Contributions to the ophiology of Lower California,
+           México and Central America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+           Philadelphia, 13:292-306. December 28.
+
+    1867.  Fifth contribution to the herpetology of tropical
+           America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:317-323.
+           February 20.
+
+    1871.  Ninth contribution to the herpetology of tropical
+           America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23(2):200-224.
+           October 24.
+
+    1876.  On the batrachia and reptilia of Costa Rica. Journ.
+           Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, series 2, 8(4):93-154, 6 pls.
+
+    1895.  The classification of the ophidia. Trans. Amer. Philos.
+           Soc., 18:186-219, 33 pls. April 15.
+
+    1900.  The crocodilians, lizards, and snakes of North America.
+           Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 153-1270, 36 pls.
+
+
+DITMARS, R. L.
+
+    1931.  Snakes of the World. New York, The MacMillan Company,
+           1931. xi + 207 pp., 84 pls.
+
+
+DOWLING, H. G.
+
+    1951.  A proposed standard system of counting ventrals in
+           snakes. British Journ. Herpetology, 1(5):97-99, fig. 1.
+
+
+DUELLMAN, W. E.
+
+    1958.  A preliminary analysis of the herpetofauna of Colima,
+           Mexico. Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:1-22,
+           March 21.
+
+
+DUMÉRIL, A. M. C., BIBRON, G., AND DUMÉRIL, A. H. A.
+
+    1854.  Érpétologie genérale, ou histoire naturelle des
+           reptiles. Paris, 7(pt. 2):xii + 785. February 25.
+           Atlas, 24 pp., 108 pls.
+
+
+DUMÉRIL, A. H. A., BOCOURT, M., AND MOCQUARD, F.
+
+    1870-1909. Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+           Centrale ... Etudes sur les Reptiles. Paris, vol. 2:xiv +
+           1012 pp., 77 pls.
+
+
+GARMAN, S.
+
+    1884a. The North American reptiles and batrachians. Bull.
+           Essex Inst., 16:1-46. January 9.
+
+    1884b. The reptiles and batrachians of North America. Mem.
+           Mus. Comp. Zool., 8(3):xxxi + 185 pp., 9 pls. July.
+
+
+GÜNTHER, A. C. L. G.
+
+    1858.  Catalogue of colubrine snakes in the collection of the
+           British Museum. London. xiv + 281 pp.
+
+
+HUXLEY, J.
+
+    1942.  Evolution. The Modern Synthesis. London. 645 pp.
+
+
+JAN, G. AND SORDELLI, F.
+
+    1866.  Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 19,
+           pls. 1-6. December.
+
+    1881.  Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 50,
+           pls. 1-7. November.
+
+
+MAYR, E.
+
+    1942.  Systematics and the Origin of Species. New York, x +
+           334 pp., 29 figs.
+
+
+MAYR, E., LINSLEY, E. G., AND USINGER, R. L.
+
+    1953.  Methods and Principles of Systematic Zoology. New York.
+           ix + 328 pp., 45 figs.
+
+
+MERTENS, R.
+
+    1952a. Neues uber die Reptilienfauna von El Salvador. Zool.
+           Anz., 148:87-93. February.
+
+    1952b. Die Amphibien und Reptilien von El Salvador auf grund
+           der reisen von R. Mertens und A. Zilch. Abhand. Senken.
+           Naturw. Gesell., 487:83, 1 Kart., 16 taf. December 1.
+
+
+MITTLEMAN, M. B.
+
+    1944.  Feeding habits of a Central American opisthoglyph snake.
+           Copeia, no. 2:122. June 30.
+
+
+NEILL, W. T. AND ALLEN, R.
+
+    1961.  Further studies on the herpetology of British Honduras.
+           Herpetologica, 17(1):37-52. April 15.
+
+
+PARKER, W. K.
+
+    1878.  On the structure and development of the skull in the
+           common snake (_Tropidonotus natrix_). Phil. Trans. Roy.
+           Soc. London, pt. 2:385-417, pp., pls. 27-33.
+
+
+PETERS, W.
+
+    1860.  Drei neue amerikanisches Schlangen. Monatsb. Akad. Wiss.
+           Berlin, 1860:517-521, pl., fig. 3. October.
+
+
+RADOVANOVIC, M.
+
+    1937.  Osteologie des Schlangenkopfs. Jenaische Zeitschr.
+           Naturw., 71(2):179-312.
+
+
+SAVAGE, J. M.
+
+    1949.  Notes on the Central American snake, _Conophis lineatus
+           dunni_ Smith, with a record from Honduras. Trans. Kansas
+           Acad. Sci., 50:483-486. December 31.
+
+
+SCHMIDT, K. P.
+
+    1928.  Reptiles collected in Salvador for the California
+           Institute of Technology. Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+           12(16):193-201. November 21.
+
+
+SCHMIDT, K. P. AND INGER, R. F.
+
+    1957.  Living Reptiles of the World. Garden City, New York,
+           Hanover House. 287 pp.
+
+
+SMITH, H. M.
+
+    1941.  Notes on snakes of the genus _Conophis_. Journ.
+           Washington Acad. Sci., 31(3):117-124. March 15.
+
+
+SMITH, H. M. AND TAYLOR, E. H.
+
+    1950.  Type localities of Méxican reptiles and amphibians.
+           Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33:313-380. March 20.
+
+
+STUART, L. C.
+
+    1948.  The amphibians and reptiles of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
+           Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 69:1-109. June 12.
+
+    1954a. A description of a subhumid corridor across northern
+           Central America, with comments on its herpetofaunal
+           indicators. Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+           65:1-26 pp., 6 pls. March.
+
+    1954b. Herpetofauna of the southeast highlands of Guatemala.
+           Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:1-65 pp.,
+           3 pls. November.
+
+
+SZUNYOGHY, J.
+
+    1932.  Beitrage zur vergleichenden Formenlehre des
+           Colubridenschadels, nebst einer Kraniologischen Synopsis
+           der fossilen Schlangen Ungarns. Acta Zool., 13:1-56.
+
+
+TAYLOR, E. H.
+
+    1955.  Additions to the known herpetological fauna of Costa
+           Rica with comments on other species. No. II. Univ. Kansas
+           Sci. Bull., 37:299-575. October 15.
+
+
+TAYLOR, E. H. AND SMITH, H. M.
+
+    1939.  Miscellaneous notes on Mexican snakes. Univ. Kansas Sci.
+           Bull., 25:239-258. July 10.
+
+
+WETTSTEIN, O.
+
+    1934.  Ergibnisse der osterreichischen biologischen Costa
+           Rica--Expedition 1930. Die Amphibia und Reptilien. Stiz.
+           Akad. Wiss. Wien, mathem-naturw. kl., Abt. 1, bd. 143:1-39.
+
+
+
+_Transmitted November 30, 1962._
+
+
+  29-5936
+    []
+
+
+
+UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS
+
+MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+
+Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain
+this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas
+Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in
+a particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the
+Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
+There is no provision for sale of this series by the University
+Library, which meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of
+Natural History, which meets the requests of individuals. However,
+when individuals request copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be
+included, for each separate number that is 100 pages or more in
+length, for the purpose of defraying the costs of wrapping and
+mailing.
+
+* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply
+(not the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in
+this series, are as follows:
+
+
+  Vol.  1.  Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950.
+
+ *Vol.  2.  (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest.
+               Pp. 1-444, 140 figures in text. April 9, 1948.
+
+  Vol.  3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution,
+               and distribution. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 1-359,
+               16 figures in text. June 12, 1951.
+
+           *2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of
+               birds.  By George H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472,
+               47 figures in text. June 29, 1951.
+
+            3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By
+               M. Dale Arvey. Pp. 473-530, 530, 49 figures in text,
+               13 tables. October 10. 1951.
+
+           *4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H.
+               Lowery, Jr., and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649,
+               7 figures in text, 2 tables. October 10, 1951.
+
+            Index. Pp. 651-681.
+
+ *Vol.  4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466,
+               41 plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951.
+
+  Vol.  5. Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953.
+
+ *Vol.  6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, taxonomy and distribution. By
+               Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text,
+               30 tables. August 10, 1952.
+
+  Vol.  7. Nos. 1-15 and index. Pp. 1-651, 1952-1955.
+
+  Vol.  8. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-675, 1954-1956.
+
+  Vol.  9. *1. Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley.
+               Pp. 1-68, 18 figures in text. December 10, 1955.
+
+            2. Additional records and extension of ranges of mammals
+               from Utah. By Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and
+               Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69-80. December 10, 1955.
+
+            3. A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern
+               Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81-84.
+               December 10, 1955.
+
+            4. Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus,
+               in Wyoming. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85-104, 2 figures in
+               text. May 10, 1956.
+
+            5. The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson.
+               Pp. 105-116, 6 figures in text. May 19, 1956.
+
+            6. Additional remains of the multituberculate genus
+               Eucosmodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 117-123,
+               10 figures in text. May 19, 1956.
+
+            7. Mammals of Coahulia, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp.
+               125-335, 75 figures in text. June 15, 1956.
+
+            8. Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae,
+               with description of a new subspecies from North China.
+               By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 337-346, 1 figure in text,
+               1 table. August 15, 1956.
+
+            9. Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney
+               Anderson. Pp. 347-351. August 15, 1956.
+
+           10. A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahulia. By
+               Howard J. Stains. Pp. 353-356. January 21, 1957.
+
+           11. A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from
+               Jalisco, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 357-361.
+               January 21, 1957.
+
+           12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys
+               bottae, in Colorado. By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp.
+               363-384, 7 figures in text. February 21, 1958.
+
+           13. New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska.
+               By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 385-388. May 12, 1958.
+
+           14. Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León,
+               México. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 389-396.
+               December 19, 1958.
+
+           15. New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America.
+               By Robert L. Packard. Pp. 397-404. December 19, 1958.
+
+           16. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 405-414, 1 figure in text, May 20, 1959.
+
+           17. Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane
+               vole, Microtus montanus. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 415-511,
+               12 figures in text, 2 tables.  August 1, 1959.
+
+           18. Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani
+               and P. artus. By E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey
+               Ogilvie. Pp. 513-518, 1 map, January 14, 1960.
+
+           19. Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central
+               America, with description of a new subspecies from
+               Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and J. Knox Jones, Jr.
+               Pp. 519-529. January 14, 1960.
+
+           20. Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene),
+               Nuevo León, México. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531-538,
+               1 figure in text. January 14, 1960.
+
+           21. Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo
+               León, México. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539-548, 1 figure
+               in text. January 14, 1960.
+
+           22. Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones,
+               Jr., and David H. Johnson. Pp. 549-578. February 23, 1960.
+
+           23. Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus
+               Baimoys. By Robert L. Packard. Pp. 579-670, 4 plates,
+               12 figures in text. June 16, 1960.
+
+           Index. Pp. 671-690
+
+  Vol. 10.  1. Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration.
+               By Harrison B. Tordoff and Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1-44,
+               6 figures in text, 2 tables. September 12, 1956.
+
+            2. Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta
+               and A. maritima. By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45-75,
+               6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956.
+
+            3. The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural
+               History Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R.
+               McGregor. Pp. 77-127, 2 plates, 7 figures in text,
+               4 tables. December 31, 1956.
+
+            4. Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie
+               vole (Microtus ochrogaster). By Henry S. Fitch. Pp.
+               129-161, 8 figures in text, 4 tables. December 19, 1957.
+
+            5. Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska.
+               By James W. Bee. Pp. 163-211, plates 9-10, 1 figure
+               in text. March 12, 1958.
+
+           *6. The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology.
+               By Robert B. Finley, Jr. Pp. 213-552, 34 plates, 8 figures
+               in text, 35 tables. November 7, 1958.
+
+            7. Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in
+               Kansas. By Donald W. Janes. Pp. 553-572, 4 plates,
+               3 figures in text. May 4, 1959.
+
+            8. Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi.
+               By Richard F. Johnston and Gerhard A. Schad. Pp. 573-585.
+               October 8, 1959.
+
+            9. A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from
+               Michoacán, México. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587-598,
+               2 figures in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+           10. A taxonomic study of the middle American snake, Pituophis
+               deppei. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 599-610. 1 plate,
+               1 figure in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+           Index. Pp. 611-626.
+
+  Vol. 11. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-703, 1958-1960.
+
+  Vol. 12.  1. Functional morphology of three bats: Sumops, Myotis,
+               Macrotus. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 1-153, 4 plates,
+               24 figures in text. July 8, 1959.
+
+           *2. The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence.
+               By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155-180, 10 figures in text.
+               July 10, 1959.
+
+            3. The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 181-216, 49 figures in text. February 19, 1960.
+
+           *4. A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian
+               of Kansas. By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou
+               Stewart. Pp. 217-240, 12 figures in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+            5. Natural history of the bell vireo. By Jon C. Barlow.
+               Pp. 241-296, 6 figures in text. March 7, 1962.
+
+            6. Two new pelycosaurs from the lower Permian of Oklahoma.
+               By Richard C. Fox. Pp. 297-307, 6 figures in text.
+               May 21, 1962.
+
+            7. Vertebrates from the barrier island of Tamaulipas, México.
+               By Robert K. Selander, Richard F. Johnston, B. J. Wilks,
+               and Gerald G. Raun. Pp. 309-345, pls. 5-8. June 18, 1962.
+
+            8. Teeth of Edestid sharks. By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.
+               Pp. 347-362, 10 figures
+               in text. October 1, 1962.
+
+           More numbers will appear in volume 12.
+
+  Vol. 13.  1. Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae).
+               By Frank B. Cross and W. L. Minckley. Pp. 1-18.
+               June 1, 1960.
+
+            2. A distributional study of the amphibians of the Isthmus
+               of Tehuantepec, México. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19-72,
+               pls. 1-8, 3 figures in text. August 16, 1960.
+
+            3. A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys
+               scripta) from Coahulia, México. By John M. Legler.
+               Pp. 73-84, pls. 9-12, 3 figures in text. August
+               16, 1960.
+
+            4. Autecology of the copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch.
+               Pp. 85-288, pls. 13-20, 26 figures in text.
+               November 30, 1960.
+
+            5. Occurrence of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in
+               the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch
+               and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. 289-308, 4 figures in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            6. Fishes of the Wakarusa river in Kansas. By James E. Deacon
+               and Artie L. Metcalf. Pp. 309-322, 1 figure in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            7. Geographic variation in the North American cyprinid fish,
+               Hybopsis gracilis. By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross.
+               Pp. 323-348, pls. 21-24, 2 figures in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            8. Descriptions of two species of frogs, genus Ptychohyla;
+               studies of American hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman.
+               Pp. 349-357, pl. 25, 2 figures in text. April 27, 1961.
+
+            9. Fish populations, following a drought, in the Neosho and
+               Marais des Cygnes rivers of Kansas. By James Everett Deacon.
+               Pp. 359-427, pls. 26-30, 3 figs. August 11, 1961.
+
+           10. Recent soft-shelled turtles of North America (family
+               Trionychidae). By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 429-611, pls. 31-54,
+               24 figures in text. February 16, 1962.
+
+           Index. Pp. 613-624.
+
+  Vol. 14.  1. Neotropical bats from western México.  By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 1-8. October 24, 1960.
+
+            2. Geographic variation in the harvest mouse.
+               Reithrodontomys megalotis, on the central Great Plains
+               and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and
+               B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9-27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961.
+
+            3. Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney
+               Anderson. Pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figures in text.
+               July 24, 1961.
+
+            4. A new subspecies of the black myotis (bat) from eastern
+               Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall and Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 69-72,
+               1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            5. North American yellow bats, "Dasypterus," and a list of
+               the named kinds of the genus Lasiurus Gray. By E. Raymond
+               Hall and J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 73-98, 4 figures in text.
+               December 29, 1961.
+
+            6. Natural history of the brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii) in
+               Kansas with description of a new subspecies. By Charles A.
+               Long. Pp. 99-111, 1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            7. Taxonomic status of some mice of the Peromyscus boylii
+               group in eastern Mexico, with description of a new
+               subspecies. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 113-120, 1 figure in
+               text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            8. A new subspecies of ground squirrel (Spermophilus
+               spilosoma) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez.
+               Pp. 121-124. March 7, 1962.
+
+            9. Taxonomic status of the free-tailed bat, Tadarida
+               yucatanica Miller. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and Ticul
+               Alvarez. Pp. 125-133, 1 figure in text. March 7, 1962.
+
+           10. A new doglike carnivore, genus Cynaretus, from the
+               Clarendonian Pliocene, of Texas. By E. Raymond Hall and
+               Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 135-138, 2 figures in text.
+               April 30, 1962.
+
+           11. A new subspecies of wood rat (Neotoma) from northeastern
+               Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 139-143. April 30, 1962.
+
+           12. Noteworthy mammals from Sinaloa, Mexico. By J. Knox Jones,
+               Jr., Ticul Alvarez, and M. Raymond Lee. Pp. 145-159,
+               1 figure in text. May 18, 1962.
+
+           13. A new bat (Myotis) from Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall.
+               Pp. 161-164, 1 figure in text. May 21, 1962.
+
+           14. The mammals of Veracruz. By E. Raymond Hall and Walter W.
+               Dalquest. Pp. 165-362, 2 figures. May 20, 1963.
+
+           15. The recent mammals of Tamaulipas, México. By Ticul Alvarez.
+               Pp. 363-473, 5 figures in text. May 20, 1963.
+
+           More numbers will appear in volume 14.
+
+  Vol. 15.  1. The amphibians and reptiles of Michoacán, México. By
+               William E. Duellman. Pp. 1-148, pls. 1-6, 11 figures in
+               text. December 20, 1961.
+
+            2. Some reptiles and amphibians from Korea. By Robert G. Webb,
+               J. Knox Jones, Jr., and George W. Byers. Pp. 149-173.
+               January 31, 1962.
+
+            3. A new species of frog (Genus Tomodactylus) from western
+               México. By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 175-181, 1 figure in text.
+               March 7, 1962.
+
+            4. Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the Museum
+               of Natural History, the University of Kansas. By William
+               E. Duellman and Barbara Berg. Pp. 183-204. October 26, 1962.
+
+            5. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El
+               Petén, Guatemala. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 205-249, pls.
+               7-10, 6 figures in text. October 4, 1963.
+
+            6. A revision of snakes of the genus Conophis (Family
+               Colubridae, from Middle America). By John Wellman.
+               Pp. 251-295, 9 figures in text. October 4, 1963.
+
+            More numbers will appear in volume 15.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+For consistancy, a number of word which had alternate spellings were
+altered to match the most prevalent version used. For example, where
+the word Mexico was used in the body of the article, the more frequent
+spelling (México) was substituted. However, in the reference sections,
+the spelling was not altered as that may have been the spelling used
+by the article's author. All occurrances of Érpétologie Genérale were
+correcteded to Erpétologie Générale (Pp. 255, 262, 267, 277, and 278).
+
+
+ On page 279 under _Variation_ there appears to be a miscalculation:
+    668 mm. + 182 mm. = 850 mm. not 840 as in original text.
+
+
+Typographical Corrections
+
+  Page  Correction
+  ===== ===========================================
+  264   immaculaate => immaculate
+  264   chacteristic => characteristic
+  266   elevatons => elevations
+  267   Dumeril => Duméril
+  277   Duméil => Duméril
+  279   Tehauntepec => Tehuantepec
+  280   Deleted repeated "Oaxaca,"
+  292   primarly => primarily
+  295   hertetofaunal => herpetofaunal
+    i   V.  9 No. 12: Pp. 363-387 => Pp. 363-384
+  iii   V. 13 No.  8: Decriptions => Descriptions
+  iii   V. 14 No.  8: anad => and
+  iii   V. 14 No. 14: anad => and
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus
+Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVISION OF SNAKES OF THE ***
+
+***** This file should be named 37512-8.txt or 37512-8.zip *****
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+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+        "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+  <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" />
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis, by John Wellman.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+  .book            {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+  p                {text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.5em;}
+  ins              {background-color: #e0ffe0; text-decoration: none;}
+  table            {margin-left: auto; padding:4px; margin-right: auto; border-collapse: collapse;}
+  .brdlf           {border-left: solid #000 1px;}
+  .brdtp           {border-top: solid #000 1px;}
+  .pagenum         {position: absolute; left: 92%; text-indent:0; font-size: 0.75em; text-align: right; color: #b0b0b0;}
+  .reference       {margin-left: 5.5em; text-indent: -3em;}
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+  .caption3nc      {font-size:1.15em;}
+  .caption4        {font-weight: bold; font-size:0.75em; text-align: center;}
+  .trans_notes     {background:#d0d0d0; padding: 7px; border:solid black 1px;}
+  .species         {margin-left: 2.5em; text-indent: -2.5em; margin-top: 1em;
+                     margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify;}
+  .fig_center      {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+Author: John Wellman
+
+Release Date: September 23, 2011 [EBook #37512]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVISION OF SNAKES OF THE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Tom Cosmas, Joseph Cooper and
+the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="book">
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 255px;">
+<a name="cover" id="cover"></a>
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="255" height="411" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="trans_notes">
+<div class="caption2">Transcriber's Note</div>
+<p>The cover above is simulated. Typographical corrections listed at
+ the <a href="#typos">end of this version</a> are highlighted in
+ <ins title="Correction: sample">light green</ins>. The
+ <a href="#PUBLICATIONS">list of publications</a> has been compiled
+ after the article's text.</p>
+<br />
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg_251]</a></span></p>
+<div class="center">
+<br />
+<br />
+<img src="images/bar_double.png" width="100%" height="15" alt="double bar" />
+<div class="caption2 smcap">University of Kansas Publications</div>
+<br />
+<div class="caption2 smcap">Museum of Natural History</div>
+<br />
+<img src="images/bar_single.png" width="125" height="15" title="bar" alt="bar" />
+<br />
+<div class="caption2">Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.</div><br />
+<img src="images/bar_single.png" width="250" height="15" title="bar" alt="bar" />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="caption2">October&nbsp;4,&nbsp;1963</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;
+<img src="images/bar_single.png" width="250" height="15" title="bar" alt="bar" />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<div class="caption1">
+A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis<br />
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America)<br />
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<div class="caption3">BY</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<div class="caption2">JOHN WELLMAN</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<div class="caption2">
+<span class="smcap">University of Kansas</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Lawrence</span><br />
+1963
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg_252]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<div class="caption3">
+<span class="smcap">University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History</span><br />
+<br />
+Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,<br />
+Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.<br />
+<br />
+Published October 18, 1963<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class="smcap">University of Kansas</span><br />
+Lawrence, Kansas<br />
+<br />
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<div class="caption4">
+PRINTED BY<br />
+JEAN M. NEIBARGER, STATE PRINTER<br />
+TOPEKA, KANSAS<br />
+1963<br />
+<img src="images/union_label.png" width="71" height="26" alt="Look for the Union Label" title="Look for the Union Label" /><br />
+29-5936<br />
+</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg_253]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="caption1">A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis</div>
+<div class="caption1">(Family Colubridae, from Middle America)</div>
+
+<div class="caption3">BY</div>
+
+<div class="caption2">JOHN WELLMAN</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="caption2">CONTENTS</div>
+
+<table width="100%" summary="Contents">
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="smcap"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">Introduction</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">253</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="smcap"><a href="#ACKNOWLEDGMENTS">Acknowledgments</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">254</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="smcap"><a href="#MATERIALS_AND_METHODS">Materials and Methods</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">254</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Genus_Conophis_Peters"><span class="smcap">Genus</span> Conophis Peters</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">255</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Key_to_the_Species_and_Subspecies">Key to the Species and Subspecies</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">257</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Analysis_of_Characters">Analysis of Characters</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">257</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Scutellation">Scutellation</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">258</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Size_and_Proportions">Size and Proportions</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">258</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Color_Pattern">Color Pattern</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">260</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Sexual_Dimorphism">Sexual Dimorphism</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">260</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_lineatus"><i>C. lineatus</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">262</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_lineatus_dunni"><i>C. lineatus dunni</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">262</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_lineatus_lineatus"><i>C. lineatus lineatus</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">267</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_lineatus_concolor"><i>C. lineatus concolor</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">270</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_nevermanni"><i>C. nevermanni</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">272</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_pulcher"><i>C. pulcher</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">274</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Conophis_vittatus"><i>C. vittatus</i></a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">277</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Skull">Skull</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">282</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Dentition">Dentition</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">288</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Vertebrae">Vertebrae</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">288</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Hemipenes">Hemipenes</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">289</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Food_and_Feeding">Food and Feeding</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">289</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#Effect_of_Poison">Effect of Poison</a></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">290</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><div class="smcap"><a href="#TAXONOMIC_RELATIONSHIPS_AND_EVOLUTION">Taxonomic Relationships and Evolution</a></div></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">29</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><div class="smcap"><a href="#SUMMARY">Summary</a></div></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">292</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><div class="smcap"><a href="#LITERATURE_CITED">Literature Cited</a></div></td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">293</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>
+INTRODUCTION</div>
+
+<p>Need for a comprehensive systematic review of the snakes of the
+genus <i>Conophis</i> was pointed out by Stuart (1954a, b). Since these
+snakes appeared to be of zoogeographic importance in the Central
+American region, I undertook the review as set forth on the following
+pages.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg_254]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="ACKNOWLEDGMENTS" id="ACKNOWLEDGMENTS"></a>
+ACKNOWLEDGMENTS</div>
+
+<p>For permission to examine specimens, and for information concerning specimens
+in their care, I am grateful to Mr. L. C. Battersby and Miss Alice G. C.
+Grandison, British Museum (Natural History); Mr. Charles M. Bogert and
+Dr. Richard G. Zweifel, American Museum of Natural History; Dr. Doris M.
+Cochran, United States National Museum; Prof. William B. Davis, Agricultural
+and Mechanical College of Texas; Dr. Josef Eiselt, Naturhistorisches Museums,
+Vienna; Prof. Norman Hartweg and Prof. Laurence C. Stuart, Museum of
+Zoology, University of Michigan; Dr. Robert F. Inger, Chicago Natural History
+Museum; Dr. Alan E. Leviton, California Academy of Sciences; Mr.
+Edmond V. Malnate, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia; Prof. George
+S. Myers, Stanford University Natural History Museum; Mr. Wilfred T. Neill,
+Ross Allen's Reptile Institute; Mr. Neil D. Richmond, Carnegie Museum; Dr.
+William J. Riemer, University of Florida Collections; Prof. Robert C. Stebbins,
+Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California; Prof. Hobart M.
+Smith, University of Illinois Natural History Museum; and Dr. Ernest E.
+Williams, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.</p>
+
+<p>Prof. William E. Duellman supplied invaluable information and guidance
+in my study. I am grateful to Prof. E. Raymond Hall for use of facilities of
+the Museum of Natural History and editorial assistance. I thank Prof.
+Laurence C. Stuart and Prof. Edward H. Taylor for information and suggestions.
+My own field experience in Middle America came as a result of assisting
+Professor Duellman in his own researches supported by a grant from the
+National Science Foundation (NSF-G 9827). For these things I am deeply
+grateful. Specimens that I have seen alive were collected by field companions
+Dale L. Hoyt and Jerome B. Tulecke. Finally, I am grateful to my wife,
+Margaret L. Wellman, for much help including typing much of the manuscript.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="MATERIALS_AND_METHODS" id="MATERIALS_AND_METHODS"></a>
+MATERIALS AND METHODS</div>
+
+<p>Of the 325 specimens of the genus <i>Conophis</i> available to me, representing
+most of those in museum collections, scale counts were made in the usual
+manner on 309. Ventrals were counted following the system proposed by
+Dowling (1951:97-99); the anal plate was not included. The anteroposterior
+position of the place where reduction occurs in the number of the dorsal rows
+of scales is designated by citing the number of the ventral scale directly
+beneath that place.</p>
+
+<p>Measurements were taken to the nearest millimeter by means of a millimeter
+stick. Body length is the distance from the tip of the snout to the
+posterior edge of the anal plate; tail length, from the latter point to the tip
+of the tail; and total length, the sum of the body plus tail.</p>
+
+<p>Descriptions of color are based on preserved specimens. Where descriptions
+of the color of living individuals are given, the data were taken from
+Kodachrome slides made available to me by William E. Duellman. Due to
+the transient nature of the longitudinal dark stripes in these snakes, no standard
+terminology has been devised, except that the posterior continuations of the
+stripes which on the head pass through the eye are termed lateral stripes;
+the posterior continuations of the median stripe of the head are termed dorsolateral
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg_255]</a></span>
+stripes. A paravertebral stripe is one that is present on the scale-row
+on either side of, but not including, the mid-dorsal (vertebral) scale-row.</p>
+
+<p>In order to reduce confusion in the discussion of variation, the numbers
+designating the rows of dorsal scales are written as 1st, 2nd, whereas the
+numbers designating the stripes are written as first, second.</p>
+
+<p>Except in three dried skeletons, teeth were counted on dentigerous bones
+<i>in situ</i>. Since teeth are often missing, the sockets were counted in order to
+obtain an accurate count.</p>
+
+<p>In accounts of the species and subspecies, the observed range of variation
+is followed by the mean in parentheses; in some instances the mean is followed
+by the standard deviation, also in parentheses. An example is 65-79
+(70.6 &#177; 3.93).</p>
+
+<p>Each synonymy includes all generic and specific combinations known to me
+that have been used for the genus, and, in addition, references to catalogues,
+checklists, and reports of collections.</p>
+
+<p>Localities of occurrence that are not plotted on the distribution maps are
+recorded in italic type under Specimens Examined. In the list of Specimens
+Examined the localities and specimens are listed in the following order:
+countries in alphabetical order; states or departments in alphabetical order in
+each country; localities in alphabetical order in each state or department;
+museum numbers in numerical order after the abbreviations of names of
+museums. When more than one specimen bears a single catalogue number,
+the number of specimens is given in parentheses following the museum catalogue
+number. Specimens for which data are given only as to country or to
+state or department are listed first after the name of that political unit under
+"no specific locality."</p>
+
+<p>The abbreviations for the museum collections are:</p>
+
+<table summary="abbreviations">
+<tr>
+<td>AMNH</td>
+<td>American Museum of Natural History</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>ANSP</td>
+<td>Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>BMNH</td>
+<td>British Museum (Natural History)</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>CAS</td>
+<td>California Academy of Sciences</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>CNHM</td>
+<td>Chicago Natural History Museum</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>ERA-WTN</td>
+<td>E. Ross Allen-Wilfred T. Neill, Ross Allen's Reptile Institute</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>KU</td>
+<td>University of Kansas Museum of Natural History</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>MCZ</td>
+<td>Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>MVZ</td>
+<td>Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>NMW</td>
+<td>Naturhistorisches Museums Wien, Vienna</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>SU</td>
+<td>Stanford University Natural History Museum</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>TCWC</td>
+<td>Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Agricultural and
+   Mechanical College of Texas</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>UF</td>
+<td>University of Florida Collections</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>UIMNH</td>
+<td>University of Illinois Museum of Natural History</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>UMMZ</td>
+<td>University of Michigan Museum of Zoology</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td>USNM</td>
+<td>United States National Museum</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="caption2">Family <span class="smcap">Colubridae</span></div>
+
+<div class="caption2">Subfamily Xenodontinae</div>
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="Genus_Conophis_Peters" id="Genus_Conophis_Peters"></a>
+Genus <b>Conophis</b> Peters</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tomodon</i> (part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+<ins title='Correction: was "Érpétologie Genérale"'>Erpétologie Générale</ins>,
+7(pt.2):936, February 25, 1854 (<i>lineatus</i> and <i>vittatus</i>); Salvin, Proc.
+Zool. Soc. London, 28:455, 1860 (<i>pulcher</i>).</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg_256]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Psammophis</i> (part), Günther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection
+of the British Museum, London, 1858:135 (<i>lineatus</i>).</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis</i> Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1860:519-520, pl., fig. 3
+(<i>vittatus</i>); Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 13:300, December
+28, 1861 (<i>lineatus concolor</i>); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+18:318-319, February 20, 1867 (<i>lineatus concolor</i>); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (<i>pulcher</i>); Bocourt in Duméril, Bocourt
+and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5, 1886 (<i>lineatus lineatus</i>); Cope, Proc.
+Amer. Philos. Soc., 23:489, October 28, 1886; Hoffmann, Klassen und
+Ordnungen des Thier-Reichs. Reptilien. Bd. 6, 3:1707, 1890; Cope, Trans.
+Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:207, April 15, 1895; Dunn, Bull. Antivenin Inst.
+Amer., 2(1):21, 24, April, 1928; Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31, 1937
+(<i>nevermanni</i>).</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tachymenis</i> (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16:33, January 9, 1884
+(<i>vittatus</i> and <i>lineatus</i>).</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Erythrolamprus</i> (in part), Ditmars, Bull. Antivenin Inst. Amer., 2(2):27-29,
+June.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Coniophanes</i> (in part), Wettstein, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, mathem-naturw.
+kl. 143:37-38, 1934 (<i>nevermanni</i>).</div>
+
+<p><i>Historical summary.</i>&mdash;In 1854 Duméril, Bibron and Duméril described and
+figured <i>Tomodon lineatum</i> from America. In 1860 Peters described and
+figured as a new genus and species, <i>Conophis vittatus</i>, based on a specimen
+that he had obtained from a dealer in Hamburg. The provenance of this
+specimen is not known, for it was discovered aboard a ship near the mouth of
+the Mississippi River. It was not until 1871 that Cope included <i>lineatus</i> in
+the genus <i>Conophis</i>. Cope (1861) proposed the name <i>Conophis vittatus</i> (<i>nec</i>
+Peters, 1860). Later (1900) he changed its name to <i>Conophis lineaticeps</i>.
+Early uncertainty of the relationships of the species <i>lineatus</i> caused Günther
+(1858) to place it in the genus <i>Psammophis</i>. With the exception of Garman
+(1884a and 1884b) who placed <i>lineatus</i> in the genus <i>Tachymenis</i>, and Wettstein
+(1934) who reported five specimens of <i>Conophis nevermanni</i> as <i>Coniophanes
+i. imperialis</i>, all specimens reported after 1876 were placed in the genus
+<i>Conophis</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The only previous attempt to review the systematics of this genus was
+made by Smith (1941) who based his study primarily on specimens in the
+United States National Museum. He examined only 28 specimens, including
+none of one species (<i>nevermanni</i>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Description.</i>&mdash;Hemipenis slightly bifurcate having forked sulcus spermaticus,
+large spines near base, and smaller spines or papillae on flounces nearer
+apices; prediastemal maxillary teeth 8-12, subequal in length, and followed
+by short diastema and one enlarged fang or two; fangs grooved, only one
+functional at any one time, unless snake is in process of shedding teeth; teeth
+6-10 on palatine, 15 to 19 on pterygoid, 15 to 21 on dentary; teeth on dentary
+decreasing in size posteriorly; large parotid (venom) gland on either side of
+head in temporal region; head shields of basically unmodified colubrid type
+excepting decurved rostral; rostral concave below and therein modified for
+burrowing; internasals and prefrontals paired; nasals divided; loreal single;
+preocular one, rarely two; postoculars, two; supralabials, 7-8, 3rd and 4th
+or 4th and 5th under eye; infralabials, 8-11, usually 9 or 10; temporals, normally
+1 plus 2 plus 3; chin-shields subequal in length; ventrals, 149-183, rounded
+and overlapping; caudals, 55-89, paired and imbricate; anal divided; dorsal
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg_257]</a></span>
+scales smooth and in 19 rows at mid-body with no apical pits or keels; scale
+reduction normally involving fusion of 3rd and 4th rows, resulting in 17
+scale-rows near tail; tail length more than 20 per cent of body length;
+maximum total length exceeding 1.1 meters; dorsal color pattern consisting of
+dark stripes, or no darkening, on paler ground-color; ventral surfaces immaculate
+pale yellowish or white, except on specimens having single lateral
+dark spots on some or all ventrals; pupil round; diurnal or crepuscular; feeding
+primarily on small lizards, sometimes on small mammals or other snakes.</p>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Semi-arid regions of southern México and Central America
+as far south as Costa Rica.</p>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap center"><a name="Key_to_the_Species_and_Subspecies" id="Key_to_the_Species_and_Subspecies"></a>
+Key to the Species and Subspecies</div>
+
+<p>Although many juveniles differ greatly in general coloration from the
+adults, both the juveniles and the adults of any species or subspecies can be
+identified from the following key; juveniles differ from adults in extent and
+intensity of dark pigmentation but not in rows of scales involved.</p>
+
+<table width="100%" summary="Species Key">
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Seven supralabials (3rd and 4th below orbit); 3 to 8 dark
+      stripes along body</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="text_rt">2</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Eight supralabials (4th and 5th below orbit); unstriped or
+      with more than 4 dark stripes along body, or dark with 2 or
+     4 pale stripes</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="text_rt">3</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Dark stripes involving no more than one
+ longitudinal scale-row</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_lineatus_lineatus"><i>C. lineatus lineatus</i> (part), p. 267</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Dark stripes involving at least
+ two adjacent scale-rows</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_vittatus"><i>C. vittatus</i>, p. 277</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Supralabials having black borders above;
+ head and body generally black with 2 or 4 white lines running length
+ of body</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_nevermanni"><i>C. nevermanni</i>, p. 272</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Supralabials immaculate or having
+ dark borders below; head and body usually pale with dark stripes, or
+ without stripes</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt">4</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Lateral dark stripe through eye involving
+ upper half of second scale-row; dark stripe on paravertebral row, at
+ least posteriorly</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_pulcher"><i>C. pulcher</i>, p. 274</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Lateral dark stripe becoming
+ indistinct on body, or restricted to 4th or 3rd and 4th rows
+ anteriorly, not involving 2nd scale-row on anterior 1/3 of body
+ (an auxiliary lateral stripe sometimes present involving 2nd row);
+ no paravertebral stripes</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt">5</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">5.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Stripes disappearing posteriorly
+ (except for small spots of pigment on scale-row 4 or 7);
+ 1st scale-row unpigmented</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_lineatus_concolor"><i>C. lineatus concolor</i>, p. 270</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Stripes present posteriorly;
+ 1st scale-row pigmented</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt">6</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="vtop">6.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Lateral stripes narrow on nape, restricted
+ to 4th scale-row on body</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_lineatus_lineatus"><i>C. lineatus lineatus</i> (part), p. 267</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Lateral stripes involving 3rd and 4th rows, at least on nape</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td colspan="2" class="key_text_rt"><a href="#Conophis_lineatus_dunni"><i>C. lineatus dunni</i>, p. 262</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Analysis_of_Characters" id="Analysis_of_Characters"></a>
+Analysis of Characters</div>
+
+<p>Characters showing inter-specific and intra-specific variation and that have
+a wide range of variation were analyzed statistically, when possible, in order
+to determine extent of variation. One character (see table 3) was analyzed
+for sexual dimorphism, and for it the coefficient of difference is also given.
+The statistical terms and formulae have been adopted from Mayr, Linsley and
+Usinger (1953). Dorsal head shields varied individually and were of no
+taxonomic importance. Osteological and hemipeneal characters did not show
+enough variation to be considered here.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg_258]</a></span></p>
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Scutellation" id="Scutellation"></a>
+Scutellation</div>
+
+<p>Labials, dorsals, ventrals, and subcaudals were the most useful scales.</p>
+
+<p><i>Labials.</i>&mdash;All species usually have eight supralabials except <i>C. vittatus</i>,
+which has seven. The only other population having a relatively high frequency
+of occurrence of seven supralabials is <i>C. l. lineatus</i>. In specimens having eight
+supralabials, the fourth and fifth enter the orbit; in specimens having seven
+supralabials, the third and fourth enter the orbit (the second and third are
+fused). Usually there are ten infralabials, sometimes nine or eleven; specimens
+having seven supralabials usually have nine infralabials, sometimes
+eight, rarely ten.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dorsals.</i>&mdash;Although there is no variation in the number of rows of dorsal
+scales, there is some in the method of scale reduction. There are 19 rows of
+dorsal scales from close behind the head to about midway on the body where
+two rows are lost, leaving 17 rows from there to near the base of the tail.
+This reduction is accomplished by fusion of the scales of the 3rd and 4th
+rows or sometimes by the dropping out of the 3rd row. The place at which
+reduction occurs in number of dorsal scales in relation to the ventral (scale)
+directly below is highly variable and of little taxonomic importance (table 1).</p>
+
+<div class="smcap">Table 1.&mdash;Variation in the Place of Dorsal Scale Reduction in
+Conophis.</div>
+
+<table width="100%" style="height:9px; border-collapse: collapse" summary="Sexual Dimorphism">
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt center">Taxon</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Number of Specimens</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Range</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Mean</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Deviation</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Error</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Coefficient of Variation</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. concolor</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">45</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">89-114</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">102.5</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">5.57</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.83</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">5.43</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. dunni</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">36</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">91-111</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">102.1</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.59</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.77</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.50</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. lineatus</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">26</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">91-107</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">100.2</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">3.59</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.72</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">3.58</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>nevermanni</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">6</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">84- 97</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">93.2</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.71</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">1.92</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">5.05</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>pulcher</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">26</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">94-119</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">104.6</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.90</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.96</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.68</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdbt"><i>vittatus</i></td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">170</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">84-118</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">102.3</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">6.60</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">0.16</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">6.45</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p><i>Ventrals.</i>&mdash;The number of ventral scutes varies from 149-183, and shows
+no significant variation in the means (table 2).</p>
+
+<p><i>Subcaudals.</i>&mdash;The number of subcaudal scutes varies from 55 to 89. In
+some populations there is no overlap in the range of variation of males and
+females. The total variation and sexual dimorphism are analyzed in table 3.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Size_and_Proportions" id="Size_and_Proportions"></a>
+Size and Proportions</div>
+
+<p>Although considerable variation in size is observable, little taxonomic
+use is made of size since sufficient series are not available to determine age
+classes. The subspecies attaining the largest size is <i>C. lineatus concolor</i>; all
+others are smaller and of about the same size and proportions. The longest
+specimen, a male of <i>C. l. concolor</i>, has a body length of 893 mm., a tail length
+of 274 mm., and a total length of 1167 mm.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg_259]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="smcap">Table 2.&mdash;Variation in the Number of Ventrals in Conophis.</div>
+
+<table width="100%" style="height:9px; border-collapse: collapse" summary="Sexual Dimorphism">
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt center">Taxon</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Number of Specimens</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Range</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Mean</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Deviation</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Error</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Coefficient of Variation</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. concolor</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center"> 45</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">158-170</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">163.7</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">1.56</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.23</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.95</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. dunni</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">36</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">159-178</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">167.2</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.56</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.76</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">2.72</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>l. lineatus</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">26</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">157-169</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">163.5</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">3.59</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">0.72</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">2.20</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>nevermanni</i> </td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">6</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">173-183</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">176.5</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">4.00</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">1.63</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">2.27</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>pulcher</i></td>
+  <td class="brdlf center"> 26</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">149-180</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">169.5</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">5.31</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">1.04</td>
+  <td class="brdlf center">3.13</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdbt"><i>vittatus</i></td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">171</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">149-180</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">163.7</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">6.33</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">0.15</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">3.87</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Table 3.&mdash;Sexual Dimorphism as Indicated by Variation in the Number<br />
+of Subcaudals in Conophis</div>
+
+<table width="100%" style="height:9px; border-collapse: collapse" summary="Sexual Dimorphism">
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt center">Taxon</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Sex</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Number of Specimens</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Range</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Mean</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Deviation</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Standard Error</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Coefficient of Variation</td>
+  <td class="brdtp2 brdbt brdlf center">Coefficient of Difference</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>lineatus&nbsp;concolor</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">22</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">68-74</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">70.3</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">2.14</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.46</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.04</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr style="height:9px">
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.97</td>
+</tr>
+<tr style="height:9px">
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">16</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">56-65</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">61.8</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">2.18</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.55</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.53</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>lineatus dunni</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">14</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">67-80</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">74.5</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.86  </td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.03</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">5.18</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.95</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">16</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">60-72</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">67.1</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.91</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.97</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">5.82</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>lineatus lineatus</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">11</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">67-73</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">69.8</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">6.17</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.85</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">8.84</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.60</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">9</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">60-66</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">62.4</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">6.17</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">2.06</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">9.89</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>nevermanni</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">82-89</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">85.3</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">2</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">71-76</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">73.5</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#8230;&#8230;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>pulcher</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">7</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">70-79</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">74.3</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.11</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.17</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">4.19</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.93</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">11</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">65-71</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">68.2</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.42</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.08</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">5.01</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><i>vittatus</i></td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">&#9794;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">95</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">59-76</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">67.8</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">3.33</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">0.34</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">4.91</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdlf">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="center brdlf">1.28</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdbt">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">&#9792;</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">58</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">55-66</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">60.0</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">2.75</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">0.36</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">4.58</td>
+  <td class="brdbt brdlf center">&nbsp;</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg_260]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Color_Pattern" id="Color_Pattern"></a>
+Color Pattern</div>
+
+<p>This is the primary feature used to separate species and subspecies in this
+genus. The color pattern consists of three black or deep brown stripes on the
+dorsal part of the head, one mid-dorsally, and one on each side of the head
+passing through the eye. On the body, there are usually dark longitudinal
+stripes on a pale tan or white background. There may be as few as three
+in <i>vittatus</i>, and as many as 13 in <i>l. dunni</i>; except that there is none in <i>C. l.
+concolor</i>. There are two pairs of primary dark stripes. The first is the body
+stripe that is the posterior extension of the stripe which on the head passes
+through the eye and is termed the lateral stripe. The other primary stripe is
+the posterior continuation of the mid-dorsal head stripe. Usually it is split
+into two dorsolateral stripes on the body. Stripes may be present on the
+scale-row to either side of the primary stripe. These stripes are usually dark
+brown or black and are the secondary stripes. Finally, additional stripes may
+be present that are paler brown and bear no direct relationship to the primary
+stripes. These are auxiliary stripes.</p>
+
+<p>Every stripe originates either as broad continuous stripe or as a row of
+spots or dashes, forming a discontinuous stripe, which in some specimens
+becomes continuous posteriorly. The stripes are usually black or deep brown,
+although auxiliary stripes are sometimes paler. The dorsal ground color is
+pale brown, tan, olive, or white; usually the ground color is palest ventrally
+and darkest dorsally.</p>
+
+<p>In some specimens of <i>Conophis</i> the lateral tips of the ventrals are spotted,
+one spot on each end of each ventral. Otherwise, the ventrals are immaculate
+white.</p>
+
+<p>In some species there is considerable ontogenetic change in color pattern,
+although the juveniles bear the basic color characteristics of the adults. For
+example, juveniles of the sympatric species <i>C. lineatus dunni</i> and <i>C. pulcher</i>
+can be separated on the basis of which scale-rows are darkly pigmented.
+<i>C. l. dunni</i> has eight stripes in juveniles and as many as 13 in adults.
+Juveniles show a greater contrast between the black stripes and the pale
+ground color than do adults. With increased age (size) the stripes in some
+populations become paler and are split; simultaneously the ground color
+becomes darker.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Sexual_Dimorphism" id="Sexual_Dimorphism"></a>
+Sexual Dimorphism</div>
+
+<p>Sexual dimorphism is evident in all species and subspecies of
+<i>Conophis</i>. Differences always exist in the number of subcaudals
+and in the tail/body ratio; males have more subcaudals and relatively
+longer tails than do females (table 3). Otherwise, there is
+little sexual dimorphism in these snakes. Males and females cannot
+be differentiated by any feature of coloration.</p>
+
+<p>Formulation of a biological concept of the species as defined
+by Mayr (1942) is difficult when most of the data primarily relied
+upon are from preserved specimens. Nevertheless, a total view
+of variation was attempted so that differences within and between
+populations could be recognized. Differences, between populations,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg_261]</a></span>
+that seem to be part of a continuous or internal cline (Huxley,
+1942) are not used for characterizing subspecies.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg_262]</a></span></p>
+<a name="Fig_1" id="Fig_1"></a>
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 499px;">
+<img src="images/fig_1.png" width="499" height="603" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 1.</span> Patterns of dorsal coloration at mid-body of adults of all species and
+subspecies of the genus Conophis except C. lineatus concolor. A. C. lineatus
+dunni (UMMZ 107339) from Santa Rosa, Guatemala. B. C. lineatus dunni
+(UMMZ 116537) from 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa, Nicaragua. C. C. lineatus dunni
+(ANSP 3480) from &quot;San Jose,&quot; Costa Rica. D. C. l. lineatus (KU 23253)
+from Río Blanco, 20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, Veracruz, México. E. C.
+nevermanni (ANSP 22424) &quot;San Jose,&quot; Costa Rica. F. C. pulcher (UIMNH
+33646) from Soconusco, Chiapas, México. G. C. vittatus (KU 39626) from
+Atencingo, Puebla, México. H. C. vittatus (TCWC 9473) from 1 mi. S
+Colotlipa, Guerrero, México. I. C. vittatus (UMMZ 82653) from &quot;vicinity
+of&quot; Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, México. Approximately × 3/4.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_lineatus" id="Conophis_lineatus"></a>
+<b>Conophis lineatus</b> (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril)</div>
+
+<div class="species">
+<p><i>Tomodon lineatum</i> (in part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+<ins title='Correction: was "Érpétologie Genérale"'>Erpétologie Générale</ins>,
+7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;No dark pigmentation posterior to nape; lateral dark stripe
+anteriorly passing through eye and posteriorly involving 4th or 3rd and 4th
+scale-rows only; first scale-row darkly pigmented; no paravertebral dark stripe;
+six to thirteen (or no) dark stripes at mid-body; usually eight (sometimes
+seven) supralabials immaculate white or having dark ventral margins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;The variation in this species is discussed more completely in
+the descriptions of the subspecies. One hundred and seven specimens have
+157 to 178 (164.8) ventrals. Eighty-eight of these snakes having complete
+tails have 56 to 80 (68.0) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 222 to 247 (233.5) in 87 of these. On 107 specimens the reduction
+from 19 to 17 dorsal scale-rows takes place between ventrals 89 and 114
+(101.8). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; there
+are, on the average, fewer subcaudals in females than in males of each subspecies.
+The largest specimen is a male <i>C. l. concolor</i> (USNM 46345) from
+Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, México, having a body length of 893 mm., a tail
+length of 274 mm. and a total length of 1167 mm. The smallest is a juvenile
+<i>C. l. dunni</i> (MCZ 49749) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, having a body length
+of 162 mm., a tail length of 51 mm. and a total length of 213 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The greatest variation is in coloration. Dark color, or lack thereof, has
+been used to separate the subspecies of <i>C. lineatus</i>. The ground-color is pale
+brown, pale olive or white, either with no stripes on the body or with eight
+to thirteen dark stripes at mid-body. Specimens having dark stripes on the
+body always have black or dark brown pigmentation on the first, 4th and
+7th dorsal scale-rows. In some there is dark pigmentation on the 2nd, 3rd,
+8th and 10th rows of scales. The stripes appear on the nape or farther posteriorly,
+usually on the anterior third of the body, either as a series of spots
+or dashes that form a continuous stripe farther posteriorly or as a continuous
+stripe.</p>
+
+<p>The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally
+on those specimens having dark stripes present on the dorsum; spots are
+absent on all specimens having no dorsal stripes and on some specimens
+having dorsal stripes. Except for the dark lateral spots (when present) the
+ventrals are immaculate white. Usually the dorsal ground-color is pale tan,
+especially on the striped forms. The ground-color is usually palest on the
+lower dorsal scale rows and darkest dorsally.</p>
+
+<p>Three populations are separable as subspecies; one has no stripes on the
+body and occurs in the Yucatán Peninsula. The other two have stripes on the
+dorsum and vary clinally in coloration from the north (Veracruz, México) to
+south (Costa Rica) (<a href="#Fig_2">Fig. 2</a>). Reasons for separating these widespread, variable
+snakes into two subspecies are that they are discontinuous in distribution
+(the population in Veracruz is disjunct from the one that extends from Guatemala
+to Costa Rica), and that these populations have distinctly different color
+patterns.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_lineatus_dunni" id="Conophis_lineatus_dunni"></a>
+<b>Conophis lineatus dunni</b> Smith</div>
+
+<div class="species">
+<i>Psammophis lineatus</i>, Günther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in the Collection
+of the British Museum, p. 135, 1858.
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg_263]</a></span></p>
+
+<a name="Fig_2" id="Fig_2"></a>
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 503px;">
+<img src="images/fig_2.png" width="503" height="456" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 2.</span> Selected locality records for the subspecies of <i>Conophis lineatus</i>.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="species">
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus</i>, Cope, 3rd Ann. Rept. Peabody Acad. Sci., p. 82, 1871;
+Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23:204, October 24, 1871; Journ.
+Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+32:77, 1887; Günther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895;
+Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural
+History), 3:122-123, 1896; Werner, Arch. Naturges., 90, abt. A, 12:143,
+1925; Schmidt, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 12:199-200, November
+21, 1928; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:212, 1929; Werner, Zool.
+Jahrb., 57:184, 1929; Stuart, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan,
+292:5, June 29, 1934; Dunn, Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31, 1937.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus similis</i> Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:123-124,
+March 15, 1941 (Type.&mdash;United States National Museum, No. 79963;
+type locality.&mdash;Managua, Nicaragua; <i>nec</i> Bocourt <i>in</i> Duméril, Bibron
+and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+Centrale, 2:647-648, 1886); Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167,
+1961.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus dunni</i> Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 92:394-395, November
+5, 1942; Savage, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:483-486, December
+31, 1949; Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 34(pt. 1):145, October 1,
+1951; Neill and Allen, Publ. Res. Div. Ross Allen's Rept. Inst., 2:56,
+November 10, 1959; Herpetologica, 16:146-148, fig. 2, September 23,
+1960.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis pulcher pulcher</i>, Stuart, Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan,
+69:79, June 12, 1948; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 45:24,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg_264]</a></span>
+May, 1950; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 49:14, August, 1951;
+Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 65:19-20 (part), March, 1954.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis pulcher plagosus</i>, Mertens, Zool. Anz., 148:93, February, 1952;
+Abhand. Senken. Naturw. Gesell., 487:61-62, December 1, 1952.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus nevermanni</i>, Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 37(pt. 1):563-565,
+fig. 16, October 15, 1955.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Type.</i>&mdash;United States National Museum, no. 79963, obtained by Lt. H. C.
+Kellers. Type locality: Managua, Nicaragua. There are also three paratypes;
+one a topotype (USNM 79964), one from "Nicaragua" (USNM 25237),
+and one from Esparta, Costa Rica (USNM 37758).</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and posteriorly
+involving 3rd and 4th scale-rows; 1st scale-row darkly pigmented; no
+paravertebral dark stripe, although vertebral row sometimes darkly pigmented;
+six to thirteen stripes at mid-body; eight supralabials
+<ins title='Correction: was "immaculaate"'>immaculate</ins> or having
+dark ventral margins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;Thirty-six specimens have 159 to 178 (167.2 &#177; 4.56) ventrals.
+Thirty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 80 (70.5 &#177; 5.36)
+subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 224 to 247
+(237.6). In 36 specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes
+place between ventrals 91 and 111 (102.1 &#177; 4.59). Sexual dimorphism is
+evident in the number of subcaudals; 16 females have 60 to 72 (67.1), and
+14 males have 67 to 80 (74.5) subcaudals. The largest specimen (ERA-WTN
+BH-300) is a female from Augustine, British Honduras, having a body length
+of 732 mm., a tail length of 183 mm. and a total length of 915 mm. A
+juvenile (MCZ 49794) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body length of
+162 mm., a tail length of 51 mm. and a total length of 213 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The greatest variation is in coloration. The ground-color is pale brown or
+white with dark stripes of black or deep brown present dorsally and laterally.
+Some specimens from Costa Rica have as many as 13 dark stripes at mid-body
+(<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, C</a>). In these snakes the first row of dorsal scales bears a series
+of large, slightly elongated, dark spots; on the 2nd row a narrow dark brown
+stripe on the middle of the scales; on the 3rd a black stripe on the dorsal one-third
+to one-half of the scales; on the 4th and the 7th rows black stripes on
+the medial half of the scales of each row; on the 8th and 10th (vertebral)
+rows dark brown stripes on the medial third of the scales of each row. A
+specimen from Guatemala (UMMZ 107339) shows the greatest reduction of
+stripes and dark pigmentation (<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, A</a>); it has only eight stripes at mid-body:
+on the first row of dorsal scales a discontinuous stripe is formed by a
+series of dashes; the 3rd row bears a series of small black spots near the
+base and tip of each scale; the 4th and 7th rows bear continuous black
+stripes on the medial third to fourth of the scales of each row; the 8th row
+has extremely small dark spots near the tips of some scales.</p>
+
+<p>The primary stripes, <ins title='Correction: was "chacteristic"'>characteristic</ins>
+of the species <i>lineatus</i>, are those on the 1st,
+4th and 7th rows of dorsal scales; these are the most prominent stripes. In
+some specimens these primary stripes begin as spots or dashes on the nape
+and become continuous stripes posteriorly; in others they are continuous for
+the length of the body. The stripe on the 1st row is most variable; usually it
+consists of only a discontinuous series of dashes for most of its length. The
+secondary stripes are those on the 3rd and 8th rows; of these, only the one
+on the 3rd scale-row is present on the nape. The stripe on the 3rd row in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg_265]</a></span>
+combination with the dark stripe on the 4th row is the posterior continuation
+of the dark stripe that on the head passes through the eye; this stripe is
+characteristic of <i>C. lineatus dunni</i>. Both secondary stripes usually begin
+anteriorly as a series of spots or dashes and become continuous stripes
+posteriorly; occasionally near the base of the tail they fuse with the primary
+stripes on the 4th and 7th rows. In some specimens in Costa Rica indistinct
+stripes are present on the 10th (posteriorly the 9th) rows, and in some
+specimens in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica similar indistinct stripes are
+present on the 2nd row.</p>
+
+<p>Usually there are more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally on the
+ventrals, but in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the dark
+lateral spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white. The dorsal
+ground-color is a pale brown or brownish white in preserved specimens on the
+1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th rows of scales where dark stripes or spots are not
+present. The ground-color of the dorsum between the 5th rows on each side
+is a somewhat darker shade of pale to medium brown.</p>
+
+<p>Never is more than the lower one-third of each of the supralabials brown.
+In many specimens little or no brown is present on the lower margins of
+these scales. Some of the specimens having brown on the supralabials also
+have dusky markings of tan or gray on the chin and infralabials. Specimens
+from the northern part of the range (Guatemala) less frequently have dark
+chins and supralabials than do specimens from the southern part of the range
+(Costa Rica). There is, nevertheless, at any one locality considerable variation
+in the amount of dark pigmentation present on the chin and supralabials,
+thereby indicating that the slight geographic trend in this character is not
+significant.</p>
+
+<p>Probably the most common pattern of dorsal coloration consists of eight
+or ten dark stripes (<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, B</a>). In snakes having this pattern the stripes on
+the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th rows are always present and prominent, although
+those on the 1st and 3rd rows sometimes are present as discontinuous rows of
+dashes. The ground-color from the venter to the 7th row is usually pale
+brown, and that dorsally between the 7th rows on each side is usually a darker,
+medium brown. A series of spots or dashes or a continuous stripe is sometimes
+present on the 8th row of scales.</p>
+
+<p>Snakes having a larger number of dark stripes and more dark pigmentation
+occur in the southern part of the range. There seems to be a cline from paler
+snakes having fewer stripes in the north to darker snakes in the south.</p>
+
+<a name="Fig_3" id="Fig_3"></a>
+<table width="80%" class="center" summary="img_frame">
+<tr>
+  <td><img src="images/fig_3.png" width="247" height="165" alt="" title="" /></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="justify"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 3. Patterns of dorsal coloration
+      at mid-body of juveniles of two sympatric species of Conophis.
+      A. <i>C. lineatus dunni</i> (MCZ 49794) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      B. <i>C. pulcher</i> (MCZ 49791) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      Approximately × 1.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+
+<p>In juveniles, there are six or eight black stripes boldly contrasting with a
+white or pale tan ground-color (<a href="#Fig_3">fig. 3, A</a>). The first pair of stripes is on the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg_266]</a></span>
+1st scale-row; the second pair, on the 3rd and 4th scale-rows; the third pair,
+on the 7th row; the fourth pair (when present), on the 8th row. Ontogenetic
+change in coloration consists of the splitting of the second pair of dark stripes
+in the juvenile. Additional stripes may form later on the 2nd and/or 10th
+rows of dorsal scales.</p>
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;Savage (1949:483-486) stated that his specimen of
+<i>C. l. dunni</i> (from Honduras) resembled <i>l. lineatus</i> in having secondary
+stripes on the 2nd and 8th rows and dark pigmentation
+throughout the length of the 2nd row. As can be seen from the
+preceding discussion of variation, a specimen having this color
+pattern is clearly within the observed range of variation of <i>l. dunni</i>.
+The specimen in no way represents an intergrade between <i>C. l.
+dunni</i> and <i>l. lineatus</i>.</p>
+
+<p>A specimen in the British Museum (Natural History), catalogued
+in 1853 (no. 53.2.4.16), has the locality listed as "México." Since
+this specimen is of <i>C. l. dunni</i> and this subspecies occurs only
+south of México, the locality must be considered erroneous; possibly
+the locality as recorded referred only to the fact that the
+specimen came from tropical Middle America.</p>
+
+<p>The absence of paravertebral stripes, the presence of a lateral
+dark stripe on the nape involving the 3rd and 4th rows of scales,
+and the darkly pigmented 1st scale-row, in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus, distinguish <i>C. l. dunni</i> from all other
+snakes in México and Central America. The only sympatric species
+of this genus, <i>C. pulcher</i>, differs in that it has paravertebral stripes
+(though never a vertebral dark stripe). <i>Conophis pulcher</i> has a
+lateral dark stripe that includes the upper half of the second
+scale-row on the anterior part of the body; stripes of <i>C. l. dunni</i>
+never include more than the 3rd and 4th rows. Even as juveniles
+the paravertebral row is not darkly pigmented in <i>C. l. dunni</i> as it
+is in <i>C. pulcher</i>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Semi-arid habitats from sea level to
+<ins title='Correction: was "elevatons"'>elevations</ins> of 1000 m.
+from the Cuilco Valley in western Guatemala, El Peten and British Honduras
+southeastward to northeastern and southern Honduras, western Nicaragua and
+northwestern Costa Rica (<a href="#Fig_2">fig. 2</a>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of 41 specimens, as follows:
+<span class="smcap">British Honduras</span>:
+<i>Cayo District</i>: Augustine, ERA-WTN BH-300; <i>Mountain Pine Ridge,
+10 mi. E Augustine</i>, ERA-WTN BH-298.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Costa Rica</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>, AMNH 17309. "<i>Cartago</i>," BMNH
+71.11.22.15. <i>Puntarenas</i>: 32 km. N Barranca, KU 35630; Esparta, USNM
+37758. "<i>San José</i>," ANSP 3480, 12232.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">El Salvador</span>: <i>Morazan</i>: El Divisadero, CNHM 10999. <i>San Miguel: San
+Pedro</i>, MCZ 57061.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Guatemala</span>: <i>El Petén</i>: Sojio (Toocog), AMNH 69969, 69986. <i>Huehuetenango</i>:
+flood plain Río Cuilco, W of Finca Canibal, 18 km. N Tacaná,
+UMMZ 98283. <i>Santa Rosa</i>: Santa Rosa, UMMZ 107339.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg_267]</a></span>
+<span class="smcap">Honduras</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>, AMNH 32814, UF 7657. <i>Cortes: Cofradía</i>,
+SU 8422; <i>Gracias</i>, CNHM 28560; <i>Hacienda de Santa Ana, W San Pedro
+Sula</i>, CNHM 5297; San Pedro Sula, UMMZ 68695(2); <i>near San Pedro Sula</i>,
+MCZ 27563. <i>Francisco Morazan: Potrero de Melio, Escuela Agricola Pan-Americana</i>,
+MCZ 49987; Tegucigalpa, MCZ 49784, 49786, 49789-90, 49792, 49794.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Mexico</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>, BMNH 53.2.4.16.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Nicaragua</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>, UMMZ 65633, USNM 25237.
+<i>Leon</i>: El Polvón, MCZ 5645, 5696. <i>Managua</i>: Managua, USNM 79963-64; <i>3 mi. SW
+Managua</i>, KU 42315; <i>8 mi. WNW Managua</i>, KU 42314; <i>1 mi. N Sabana
+Grande</i>, KU 42311-13. <i>Matagalpa</i>: 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa, UMMZ 116537.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_lineatus_lineatus" id="Conophis_lineatus_lineatus"></a>
+<b>Conophis lineatus lineatus</b> (<ins title='Correction: was "Dumeril"'>Duméril</ins>, Bibron and
+<ins title='Correction: was "Dumeril"'>Duméril</ins>)</div>
+
+<div class="species">
+<p><i>Tomodon lineatum</i> (in part) Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+<ins title='Correction: was "Érpétologie Genérale"'>Erpétologie Générale</ins>,
+7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73, February 25, 1854; Bocourt,
+Journ. de Zool., 5:406-407, 1876.</p>
+
+<p><i>Tomodon lineatus</i>, Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Fis., Genoa, 2(2):234, March
+1863; Elenco sistematico degli ofidi. Milano, p. 57, 1863; Muller, Reisen
+in den Vereinigten Staaten, Canada, und Mexico. Bd. 3. Beitrage zur
+Geschichte, Statistik, und Zoologie von Mexiko. 3:607, 1865; Jan and
+Sordelli, Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens, Milano. liv. 19, pl. 6,
+fig. 3, December, 1866; liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34, November, 1881.</p>
+
+<p><i>Tachymenis lineata</i> (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16: 33, January
+9, 1884; Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 8:60-61, July, 1884.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus</i>, Bocourt <i>in</i> Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique
+au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5,
+1886; Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:218, pl. 28, fig. 2, (hemipenis),
+April 15, 1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum
+(Natural History), 3:122-123 (part), 1896; Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S.
+Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1242, pl. 26, fig. 2, (hemipenis),
+1900; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:212, 1929; Mittleman, Copeia, no.
+2:122, June 30, 1944.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis lineatus lineatus</i>, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:122,
+March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407, October 29, 1943; Smith and Taylor,
+Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:43, October 5, 1945; Shannon and Smith,
+Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 52:505, December 31, 1949; Smith and Taylor,
+Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):351, March 20, 1950; Werler and
+Smith, Texas Journ. Sci. 4(4):565, December 30, 1952; Fugler and
+Dixon, Herpetologica, 14:186, December 1, 1958.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Type.</i>&mdash;Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, no. 3738. Type locality.&mdash;"México,"
+restricted to Veracruz, Veracruz, México, by Smith and Taylor
+(1950:351). Little is known about the type specimen, and nothing, concerning
+its collector or the locality at which it was collected. Smith (1941:122)
+assumed that the specimen illustrated by Bocourt in Duméril, Bocourt, and
+Mocquard (1886:pl. 38, fig. 5) was the type of <i>C. l. lineatus</i>. I have also
+made this assumption concerning the identity of the type specimen of this
+species, especially because of the many inconsistencies appearing in the plate
+accompanying the description by Duméril, Bibron and Duméril (1854:pl. 73),
+and by Jan and Sordelli (1866:pl. 6). Neither show the nape nor a regular
+number of dorsal scales by which accurate determination of color pattern can
+be made and by means of which <i>C. l. dunni</i> and <i>C. l. lineatus</i> can be separated.</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and posteriorly
+involving fourth scale-row only; first scale-row darkly pigmented; no
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg_268]</a></span>
+paravertebral stripe; no dark pigment on vertebral row; six or eight dark
+stripes at mid-body, secondary stripes often present posteriorly; usually eight
+(sometimes seven) supralabials immaculate or having dark ventral margins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;Twenty-six specimens have 157 to 169 (163.5 &#177; 3.59) ventrals.
+Twenty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 73 (66.5 &#177; 4.26)
+subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 224 to 238
+(230.1) in nineteen of these. In 26 specimens the reduction from 19 to 17
+dorsal scale-rows takes place between ventrals 91 and 107 (100.2 &#177; 3.59).
+Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; nine females have
+60 to 66 (62.4), and 11 males have 68 to 73 (69.8) subcaudals. The largest
+specimen (AMNH 19643) is a male from "México," having a body length
+of 626 mm., a tail length of 168 mm. and a total length of 786 mm. No
+small juveniles have been examined; the smallest specimen (AMNH 19618)
+is a male from Veracruz, México, having a body length of 325 mm., a tail
+length of 90 mm. and a total length of 415 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The greatest variation is in coloration. In preserved specimens the ground-color
+is white, tannish-white, or often pale blue, with dark stripes of black
+or deep brown present dorsolaterally and laterally. Secondary stripes of
+paler brown are sometimes present, but the pale browns have faded badly
+on many specimens. Normally four black stripes are present at mid-body&mdash;a
+lateral pair on the 4th row of dorsal scales and a dorsolateral
+pair on the 7th row (<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, D</a>). The lateral pair is the posterior continuation
+of the stripe that on the head passes through the eye; it continues on the
+nape as a narrow stripe on the 4th row only. In a few specimens the lateral
+stripe broadens to include the upper third of the 3rd row posterior to the
+nape. In some specimens both the dorsolateral and lateral dark stripes
+are present on the nape as a row of elongated spots or dashes that become
+continuous stripes of even width one-third to one-half of the distance posteriorly
+along the body; in other specimens the stripes are continuous on the
+nape. Posterior to the place of dorsal scale-reduction from 19 to 17 rows
+by the fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows, the lateral and dorsolateral stripes are
+moved downward by one row. In some specimens secondary black or dark
+brown stripes are present in the form of a series of dashes on the 5th and
+8th rows; posterior to the place of scale reduction, these dashes are on the
+4th and 7th rows. These dashes form a continuous stripe near the base of
+the tail. On the tail the secondary and primary stripes on adjacent rows sometimes
+fuse into a single broader stripe.</p>
+
+<p>Usually the 1st row of dorsal scales is dark brown; in some specimens the
+brown on the 1st or 7th row has faded in preservative. A few specimens
+have small black spots on the moderate brown background of the 1st row;
+in others the 1st row is only a somewhat darker brown than the ground-color.
+The 2nd row sometimes is a medium brown, and appears to be an additional
+stripe.</p>
+
+<p>The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally;
+in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the lateral spots (when
+present) the ventrals are immaculate white. The dorsal ground-color is
+pale brownish-white, white or pale blue between the 4th and 7th rows of
+dorsal scales and dorsally between the 7th rows on each side. Stripes are
+never present on the uniformly pale colored 8th, 9th and vertebral scale-rows.</p>
+
+<p>Usually there are eight supralabials on each side; however, seven of the
+27 specimens examined have seven supralabials on each side, and three others
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg_269]</a></span>
+have seven on one side, and eight on the other. Never is more than the
+lower third of the supralabials dark brown. In many specimens little or no
+brown is on the supralabials. There is little or no brown on the chin.</p>
+
+<p>Variation in coloration and in number of supralabials appears to be of no
+geographic significance.</p>
+
+<p>Although no juveniles have been collected, I expect that juveniles resemble
+adults in coloration. Probably there would be a greater contrast between the
+dark stripes and the pale ground-color in juveniles.</p>
+
+<p>In life an adult from three miles northwest of Lerdo de Tejada, Veracruz,
+México (UMMZ 114484), had black stripes on the 4th and 7th rows of dorsal
+scales, and black spots on a brown background on the 1st row. The 2nd row
+had a medial, pale to medium brown auxiliary stripe on a brownish-white
+background. Posterior to the nape the 3rd row was medium brown. The
+area between the 4th and 7th rows and the dorsum between the 7th row of
+scales on each side was a pale brownish-white. Posterior to the place of
+scale-reduction the primary stripes were displaced downward by one row
+to the 3rd and 6th rows and secondary stripes originated as elongated spots
+on the 4th and 7th rows. Near the tail the secondary stripes were broad and
+continuous. The head was white or tannish-white with three dark brown or
+black stripes.</p>
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;In his diagnosis of <i>C. l. lineatus</i>, Smith (1941:122)
+states: "lateral dark stripe &#8230; very narrow posterior to nape,
+extending along fourth scale row; posteriorly a stripe along third
+and eighth (farther posteriorly the seventh) scale rows; a narrow
+dark stripe along sixth scale row, continuous throughout length of
+body&#8230;." I fail to find a dark stripe on the 6th row throughout
+the length of the body. In all specimens that I have seen, there
+is a dark stripe on the 7th row anteriorly and on the 6th row
+posteriorly. In many specimens the stripes on the 3rd and 8th
+(posteriorly the 7th) scale-rows are absent or present so far posteriorly
+that the 8th row is never involved.</p>
+
+<p>The dark brown on the first scale-row and the presence of a
+lateral dark stripe on the 4th row of dorsal scales only, in combination
+with the characteristics of the genus, distinguish <i>C. l. lineatus</i> from
+all other snakes in México.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Semi-arid habitats on the coastal plain of Veracruz, México,
+from Tecolutla to Lerdo de Tejada and Piedras Negras (<a href="#Fig_2">fig. 2</a>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of 27, as follows:
+<span class="smcap">México</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>,
+AMNH 19614-15, 19621-24, 19642-43, NMW 16827. <i>Veracruz: no specific
+locality</i>, AMNH 19618-20, CAS 73640, NMW 16829; <i>4 km. S Alvarado</i>, KU
+58124; <i>14 mi. N Alvarado</i>, UIMNH 46978; 6 mi. SE Boca del Río, UIMNH
+28023; Etiopa, 2 mi. S Tecolutla, UIMNH 3847; <i>ca.</i> 30 mi. E Jalapa, AMNH
+81948; 3 mi. NW Lerdo de Tejada, UMMZ 114484-85; Paso del Macho,
+USNM 109708; Río Blanco, 20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, KU 23253; Veracruz,
+AMNH 19612, UF 8990; <i>W side Veracruz</i>, AMNH 19616; <i>2 mi. W
+Veracruz</i>, AMNH 19617, 19619.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg_270]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_lineatus_concolor" id="Conophis_lineatus_concolor"></a>
+<b>Conophis lineatus concolor</b> Cope</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus</i> Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+Philadelphia, 13:300, December 28, 1861 (<i>nec</i> Peters, 1860;
+type.&mdash;United States National Museum, no. 4941; type
+locality&mdash;"Petén," Guatemala); Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:76, 1887.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis concolor</i> Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+18:318-319, February 20, 1867; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bocourt <i>in</i> Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard,
+Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:648,
+1886; Müller, Verh. Ges. Basel, 8:263, 1887; Cope, Bull. U. S. Natl.
+Mus., 32:77; 1887; Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095,
+1900; Schmidt and Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:178,
+October 31, 1936; Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:358,
+December 28, 1937; Smith, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan,
+388:7, October 31, 1938; Taylor and Smith, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+25:253, July 10, 1939; Smith, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+24:31, January 30, 1939; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 220:167,
+1961; Neill and Allen, Herpetologica, 17:44-46, fig. 3, April 15,
+1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis lineatus</i> (in part), Günther, Biologica
+Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Gaige <i>in</i> Pearse, <i>et al.</i>
+Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ., 457:302, February 5, 1936.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis lineaticeps</i> Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898,
+pp. 1094-95, 1900 (Substitute name for <i>Conophis vittatus</i> Cope,
+1861, <i>nec</i> Peters, 1860).</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i>, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci.,
+31:122-123, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November
+5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407, October 29, 1943; Smith and
+Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:43, October 5, 1945; Univ.
+Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):352, March 20, 1950.</div>
+
+<p><i>Types.</i>&mdash;Two in the United States National Museum, no. 12368 (two
+specimens). Type locality: "Yucatán," restricted to Chichén Itzá, Yucatán,
+México by Smith and Taylor (1950:352).</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Dark stripes either absent posterior to the nape,
+or present as a row of small spots on fourth or seventh scale-row;
+no dark stripe on first scale-row; eight supralabials having dark
+ventral margins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;Forty-five specimens have 158 to 170 (163.7
+&#177; 1.56) ventrals. Thirty-eight of these snakes having complete
+tails have 56 to 74 (66.7 &#177; 4.77) subcaudals; the number of
+ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 222 to 245 (230.6). In 45
+specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes place
+between ventrals 89 and 114 (102.5 &#177; 5.57). Sexual dimorphism
+is evident in the number of subcaudals; 16 females have 56 to 65
+(61.8), and 22 males have 68 to 74 (70.3) subcaudals. The longest
+specimen (USNM 46395) is a male from Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, having a
+body length of 893 mm., a tail length of 274 mm., and a total length
+of 1167 mm. A juvenile (AMNH 38833) from Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, has
+a body length of 194 mm., a tail length of 50 mm., and a total
+length of 244 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The venter is immaculate white or pale yellow and the dorsum of the
+body is immaculate pale gray to pale olive. Some specimens have small
+dark brown spots on the tips of the scales of the 4th or of the 7th row, but
+never on both. Only on the nape are spots present on both the 4th and the
+7th rows; these spots are the posterior continuations of the dark stripes
+on the head and on many specimens do not reach the nape. Posterior
+to the place of scale reduction from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion of the
+3rd and 4th rows of scales, the dark spots (when present) are on the
+3rd or 6th row of scales.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg_271]</a></span>
+The coloration of juveniles is the same as that of adults. Color in life
+is thought not too different from that of preserved specimens, for notes on the
+color of living individuals (Neill and Allen, 1961:44) agree with what I have
+observed on preserved snakes.</p>
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;The specimen from "Petén" (USNM, no. 4941) is the
+only specimen that has a controversial history. As can be seen from
+the synonymy of the species, the relationship of this specimen
+with the rest of the genus has been interpreted in several ways.
+Smith (1941:122-123) stated that the above specimen was catalogued
+as being from El Salvador; however, the locality was presumed
+by him to be El Petén, Guatemala, due to the presence in
+the bottle of a piece of paper inscribed "<i>Conophis vittatus</i>, Petén,
+J. M. Dow." This specimen is the one mentioned by Cope
+(1861:300, 1876:76, and 1900:1094-95), and in the first paper is
+ascribed to Guatemala. In 1900 this specimen was named <i>C.
+lineaticeps</i> by Cope who thought the specimen differed significantly
+from <i>C. concolor</i> (Cope, 1867:318-319). This specimen has the
+coloration normal for <i>C. l. concolor</i> as far posteriorly as mid-body;
+beyond mid-body the dark lines, typical of <i>C. l. lineatus</i> or of <i>C. l.
+dunni</i>, are present. It is likely that this specimen is an intergrade
+between <i>C. l. concolor</i> and <i>C. l. dunni</i>, the other subspecies present
+in Guatemala.</p>
+
+<p>The only specimen not from the Yucatán Peninsula is allegedly
+from Patuca, Honduras (USNM 20271). It was obtained in the
+1870's. Possibly more collecting will verify the presence of <i>C. l.
+concolor</i> in northern Honduras. This individual may be merely a
+genetically aberrant specimen from an area where normal specimens
+are <i>C. l. dunni</i>. Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) suggested that
+the specimen from Patuca implies widely overlapping distributions
+for <i>C. l. dunni</i> and <i>C. concolor</i>. The occurrence of <i>C. l. concolor</i> in
+Honduras needs to be verified before this assumption is made.
+There can, therefore, at present be no objection to the view that
+intergradation between the subspecies <i>C. l. dunni</i> and <i>C. l. concolor</i>
+could occur through a relatively broad area of El Petén and British
+Honduras.</p>
+
+<p>Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) further suggest that the present
+range of <i>C. l. dunni</i> extends "presumably still farther northward
+toward the Méxican state of Veracruz where <i>C. l. lineatus</i> exists."
+Actually the presence of the subspecies <i>C. l. dunni</i> and <i>C. l. lineatus</i>
+as presently disjunct populations implies merely that they were
+presumably a continuous population at some time in the past.</p>
+
+<p>The characteristics of the genus in combination with the reduction
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg_272]</a></span>
+of dark coloration posterior to the head distinguish this snake
+from all other snakes in México and Central America.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;The Yucatán Peninsula: eastern Campeche, all of Yucatán,
+probably in Quintana Roo, and the northern third of British Honduras. A
+record for northeastern Honduras is questioned (<a href="#Fig_2">fig. 2</a>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of 48, as follows:
+<span class="smcap">British Honduras</span>: <i>Belize
+District</i>: 13.0 mi. W, 1.5 mi. S Belize, ERA-WTN BH-1562.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Guatemala</span>: <i>El Petén, no specific locality</i>, USNM 4941.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Honduras</span>: <i>Colón</i>: Patuca, USNM 20271.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">México</span>: <i>Campeche</i>: Champotón, UMMZ 73063-66; Encarnación, CNHM
+106462. <i>Yucatán: no specific locality</i>, BMNH 80.7.13.30; Chichén Itzá,
+AMNH 38826, 38833, CNHM 20610-11, 26986-87, 36299-300, 36303-04,
+36307, 36316, MCZ 7422, 28748, UMMZ 68236, 73060-62, 80806, USNM
+46395; Kantunil, CNHM 36301, 36305-06, 36308-09, 36312-13; <i>Libré Union</i>,
+CNHM 36298, 36302, 36310-11, 36314; Mayapán, CNHM 40720; Mérida,
+CNHM 19411, 19413, NMW 16828; Progreso, CNHM 40721; Tekom, CNHM
+49374; Yokdzonot, CNHM 36315.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_nevermanni" id="Conophis_nevermanni"></a>
+<b>Conophis nevermanni</b> Dunn</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Coniophanes imperialis imperialis</i>, Wettstein, Sitz.
+Akad. Wiss. Wien. mathem-naturw. Kl., 143:37-38, 1934.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis nevermanni</i> Dunn, Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31, 1937; Smith,
+Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942; Savage, Trans. Kansas
+Acad. Sci., 50:484, December 31, 1949; Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+Bull., 34(pt. 1): 145-146, October 1, 1951.</div>
+
+<p><i>Type.</i>&mdash;Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, no. 22423, obtained
+by Emmet R. Dunn from Prof. Manuel Valerio. Type locality: Río Poas de
+Aserri (a few miles south of San José), Costa Rica.</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Head and body dark brown or black above with two or four
+white stripes along body; usually two white lines on head immediately above
+eye passing from canthus rosetralis posteriorly to connect with white stripe on
+6th row of dorsal scales; eight supralabials with black margins above.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;Six specimens have 173 to 183 (176.5 &#177; 4.00) ventrals. Five
+of these snakes having complete tails have 71 to 89 (80.6 &#177; 7.15) subcaudals;
+the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 250 to 263 (257.0).
+In the six specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes place between
+ventrals 84 and 97 (93.2 &#177; 4.71). Sexual dimorphism is evident in
+the number of subcaudals; two females have 71 and 76 (73.5), and three
+males have 82 to 89 (85.3) subcaudals. The longest specimen (ANSP 22424)
+is a female from San José, Costa Rica, having a body length of 660 mm., a
+tail length of 168 mm. and a total length of 828 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The dorsal coloration (<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, E</a>) varies from a black ground-color with
+two or four narrow white stripes to a dark brown ground-color with a series
+of black stripes and four white stripes. In the black specimens there are no
+dark stripes. The darkest specimen (NMW 16838:1) has only two white
+stripes; these more or less continuous stripes are on the ventral third of the
+2nd row of scales and occasionally on the dorsalmost part of the first scale-row.
+The venter is immaculate white except for black on the tips of the ventral
+scales. The dorsum above the 2nd scale-row is uniform black. There are
+no white stripes on the head.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg_273]</a></span>
+The palest specimen (NMW 16838:2) has four dorsal white stripes; the
+lateral pair of these stripes is on the ventral half of the 2nd and the dorsal
+third of the 1st scale-rows; the dorsolateral pair is on the dorsal two-thirds of
+the 6th and the ventral third of the 7th rows of scales. This latter stripe is
+the posterior continuation of the white stripe on the head, which originates
+immediately posterior to the rostral scale and passes posteriorly along the
+canthus rostralis and along the lateral margin of the supraocular scale to the
+nape. Posterior to the place of scale reduction, the dorsolateral white stripe
+is displaced ventrally one scale-row. Except for black flecks or spots on the
+lateral margins of the ventrals, the venter is immaculate white. The dorsum
+above the lateral white stripes is brown and black; there is a pair of dorsolateral
+white stripes. The dorsal half of the 2nd, most of the 3rd, 4th and
+5th rows of scales are black; the dorsal margin of the 3rd, both margins of
+the 4th, and the ventral margin of the 5th rows are paler brown. The dorsal
+two-thirds of the 7th, all but the dorsal most part of the 8th, and the middle
+two-thirds of the 10th scale-rows are black; the areas between are a medium
+brown.</p>
+
+<p>Only six specimens are available on which to base a description of the
+variation in this species. Furthermore, there are no juveniles, notes on the
+colors of living individuals, or photographs of this species.</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 498px;">
+<a name="Fig_4" id="Fig_4"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_4.png" width="498" height="405" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 4.</span> Selected locality records for <i>Conophis pulcher</i>
+and <i>Conophis nevermanni</i>.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;Taylor (1955:563-565) hesitantly referred a specimen
+(KU 35630) from 32 kilometers north of Barranca, Puntarenas
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg_274]</a></span>
+Province, Costa Rica, to <i>Conophis lineatus nevermanni</i>. This
+specimen, a female, has 169 ventrals and ventral scale-reduction taking
+place opposite the 109th ventral; both of these characters are well
+out of the range of <i>C. nevermanni</i>. Furthermore, the ventral margins
+of the supralabials are brown, and the pale dorsal stripes are
+tan and too wide for <i>C. nevermanni</i> (compare <a href="#Fig_1">figs. 1, C and E</a>).
+The specimen definitely is <i>C. lineatus dunni</i>, and corresponds well
+with another specimen from Costa Rica (ANSP 12232).</p>
+
+<p>The dark brown or black dorsum with two or four white stripes
+and the presence of eight supralabials having dark brown dorsal
+margins, in combination with the characters of the genus, serve
+to distinguish <i>Conophis nevermanni</i> from other Central American
+snakes.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Pacific coastal plain of northwestern Costa Rica and the
+Meseta Central of central Costa Rica (<a href="#Fig_4">fig. 4</a>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of six, as follows:
+<span class="smcap">Costa Rica</span>: <i>Guanacaste</i>:
+Bebedero, Río Tenorio, NMW 16838(5). "<i>San José</i>," ANSP 22424.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_pulcher" id="Conophis_pulcher"></a>
+<b>Conophis pulcher</b> Cope</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tomodon lineatus</i> (in part), Salvin, Proc. Zool.
+Soc. London, 28:455, 1860.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis pulcher</i> Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 20(5):308,
+1869; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bocourt
+<i>in</i> Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et
+dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:646-648, pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886; Ferrai-Perez,
+Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., p. 196, September 28, 1886; Cope, Bull. U. S.
+Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194, April 15,
+1895; Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900; Alvarez del
+Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas, pp. 154-155, 1960.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tomodon pulcher</i>, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 408, 1876.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis pulcher</i> var. <i>similis</i> Bocourt <i>in</i> Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard,
+Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:647-648,
+pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886 [Type.&mdash;Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle,
+Paris, no. 6090; type locality.&mdash;unknown, restricted to Tonalá, Chiapas,
+by Smith and Taylor (1950:326)].</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis lineatus</i>, Günther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March,
+1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural
+History), 3:122-123, 1896; Stuart, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ.
+Michigan, 292:5, June 29, 1934; Slevin, Proc. California Acad. Sci. 4th
+Ser., 23:409, December 29, 1939.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis pulcher pulcher</i>, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:121,
+March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 65:19-20 (part),
+March, 1954; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:63, November,
+1954; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis pulcher plagosus</i> Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci. 31:121-122,
+March 15, 1941 (Type.&mdash;United States National Museum, no. 109707;
+type locality: Tonalá, Chiapas); Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+Bull., 33(pt. 2):326, March 20, 1950; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+Univ. Michigan, 65:19-20, March, 1954; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+220:167, 1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis pulcher similis</i>, Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November
+5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408, October 29, 1943; Smith and
+Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:43-44, October 5, 1945; Univ.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg_275]</a></span>
+Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):43-44, March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell,
+Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat. Renov. pp. 132-133, 1953.</div>
+
+<p><i>Types.</i>&mdash;Three in the United States National Museum, nos. 6751 (2 specimens)
+and 6803, obtained by Henery Hague. Type locality: "Petén," or
+"Verapaz," Guatemala. There is much doubt about localities for many of
+Hague's specimens collected in the 1860's (Stuart, 1948:10). Since <i>Conophis
+pulcher</i> is found predominantly in semi-arid environments, the types might
+have come from the semi-arid Cahabón, Negro, or Salamá river basins&mdash;all
+places near the sugar plantation that Hague managed at San Jerónimo, Baja
+Verapaz. Possibly the types were obtained from as far away as the Motagua
+Valley or the southeastern highlands of Guatemala, both of which areas Hague
+is known to have visited.</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Paravertebral stripes present at least posteriorly
+(<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, F</a>); eight or ten stripes at mid-body; lateral
+dark stripe passing through eye anteriorly and including at least upper
+one-half of second scale-row from neck region posteriorly to place of scale
+reduction near mid-body; eight supralabials immaculate or having dark
+ventral margins.</p>
+
+<p><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;Twenty-six specimens have 161 to 182 (169.5 &#177; 5.31) ventrals.
+Eighteen of these snakes with complete tails have 65 to 79 (70.6 &#177; 3.93) subcaudals;
+the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 231 to 251
+(239.3). In 26 specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes
+place between ventrals 94 and 119 (104.6 &#177; 4.90). Sexual dimorphism is
+evident in the number of subcaudals; eleven females have 65 to 71 (68.2),
+and seven males have 70 to 79 (74.3) subcaudals. The longest specimen
+(AMNH 58364) is a female from El Zamarano, Honduras, having a body
+length of 703 mm., a tail length of 164 mm. and a total length of 867 mm.
+The smallest juvenile (MCZ 49793) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body
+length of 162 mm., a tail length of 46 mm. and a total length of 208 mm.</p>
+
+<p>The dorsal ground-color is pale brown or white; black or dark brown
+stripes are present dorsally and laterally. Normally ten stripes are present
+at mid-body; the first pair on the first row of dorsal scales; the second pair
+on the upper half of 2nd and lower part of 3rd rows; the third pair on 4th
+row; the fourth pair on 7th and sometimes part of 8th rows; the fifth pair
+(paravertebral stripes) on the 9th row. Posterior to the place of reduction
+from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows, the third, fourth
+and fifth pairs of stripes are displaced downward one row. Sometimes the
+second and third pairs of stripes are fused resulting in only eight stripes at
+mid-body. On some specimens the fourth and fifth pairs of stripes are close
+together, but in none are they fused so as to result in a pattern of six stripes
+at mid-body.</p>
+
+<p>The paravertebral stripes begin anteriorly on the nape or at any point
+on the anterior one-third of the body and continue as discrete stripes onto the
+base of the tail. Anteriorly these stripes are always broken into a series of
+dashes; posteriorly the stripes are continuous. In specimens in which the
+paravertebral stripes do not begin on the anterior-most part of the body, there
+is no paravertebral pigmentation anteriorly.</p>
+
+<p>In addition to the paravertebrals, the other dorsal dark stripes are variable.
+In some specimens the stripes are present anteriorly and gradually disappear
+near mid-body (the first dark stripe only on three specimens). In other
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg_276]</a></span>
+specimens the stripes are present anteriorly as dashes and become continuous
+at mid-body; in others the stripes are continuous throughout. Posteriorly
+continuous stripes are of uniform width; anteriorly sometimes they are wide
+on the tip of each scale and narrow on the base (<a href="#Fig_1">fig. 1, F</a>). The variation
+in continuity and width described above is found in all of the dorsal dark
+stripes.</p>
+
+<p>The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally; in
+some specimens there are no spots. Except for the dark lateral spots, when
+present, the ventrals are immaculate white. Usually the dorsal ground-color
+is a pale tan, especially between the first and second, and the third and fourth
+dark stripes. The areas between the second and third dark stripes and across
+the dorsum between the fourth stripes on each side are pale brown. In some
+specimens the dorsum between the paravertebral stripes is still paler brown.</p>
+
+<p>Never is more than the lower third of the supralabials brown. Many specimens
+have little brown, and others none. In most of those specimens having
+brown on the supralabials, the chin and infralabials are dusky tan or gray.
+There is little or no brown on the supralabials or the chin in the northern
+part of the range (Chiapas), whereas the greatest amount of brown on the
+labials and chin is found on some specimens from the southern part of the
+range (Honduras). Since there is considerable variation in the amount of
+brown on the chin and labials of specimens from single localities, the slight
+geographic trend in this character seemingly is not significant.</p>
+
+<p>In juveniles six black or dark brown stripes boldly contrast with a white
+or pale tan ground-color. At mid-body the first pair of dark stripes is on the
+1st scale row; the second pair on the 3rd and 4th rows; the third pair
+on the 7th, 8th and at least the lower half of the 9th rows (<a href="#Fig_3">fig. 3, B</a>).
+Ontogenetic change in coloration consists of the splitting of the second and
+third pairs of dark stripes in the juvenile. The first stripe does not split.
+Consequently adults have ten dark stripes.</p>
+
+<p>In life an adult from Tonalá, Chiapas, had black stripes. The ground-color
+below the second stripe, and between the third and fourth dark stripes was
+tan. The area between the second and third dark stripes was reddish-brown,
+as was the dorsum between the fourth pair of dark stripes, except that the
+10th scale-row was paler.</p>
+
+<p>Three excellent photographs of this species have been published under
+the name <i>Conophis lineatus</i> (Ditmars, 1931:pls. 26 and 27).</p>
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;Smith (1941:121-122) described <i>C. pulcher plagosus</i>
+from Tonalá, Chiapas, and characterized the subspecies by its
+having "(1) the ventrals completely unspotted; (2) secondary lines
+on paravertebral rows not continuous posteriorly; (3) all other
+lines on body also somewhat spotted in appearance; (4) dusky
+markings on chin and supralabial border very dim (less distinct
+than in <i>p. pulcher</i> or any member of the <i>lineatus</i> series)." Although
+all Chiapan specimens lack ventral spots, specimens from Guatemala
+have no spots, small spots, or large spots. Even in specimens
+from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the southernmost limit of the range,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg_277]</a></span>
+the spotting varies from a few inconspicuous spots to many large
+spots. Paravertebral rows were continuous posteriorly in alimens
+examined by me. Likewise, all other stripes were continuous
+bands of uniform width posteriorly, having appeared anteriorly as
+rows of spots or dashes. The amount of brown on the chin and
+labials has been shown previously not to be geographically significant.
+The absence of characters of adequate significance to separate
+populations precludes the naming of subspecies in this species.</p>
+
+<p>Mertens (1952a:93, and 1952b:61-62) designated three specimens
+from El Salvador as <i>C. pulcher plagosus</i>. In the latter paper, Mertens,
+on the basis of a description of a specimen of "<i>C. lineatus</i>" from
+Divisadero, El Salvador, given by Schmidt (1928:200), referred that
+specimen also to <i>C. pulcher plagosus</i>. I have examined this specimen
+and refer it to <i>C. lineatus dunni</i>. Although I have not seen
+Merten's specimens, on the basis of the excellent descriptions given
+by Mertens (1952b:61-62), I refer the three Salvadoranean specimens
+to <i>C. lineatus dunni</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The presence of paravertebral stripes in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus distinguish <i>Conophis pulcher</i> from all
+other snakes in southern México and Central America. The only
+sympatric species of this genus, <i>C. lineatus dunni</i>, differs in that it
+lacks paravertebral stripes, although it may have a single vertebral
+stripe. <i>Conophis lineatus dunni</i> has lateral dark stripes that are
+present on the 3rd and 4th scale-rows, never on the anterior third
+of the body as in <i>C. pulcher</i>. Even in juveniles the third pair of
+dark stripes includes the lower part of the 9th scale-row in <i>C. pulcher</i>,
+whereas the dorsal most dark stripe of <i>C. lineatus dunni</i> never
+includes more than the lower part of the 8th scale-row.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Pacific coastal region of Chiapas, México, southeastward
+into Guatemala; southeastern highlands and the dry valley of central and
+eastern Guatemala; Caribbean lowlands of Honduras southward to the region
+of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (<a href="#Fig_4">fig. 4</a>).</p>
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of 27, as follows:
+<span class="smcap">Guatemala</span>: <i>no specific
+locality</i>, CNHM 22912, NMW 16830. <i>Jutiapa</i>: Hacienda Mongoy, UMMZ
+106725. <i>El Progreso</i>: El Progreso, CAS 67000; <i>El Rancho</i>, UMMZ 106724;
+<i>San Antonio</i>, CAS 66999. "Peten," USNM 6751(2), 6803. <i>Sacatepequez</i>:
+Dueñas, BMNH 64.1.26.17, 64.1.26.126-127. <i>Zacapa</i>: Pepesca, AMNH
+72555-56.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Honduras</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>, AMNH 58364. <i>Cortes</i>: San Pedro Sula,
+CNHM 5295-96. <i>Francisco Morazan: El Zamarano</i>, AMNH 70189; Tegucigalpa,
+MCZ 49785, 49787-88, 49791, 49793, 49795.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">México</span>: <i>Chiapas</i>: <i>Soconusco</i>, UIMNH 33646-47; Tonalá, USNM 109707.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Conophis_vittatus" id="Conophis_vittatus"></a>
+<b>Conophis vittatus</b> Peters</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tomodon lineatum</i> (in part), Duméril, Bibron and
+<ins title='Correction: was "Duméil"'>Duméril</ins>,
+<ins title='Correction: was "Érpétologie Genérale"'>Erpétologie Générale</ins>,
+7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus</i> Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp. 519-520, pl.,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg_278]</a></span>
+fig. 3, October, 1860; Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., 11:162, 1870; Bocourt
+<i>in</i> Duméril, Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au
+Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:644-646, pl. 38, fig. 7, 1886;
+Günther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Boulenger,
+Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History),
+3:123-124, 1896; Cope, Amer. Nat., 30:1024, 1896; Ann. Rept. U. S.
+Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1232, 1900; Gadow, Proc. Zool. Soc.
+London, 2:225, 1905; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:211, 1929;
+Gadow, Jorullo, p. 55, 1930; Smith, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+24:31-32, January 30, 1939; Taylor and Smith, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+25:252-253, pl. 23, July 10, 1939; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ.
+Michigan, 65:23, March, 1954; Alvarez del Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas,
+pp. 153-154, 1960.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis lineatus</i> Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 16(3):167, 1864
+[<i>nec</i> Duméril, Bibron and Duméril,
+<ins title='Correction: was "Érpétologie Genérale"'>Erpétologie Générale</ins>,
+7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73, February 25, 1854; specimen from Colima];
+Sumichrast, Arch. Sci. Nat., p. 246, 1873.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tomodon vittatus</i>, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 407, 1876.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis sumichrasti sumichrasti</i> Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Types.&mdash;United States National Museum, nos. 29123,
+30258; type locality.&mdash;Tehuantepec, México); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+32:77, 1887; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):334,
+March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat.
+Renov., p. 124, 1953.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis sumichrasti viduus</i> Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia,
+ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Type.&mdash;United States National Museum, no. 30259;
+type locality.&mdash;Tehuantepec, México); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77,
+1887; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis sumichrasti</i>, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:271, August 11,
+1879; Sumichrast, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, p. 182, 1880; Cope, Trans.
+Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194, April 15, 1895; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl.
+Mus., 220:167, 1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Tachymenis lineata</i> (in part), Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 8:60-61,
+July, 1884.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus sumichrasti</i>, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898,
+p. 1095, 1900.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus videns</i> Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus., for 1898, p.
+1095, 1900 (apparent <i>lapus</i> for <i>viduus</i>).</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus vittatus</i>, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898,
+p. 1095, 1900; Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:119-120,
+March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408, October 29, 1943; Ann. Carnegie Mus.,
+30:91, November 2, 1944; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+187:44, October 5, 1945; Smith, Rev. Soc. Mexicanos Hist. Nat., 7:71,
+December, 1946; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):331,
+March 20, 1950; Davis and Smith, Herpetologica, 8:134, January 30,
+1953; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 130,
+1953; Peters, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 554:22, June
+23, 1954; Duellman, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 560:15,
+October 22, 1954; Webb and Fugler, Herpetologica, 13:35, March 30,
+1957; Duellman, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:15,
+March 21, 1958; Zweifel, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1949:2, 5, June 17,
+1959; Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 15(1):91-92, December
+20, 1961.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittata</i>, Gadow, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 2:196, 1905; Through
+Southern Mexico, p. 181, 1908.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis viduus</i>, Smith, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:31, January
+30, 1939; Hartweg and Oliver, Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan,
+47:26-27, July 13, 1940.</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg_279]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus viduus</i>, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:120-121,
+March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408, October 29, 1943; Woodbury and
+Woodbury, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci., 34(11):370, 1944; Smith
+and Taylor, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:44, October 5, 1945; Univ.
+Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):340, March 20, 1950; Werler and Smith,
+Texas Journ. Sci., 4:565, fig. 16, December 30, 1952; Maldonado-Koerdell,
+Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 130, 1953; Davis
+and Dixon, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 72:82-83, July 24, 1959.</div>
+
+<div class="species"><i>Conophis vittatus vittatus</i> × <i>Conophis vittatus viduus</i>, Alvarez del Toro
+and Smith, Herpetologica, 12:13, March 6, 1956.</div>
+
+<p><i>Type.</i>&mdash;Zoologisches Museum Berlin. Type locality not given, for the
+specimen was purchased from a dealer in Hamburg. The type locality was
+first restricted to "Acapulco," Guerrero, by Smith (1941:119), then to
+Laguna Coyuca, Guerrero, México, by Smith and Taylor (1950:331).</p>
+
+<p><i>Diagnosis.</i>&mdash;Three or four dorsal dark stripes, each involving two or
+more adjacent scale-rows; never having brown or black on the 1st scale-row;
+seven supralabials immaculate white or pale tannish-white.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Variation" id="Variation"></a><i>Variation.</i>&mdash;One hundred
+seventy-one specimens have 149 to 181
+(163.7 &#177; 6.33) ventrals. One hundred fifty-three of these having complete
+tails have 55 to 76 (64.8 &#177; 4.90) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus
+subcaudals varies from 214 to 245 (228.5). In 170 specimens the reduction
+from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 84 and 118
+(102.3 &#177; 6.60). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals;
+58 females have 55 to 66 (60.0) and 95 males have 59 to 76 (67.8) subcaudals.
+The longest specimen (AMNH 68004) is a male from Escurano,
+Oaxaca, México, having a body length of 668 mm., a tail length of 182 mm.
+and a total length of <ins title='Correction: was "840"'>850</ins> mm. A juvenile (CNHM 40435) from
+<ins title='Correction: was "Tehauntepec"'>Tehuantepec</ins>,
+Oaxaca, México, has a body length of 133 mm., a tail length of 31 mm. and
+a total length of 164 mm.</p>
+
+<p>Variation in coloration is of such magnitude that it has been used as
+the basis for recognition of subspecies. Unfortunately, until this time,
+most specimens reported upon in the literature represented the two extremes
+of variation. After examining the coloration of 174 specimens with respect
+to geographic distribution, I conclude that only one highly variable species
+is represented. Specimens from the northern and western parts of the
+range (Michoacán, Colima, and Durango) have the color pattern of <i>C.
+vittatus</i> as described by Peters (1860:518-521); these snakes have four
+narrow black stripes on a white or pale tan background, and an immaculate
+white venter. The lateral dark stripe, which on the head passes through
+the eye, is present on the dorsal half of the 3rd and the ventral half of
+the 4th scale-rows; the dorsolateral dark stripe, which passes along the
+middle of the head and splits on the nape, is present on the middle of
+the 8th scale-row. The other extreme in color pattern consists of three
+broad stripes; the two dorsolateral stripes are fused. This pattern is
+prevalent in specimens from the area around Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. The
+lateral stripes include the dorsal half to two-thirds of the 2nd, all of the
+3rd and 4th, and half of the 5th scale-rows; the fused dorsolateral stripes
+sometimes cover all of the area dorsal to and including the dorsal third of
+the 7th scale-row.</p>
+
+<p>Snakes from areas between Tehuantepec and the margins of the distribution
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg_280]</a></span>
+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.</p>
+
+<p>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.</p>
+
+<p>There is no ontogenetic change in color pattern; juveniles have the same
+coloration as adults from the same geographic area.</p>
+
+<p>Color in life is not greatly different from that of preserved specimens. One
+specimen (UMMZ 114483) from 10.8 miles south of
+<ins title='Correction: "Oaxaca," repeated'>Oaxaca,</ins> had in
+life black stripes, a pale yellowish tan dorsal ground-color and a pale off-white
+venter.</p>
+
+<p>An excellent photograph of this species appears in Schmidt and Inger
+(1957:230) under the name <i>Conophis lineatus</i>.</p>
+
+<div class="larger">
+<p><i>Remarks.</i>&mdash;I have been unable to find variation of geographic
+importance in scutellation in this species. A wide range of
+variation in the characters of scutellation is present in specimens
+from most localities; it shows no significant clinal or geographic
+trends. As I have stated previously, in the discussion of variation,
+coloration has been the feature primarily used by previous workers
+to distinguish two "subspecies" for this species; <i>C. vittatus vittatus</i>
+having four black stripes and <i>C. vittatus viduus</i> having three black
+stripes. Most of the three-striped snakes occur in the vicinity
+of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, whereas the four-striped snakes are found
+near the margins of the range of the species in Durango, Colima,
+Michoacán, Morelos and Puebla. Specimens that would have to
+be considered intergrades between the "subspecies" are found in
+Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. At the time the subspecies
+were proposed only specimens from Tehuantepec or from
+marginal areas were known. Utilizing the large number of specimens
+of this species presently available, geographic variation is
+found to be clinal, from those with three stripes from near
+Tehuantepec, through several intermediate patterns present on
+specimens from single localities in Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas,
+to those with four dark stripes in areas farthest removed to the
+north and west from Tehuantepec. Since only coloration shows
+geographic variation, and since this variation represents a continuous
+cline, subspecies cannot be recognized for this species.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg_281]</a></span>
+The presence and position of the three or four dark stripes on
+the body and the absence of brown on the 1st scale-row or on the
+ventral scales, in combination with the generic characters, distinguish
+<i>Conophis vittatus</i> from all other Méxican snakes. The
+only other snake that occurs in western México that has been
+confused with <i>C. vittatus</i> is <i>Coniophanes piceivittus taylori</i>, which
+has 25, instead of 19, scale-rows.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Distribution.</i>&mdash;Semi-arid habitats on Pacific slopes from extreme southern
+Durango southeastward to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, and inland in the
+eastern Balsas Basin to Morelos and western Puebla (<a href="#Fig_5">fig. 5</a>).</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 510px;">
+<a name="Fig_5" id="Fig_5"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_5.png" width="510" height="357" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 5.</span> Selected locality records for
+<i>Conophis vittatus</i>.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><i>Specimens examined.</i>&mdash;Total of 174, as follows: <span class="smcap">México</span>: <i>no specific locality</i>,
+AMNH 66150-52, SU 9465. <i>Chiapas</i>: Piedra Parada, USNM 121453.
+<i>Pizo de Oro</i>, UIMNH 40821. Tuxtla Gutierrez, Parque Madero, UIMNH
+37992-93, 38036-37. <i>Colima: no specific locality</i>, MCZ 46860, USNM 31394,
+31396-97. 1 mi. SW Colima, AMNH 12783. S of Manzanillo, AMNH 19641.
+<i>Durango</i>: Hacienda de Gabriel, AMNH 14217. <i>Guerrero: Acahuizotla</i>, TCWC
+7419, 9469. <i>1 mi. W Acahuizotla</i>, TCWC 7418. 3 mi. W Acapulco, AMNH
+71626. <i>6 mi. E Acapulco</i>, TCWC 9476-77. <i>10 mi. S Acapulco</i>, TCWC 8578.
+<i>Agua del Obispo</i>, CNHM 104948, TCWC 11586. near Chilpancingo, MVZ
+45067, UMMZ 85722-23. <i>1 mi. SW Colotlipa</i>, TCWC 9471-74. <i>2 mi. SW
+Colotlipa</i>, TCWC 9475. 14 mi. S Ixtapán de la Sal, KU 67648. <i>Laguna
+Coyuca</i>, CNHM 25881, UMMZ 80942. near La Unión, AMNH 66337.
+<i>Magueyes, Laguna Coyuca</i>, AMNH 66149. <i>Playa Encantada</i>, TCWC 9470.
+1 mi. S Tierra Colorada, KU 67649. near <i>Xaltinanguis, km. 405</i>, CNHM
+104947. <i>Michoacán</i>: Coalcomán, UMMZ 104693. <i>1/2 mi. SE Coalcomán</i>,
+UMMZ 104492. <i>1 mi. N. Coalcomán</i>, UMMZ 112543. <i>1 mi. NE Coalcomán</i>,
+UMMZ 104692. Puerta de la Playa, UMMZ 105155. 12 mi. S
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg_282]</a></span>
+Tzitzio (by road), UMMZ 99153. <i>Morelos: 12 km. NW Axochiapan</i>, TCWC
+7311, UIMNH 17613, 25924. 7 mi. SE Cuernavaca, MVZ 32258. <i>Huajintlán,
+km. 133</i>, CNHM 103270. 12 km. S Puente de Ixtla, km. 133, CNHM 104949.
+<i>Oaxaca: Bisiliana</i>, AMNH 68010. <i>near Caoba, foot of Cerro Arenal</i>, AMNH
+68009. <i>Cerro Arenal</i>, AMNH 68000-03. <i>Cerro de Laollaga</i>, UIMNH 36213.
+<i>Cerro de San Pedro</i>, UIMNH 17616. <i>Cerro Palma de Oro</i>, UIMNH 37116.
+"<i>C. Madrena, Sto. T. Quieri</i>," UIMNH 46904. near Chivela, MCZ 25021.
+Cinco Cerros, UIMNH 37114. <i>Dami Liesa</i>, AMNH 66877, UIMNH 6158,
+37115. <i>Escuranos</i>, AMNH 66873-74, 68004-06. <i>Finca Santa Teresa, 2 km.
+NW Tehuantepec</i>, UMMZ 82648. <i>Huilotepec</i>, AMNH 66878, UIMNH
+40820. <i>between Huilotepec and Tehuantepec</i>, AMNH 65106, UMMZ 82644-45.
+<i>Las Tejas</i>, UIMNH 6151-54. <i>Mixtequilla</i>, UIMNH 6157, 36211. <i>between
+Mixtequilla Mountains and Tehuantepec</i>, UMMZ 82652. <i>between Niltepec
+and "Carixxal,"</i> AMNH 68876. 10.8 mi. SE Oaxaca, UMMZ 114483. <i>Quiengola</i>,
+UIMNH 17617. <i>between Quiengola Mountains and Tehuantepec</i>, UMMZ
+82647. <i>Rancho Poso Río, 6 km. S Tehuantepec</i>, UIMNH 6144-49, 37117-19,
+UMMZ 82649-51. <i>Rincón Bamba</i>, CNHM 105129-30, UIMNH 17615. <i>Salazar</i>,
+AMNH 66875. <i>vicinity of Salina Cruz</i>, UMMZ 82653. <i>San Gerónimo</i>,
+AMNH 4306, CNHM 1457. <i>San Lucas Ixtepec</i>, UIMNH 36206. San Juan
+Lajarcia, UIMNH 36212. San Mateo del Mar, AMNH 65914. <i>San Pablo</i>,
+UIMNH 36207. <i>Santa María (Cerro de Liesa)</i>, AMNH 68011. Tapanatepec,
+MCZ 27806-11. Tehuantepec, AMNH 19644, 65107-09, 65907-13 plus 7,
+66871-72, 66879, 68007-08, CNHM 40435-36, 105126-28, MCZ 46403, UIMNH
+6150, 17614, 17618, 29692, 36208, 37120-21, UMMZ 82642-43, 82646, USNM
+109709-14, <i>1-2 leagues SSE Tehuantepec</i>, UMMZ 82639-41. Tenango,
+UIMNH 36209-10. <i>between Tlacolulita and Tequisistlán</i>, CNHM 105125.
+<i>Yerba Santa</i>, UIMNH 6155-56. Puebla: Atencingo, KU 39626.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Skull" id="Skull"></a>
+Skull</div>
+
+<p>In studying the osteology of the genus <i>Conophis</i>, I have examined
+two complete skeletons (one <i>C. vittatus</i> and one <i>C. lineatus</i>); two
+additional skulls of <i>C. vittatus</i> and <i>C. lineatus</i>; and 24 sets of
+dentigerous bones, representing all of the species. Terminology
+of the skeletal elements is that of Duellman (1958), Parker (1878),
+Radovanovic (1937) and Szunyoghy (1932). The drawing of
+the right side of the skull of a specimen of <i>Tomodon lineatus</i> that
+appears in Jan and Sordelli (1881:liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34) is of little
+value due to its small size and lack of detail.</p>
+
+<p>The skull of <i>Conophis</i> is typical of a relatively unspecialized
+colubrid snake. Skulls of <i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i> and <i>C. vittatus</i>
+closely resemble each other. The following description is based
+primarily on the skull of <i>C. lineatus concolor</i> (UMMZ S-778).</p>
+
+<p>The elements are discussed in the following order: nasal region,
+cranium and associated elements, maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch,
+mandible, dentition, and vertebrae.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nasal region.</i>&mdash;The premaxillary is relatively heavy and has a concavity
+posteroventrally. The lateral processes slope downward, but remain fairly
+thick, and do not project far laterally. This shape (<a href="#Fig_6">fig. 6</a>) tends to strengthen
+the nasal region; this anterior strengthening may be a reflection of the fossorial
+habits of these snakes. There are no posterior processes of the premaxillary;
+thus the line of fusion with the nasals and septo-maxillaries is broad. The
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg_283]</a></span>
+nasal plate is more than twice as long as wide. The nasals are relatively flat
+above, although each curves slightly downward medially and fuses into the
+medial nasal septum; laterally each nasal is narrower and deflected downward,
+forming a small dorsal shield over the nasal cavity. The septo-maxillaries
+are closely associated with the vomers and form the cavity in which the organ
+of Jacobson is situated. The broad medial part of the septo-maxillary forms
+the roof and anterior border of the cavity, whereas the anterior part of the
+vomer contains the main part of the capsule and forms the posterior and most
+of the lateral borders of the cavity. The vomer has a thin anterior ridge that
+gradually disappears before it reaches the border of the premaxillary. The
+vomer is approximately U-shaped, when viewed from below. It has no
+posterior process and does not articulate with the parasphenoid; there is a
+sizeable gap between the two bones. The septo-maxillary has a lateral process
+that terminally is directed slightly anteriorly.</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 474px;">
+<a name="Fig_6" id="Fig_6"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_6.png" width="474" height="625" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 6.</span> The skull, lacking dentigerous bones,
+of <i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i> (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal,
+(B) lateral, and (C) ventral views. × 3.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg_284]</a></span>
+<i>Cranium and associated elements.</i>&mdash;The frontal is almost three times as
+long as it is wide; it is flat above with an emarginate dorsolateral margin that
+forms the upper limit of the optic capsule. Ventrally the frontal is concave
+and forms the median limits of the optic cavity. Farther ventrally the frontal
+joins with the parasphenoid, which at this place forms the ventral extent of
+the skull, and together with the basisphenoid forms the ventral part of the
+posterior three-fourths of the skull. In ventral aspect, the parasphenoid is a
+long, thin bone, slightly expanded anteriorly. It forms the anterior floor of
+the optic foramen; whereas the frontal forms the anterior roof of the same
+opening. The frontal and its septo-maxillary process surround the olfactory
+fenestra. The prefrontal articulates with the anterolateral process of the
+frontal. The posterior surface of the prefrontal forms the anterior wall of the
+orbit of the eye. The articulating surface upon which the median process of
+the maxillary bone rests is situated ventrally. The anterior dorsal surface of
+the prefrontal, together with the anterolateral edge of the frontal, extends
+slightly over the nasal cavity, affording some degree of protection for the
+contained organs and forming the posterior border of the cavity. A small
+nasal process also extends anteriorly from the ventrolateral surface of the
+prefrontal. The orbital-nasalis foramen is located in the anterior surface of
+the prefrontal. The parietals are fused into one large bone that forms the
+roof and sides of the middle part of the cranial cavity. From its suture with
+the frontal, the dorsal surface of the parietal is relatively flat in the area
+bounded laterally by the parietal crests, which extend posteromedially from
+the anterolateral corners of the bone and converge medially at a point near
+its posterior margin. A slight posterior extension of the parietal crests forms
+the supratemporal crest, which is present on the posterior part of the parietal
+and on the anterior part of the supraoccipital. The postfrontals are attached
+to the anterolateral processes of the parietal. Together the anterior surfaces
+of these two bones form the posterior rim of the orbit of the eye. The postfrontal
+extends laterally and ventrally and has a terminal extension that
+projects anterolaterally. In an articulated skull the trans-palatine articulates
+with the ventrolateral articulating surface of the postfrontal. Anteromedially,
+the parietal forms the roof and posterior margin of the optic foramen. The
+basisphenoid, which is fused with the parasphenoid, also forms a small part
+of the posteroventral margin of the optic foramen. The basisphenoid forms
+the floor of the middle part of the cranial cavity and the ventromedial down-pouching
+that contains the pituitary body. Posterolateral to the parietal and
+dorsal to the posterior part of the basisphenoid is the prootic. Laterally this
+bone is deeply emarginate; posteriorly it forms a large part of the otic notch,
+through which the columella passes. The columella is a long, thin bony rod
+that terminates posteriorly in cartilage. It is the cartilagenous part of the
+columella that connects with the external sound detecting mechanism. There
+are several foramina on the lateral surface of the prootic. On the anterolateral
+surface of the prootic, branches of the trigeminal nerve pass through three
+foramina whereas the facial nerve passes through the single posterior foramen
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg_285]</a></span>
+near the otic notch. The squamosal is attached dorsoventrally to the posterior
+part of the parietal and to the lateral part of the prootic. At this place of
+attachment there is on the prootic a relatively heavy crest that forms a
+rather broad articulating base. The squamosal is long, flat, and curves slightly
+in a dorsal direction throughout its length; it becomes thinner and narrower
+posteriorly. The posterior third of the squamosal forms a broad base by
+means of which the squamosal articulates with the quadrate. The columella
+and the squamosal extend posteriorly beyond the limits of the braincase.
+Posteriorly the skull consists of four bones: an unpaired median dorsal supraoccipital,
+an unpaired median ventral basioccipital and two lateral exoccipitals.
+The basioccipital does not have noticeable pterygoid processes, but is rather
+smooth ventrally and only slightly emarginate on its posterolateral margins.
+Posteriorly, this bone forms the ventral part of the occipital condyle. The
+rest of the condyle, on each side, is formed by the exoccipitals. The exoccipitals
+also form part of the base to which the squamosal is attached. The
+exoccipitals extend around the sides of the foramen magnum and meet dorsally.
+Each exoccipital also forms the posterior part of the otic notch, which traverses
+the exoccipital. The exoccipitals bear moderate occipital crests that extend
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg_286]</a></span>
+posterolaterally across the supraoccipital as branches from the supratemporal
+crest. The supraoccipital also has a medial crest that extends a short distance
+posteriorly from the supratemporal crest onto the exoccipitals at their dorsal
+line of fusion.</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 420px;">
+<a name="Fig_7" id="Fig_7"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_7.png" width="420" height="466" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 7.</span> The maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch of
+<i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i> (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal, (B) lateral,
+and (C) ventral views. × 3. Teeth shown by means of broken
+lines were represented only by their sockets.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><i>Maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch.</i>&mdash;In an articulated skull, the anterior edge
+of the maxillary is immediately posterior to the lateral tip of the premaxillary
+(<a href="#Fig_7">fig. 7</a>). The maxillary is curved moderately laterally and is not robust at its
+tip, but it becomes heavier about one-third of its length posteriorly. A
+dorsomedian process begins at about one-third of its distance from the anterior
+end; the prefrontal articulates with this process. The process is broad and
+almost flat, except that at its medial end, an elongate, rounded knob extends
+ventrally. The dorsomedian process of the maxillary extends toward, but
+does not meet, a lateral process from the palatine. The maxillary teeth are
+set in sockets on the ventral surface of the bone. Just posterior to the
+level of the last prediastemal tooth is the median trans-palatine process that
+articulates with the anteromedian part of the trans-palatine. Immediately
+posterior to this process, the maxillary narrows slightly; then it broadens to
+form an obliquely oriented knob. The posteroventral surface of the posterior
+knob of the maxillary bears one or two enlarged maxillary teeth. (These
+teeth are discussed further in the section on Dentition.) The anterolateral
+part of the trans-palatine articulates with the dorsal surface of the posterior
+knob of the maxillary. Toward the middle of its length, the trans-palatine
+narrows considerably; then it broadens again and articulates with the
+pterygoid. The palatine is slightly rounded at its anterior end, which extends
+anteriorly to the posterior margin of the vacuity containing Jacobson's organ.
+The palatine extends posteriorly to the trans-palatine process of the maxilla,
+where the palatine articulates with the pterygoid. A posterior pterygoid
+process from the palatine projects posteromedially from the end of the palatine
+and overlaps the anterior end of the pterygoid. Just less than one-half the
+distance from the anterior end of the palatine, there is a lateral process that
+curves ventrolaterally forming a blunt tip posteriorly. Slightly more posteriorly
+and on the medial side of the palatine, is a medial sphenoid process,
+which is thin, rather broad, and curves ventromedially; ultimately it comes
+to lie near the anterior part of the parasphenoid. The palatine teeth are
+set in shallow sockets on the ventral edge of the bone. Of the bones of the
+maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch, those on the pterygoid extend farthest posteriorly.
+The pterygoid is broad medially and posteriorly, although pointed
+at its posterior tip. The trans-palatine articulates in a broad line at about
+one-third of the distance along the lateral margin of the pterygoid. Immediately
+posterior to this articulation, there is a median ridge on the pterygoid;
+lateral to the pterygoid ridge is an abrupt hollow, the pterygoid groove.
+Posteromedially, this groove becomes gradually more shallow and disappears.
+The dorsal surface of the pterygoid is rounded anteriorly and somewhat
+flattened posteriorly, whereas the ventral surface is gently rounded along its
+length, except that there is a high median crest. The pterygoid teeth are
+situated in shallow sockets along this crest. The teeth diminish in size
+posteriorly.</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 429px;">
+<a name="Fig_8" id="Fig_8"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_8.png" width="429" height="418" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 8.</span> The left mandible and associated quadrate
+of <i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i> (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) lateral and
+(B) medial views. × 3. Teeth shown by means of broken lines
+were represented only by their sockets.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><i>Mandible.</i>&mdash;The dentary (<a href="#Fig_8">fig. 8</a>) is compressed laterally and rounded below.
+The teeth, which are longest about one-third of the way from the
+anterior end of the dentary, are set in sockets on the medial side of the bone.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg_287]</a></span>
+The posterior half of the dentary overlies the fused surangular-prearticular part
+of the articular. Ventrally, the posterior part of the dentary underlies the
+splenial, which is set in a median trench within the dentary. Near the common
+suture of the dentary and the splenial is the large inferior alveolar
+foramen; completely within the splenial and ventral to the inferior alveolar
+foramen is the anterior mylohyoid foramen. Posterior to the splenial and also
+forming a part of the ventral surface of the mandible is the wedge-shaped
+angular, which lies directly beneath the fused surangular-prearticular. As has
+been implied, the articular, the surangular, and the prearticular are fused.
+The prearticular part of this bone forms a part of Meckel's canal. In the
+surangular part, immediately posterior to the end of the dentary, is the large
+surangular foramen. Lying in a longitudinal axis along the medial surface of
+the articular is a high crest, dorsal to which is a deep hollow. The lateral
+wall of the articular above this hollow is thin and rounded dorsally; the ventral
+surface is uniformly round and slightly curved dorsally, except that it ends
+with a short tympanic crest, which projects beyond the articulation with the
+quadrate. Where the quadrate articulates with the dorsolateral surface of the
+posterior portion of the squamosal, the former is broad and has a high mid-lateral
+crest, which extends about one-third of the distance down the quadrate
+before disappearing. The columellar process (the place of fusion of the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg_288]</a></span>
+columella) is about two-thirds of the way down the medial surface of the
+quadrate. Ventrally the quadrate has a narrow neck dorsal to its articulation
+with the articular. The articulation is formed by two lateral flanges of the
+quadrate that fit over a medial ridge formed by the articular.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Dentition" id="Dentition"></a>
+Dentition</div>
+
+<p>Teeth on the maxillary and pterygoid decrease in size posteriorly, whereas
+those of the dentary do likewise except for the first one or two that are
+usually slightly smaller than those immediately posterior. The palatine teeth
+are subequal in size. The enlarged, grooved teeth on the maxillary are in
+shallow sockets on the posteroventral surface of the posterior knob of the
+maxillary. These teeth point posteriorly. The grooves are deep and are
+situated anterolaterally. One or two enlarged grooved teeth are present on
+a given maxillary. There seems to be a correlation between the type of preservation,
+the age of the snake, and the number of grooved teeth. Old (large)
+individuals always have only one grooved tooth that is rooted and functional,
+whereas some of the younger animals have two in place. Usually replacement
+teeth are present in alcoholic specimens, but these unrooted teeth are lost
+in the preparation of dried skeletons. Thus, it seems that in <i>Conophis</i> only
+one pair of grooved teeth is functional at any one time, although usually replacement
+teeth are present behind and beside the functional one. Some
+specimens have one tooth in the medial socket on one side and one in the
+lateral socket on the other. Replacement teeth on the maxillary and dentary
+are present in the buccal tissue on the medial side of the bones, whereas
+on the palatines and pterygoids, the replacement teeth are present laterally.
+Apparently there are no significant differences in dentition among the members
+of the genus <i>Conophis</i>.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Vertebrae" id="Vertebrae"></a>
+Vertebrae</div>
+
+<p>The fiftieth vertebra of <i>Conophis vittatus</i> (UMMZ 82642) can be described
+as follows: The neural spine is elongate, thin and low; the posterior edge is
+sharply emarginate, and the anterior edge is only slightly emarginate. The
+zygosphene is thin dorsoventrally; in a ventral or dorsal view the zygosphene
+has a slightly concave anterior edge, the flat surface of which is oriented
+ventrolaterally. The centrum is elongate and triangular from below; it is
+widest at the paradiapophyses and narrowest at the short condylar neck. The
+condylus is directed posteriorly. The centrum, when viewed laterally, is
+slightly concave and has prominent subcentral ridges that extend from the
+median side of the paradiapophysial articular surfaces posteriorly to the neck
+of the condylus. The paradiapophysial articular surfaces are well developed
+and have two facets. The diapophysial surface is larger and more spherical
+than the parapophysial one. The parapophysial process projects beyond the
+parapophysial articular surface and is nearly even with the lip of the cotyle,
+which is slightly oval. The neural arch is slightly depressed; its width is
+somewhat less than the width of the cotyle. The articular surfaces of the
+postzygapophyses are oval and are directed posterolaterally. There is a
+strongly developed concave interzygapophysial ridge. A well-developed
+accessory spine extends laterally beyond the oval articular facets of the pre-zygapophysis
+and forms a slightly flattened, blunt spine. Excellent drawings
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg_289]</a></span>
+of the middle thoracic vertebra of <i>Conophis lineatus dunni</i> from Honduras
+were published by Auffenberg (1958:6).</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Hemipenes" id="Hemipenes"></a>
+Hemipenes</div>
+
+<p>The hemipenes of <i>Conophis</i> are moderately caliculate, having spines
+covering the surface from the base to near the apex (<a href="#Fig_9">fig. 9</a>). These
+spines are largest near the base and are reduced to small papillate
+projections near the apex. The apex terminates in a small disc
+having three to five laminae in <i>C. vittatus</i> and one lamina in <i>C.
+lineatus concolor</i>. The sulcus is bifurcate; the fork is near the
+base and almost gives the appearance of two sulci on some specimens.
+Distally the apices are widely separated, and the intervening space
+gives the hemipenis a slightly bilobed appearance in some species
+(especially <i>C. vittatus</i>) or a deeply bilobed appearance in others
+(especially <i>C. lineatus concolor</i>).</p>
+
+<div class="fig_center" style="width: 242px;">
+<a name="Fig_9" id="Fig_9"></a>
+<img src="images/fig_9.png" width="242" height="389" alt="" title="" />
+<div class="fig_caption">
+<span class="smcap">Fig. 9.</span> The everted left hemipenis of
+Conophis vittatus (UMMZ 82650). × 5.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+
+<p>The everted hemipenis reaches
+posteriorly to the eighth subcaudal
+scale. The sulcus bifurcates at the
+third subcaudal scale. The situation
+is similar <i>in situ</i> (Cope, 1895:pl. 28,
+fig. 2).</p>
+
+<p>There are no apparent hemipenial
+differences among the species of the
+genus <i>Conophis</i>. As can be seen in
+the above description, the hemipenis
+of <i>C. vittatus</i> is less bilobed and has a
+more pronounced disc at the apex than
+the others. The hemipenis of <i>C. lineatus concolor</i> is most bilobed, but has
+the smallest apical disc. The other species and subspecies vary widely within
+these extremes.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Food_and_Feeding" id="Food_and_Feeding"></a>
+Food and Feeding</div>
+
+<p><i>Conophis</i> eats mostly small lizards, especially <i>Cnemidophorus</i>.
+In México <i>Conophis</i> occurs in semi-arid habitat where <i>Cnemidophorus</i>
+is common. A specimen each of <i>Conophis vittatus</i> and
+<i>C. lineatus lineatus</i> were obtained while I was collecting <i>Cnemidophorus</i>.
+The only record of <i>Conophis</i> having fed on a warm-blooded
+vertebrate was obtained in the course of this study, when
+I recovered from the stomach of a <i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i>
+(CNHM 36299) from Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, a heteromyid rodent
+(<i>Heteromys gaumeri</i>).</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg_290]</a></span>
+Ralph Axtell (personal communication) observed <i>Conophis</i> actively
+searching for food at dusk. His observations were made near
+Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and the snakes were seen to chase lizards
+of the genus <i>Cnemidophorus</i>. Near Alvarado, Veracruz, in the late
+afternoon, I watched a <i>Conophis lineatus lineatus</i> follow a lizard
+into a hole.</p>
+
+<p>Mittleman (1944:122) presents the only discussion of the mode
+of feeding of a captive specimen of <i>Conophis lineatus</i> ssp. When
+presented with a <i>Thamnophis</i> slightly smaller than itself, the
+<i>Conophis</i> struck, and within eight minutes immobilized the
+<i>Thamnophis</i>. Within one-half hour the <i>Thamnophis</i> was swallowed.
+Three days later the <i>Conophis</i> ate another <i>Thamnophis</i>,
+though still distended from its first meal; nine days later it ate a
+<i>Storeria</i>. In the course of several months, the <i>Conophis</i> ate various
+toads and hylids and two more <i>Storeria</i>. Apparently members of
+the genus <i>Conophis</i> do not constrict their prey, but rely upon a
+combination of loss of blood and action of the venom to completely
+immobilize their prey.</p>
+
+<p>Ditmars (1931:pls. 26-27) showed three photographs of "<i>Conophis
+lineatus</i>" (actually <i>Conophis pulcher</i>) ingesting another snake,
+identified by him as a young <i>Ophis (= Xenodon) colubrinus</i>.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption3"><a name="Effect_of_Poison" id="Effect_of_Poison"></a>
+Effect of Poison</div>
+
+<p>The rear fangs of these snakes are large for the size of the snake.
+Various collectors have been bitten, and several reports of the
+effect of the poison have been published. The snakes are aggressive
+and bite constantly while being handled. A field companion, Dale
+L. Hoyt, was bitten on the forefinger by a specimen of <i>C. l. lineatus</i>
+and immediately felt a burning sensation. The finger swelled, much
+as it would if stung by a wasp, but it returned to normal size in
+about twenty-four hours. Ditmars (1931:legend pl. 27) reported
+immediate burning pain and a localized swelling, an inch in
+diameter and half an inch high, which lasted for several hours.
+Mertens (1952b:83) reported merely that the hand of the gardener
+at the Instituto Tropical in San Salvador bled strongly for a full
+hour. Edward H. Taylor was bitten by a specimen of <i>Conophis
+vittatus</i> (Taylor and Smith, 1939:252); pain and swelling lasted
+for some time. Taylor (personal communication) is still troubled
+by damage incurred by that bite, which apparently resulted in
+mechanical damage to the second joint of the middle finger, for
+the joint swells when the finger is used or exercised. William E.
+Duellman (personal communication) was bitten on the hand in July,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg_291]</a></span>
+1956. There was immediate pain and localized swelling, both of
+which disappeared several hours later.</p>
+
+
+<div class="caption2">
+<a name="TAXONOMIC_RELATIONSHIPS_AND_EVOLUTION" id="TAXONOMIC_RELATIONSHIPS_AND_EVOLUTION"></a>
+TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION</div>
+
+<p>The genus <i>Conophis</i> is known only from the Recent. Except
+that <i>Conophis</i> belongs to the subfamily xenodontinae and probably
+is of New World origin, little is known about the relationships
+of the genus. Auffenberg (1958) described a new genus and
+species of fossil colubrid snake from the Miocene of Montana as
+<i>Dryinoides oxyrhachis</i> and compared it with several recent genera.
+This specimen, of which there is a relatively complete skull and a
+series of vertebrae, seems most closely to resemble a specimen of
+<i>Conophis lineatus dunni</i> (UF 7657) from Honduras, with which it
+was compared in basic osteology. The two genera could be related,
+for the progenitors of <i>Conophis</i> possibly inhabited much of North
+America in the Miocene.</p>
+
+<p>Another possibility is that the main stock of the xenodontines
+reached South America in earliest Tertiary times, and that the
+formation of the Panamanian and Colombian seaways that separated
+South America and Central America from the Late Paleocene to the
+middle of the Pliocene left the <i>Conophis</i> stock isolated in Middle
+America where members of the genus dispersed through semi-arid
+habitats.</p>
+
+<p>Turning our attention now to the species within the genus,
+instead of the genus as a whole, <i>Conophis vittatus</i> is readily set
+apart from other members of the genus on the basis of the universal
+presence of seven supralabials. In basic coloration it also differs,
+having no stripe on the 1st scale-row, or spots on the venter, and
+a maximum of four broad stripes on the body. The other species
+appear to be more closely related; these make up the <i>C. lineatus</i>-group.
+<i>Conophis nevermanni</i> differs so much from the other species
+that it might be placed in a separate group. Nevertheless, the basic
+striped pattern, which is masked by the increased melanism of
+many specimens, indicates that <i>nevermanni</i> is more closely related
+to the <i>lineatus</i>-group than to <i>vittatus</i>. The <i>lineatus</i>-group, thus,
+consists of <i>pulcher</i>, <i>nevermanni</i> and the three subspecies of <i>lineatus</i>.
+In this group the color pattern is characterized by the high frequency
+of ventral spotting, darkening of part of the supralabials,
+dark pigmentation on the 1st scale-row, and more than four dark
+stripes on the body of adults. <i>Conophis lineatus concolor</i>, on
+which the dark pigmentation on the body apparently is secondarily
+lost, is an exception.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg_292]</a></span>
+If differences in color pattern be used as an indication of the
+relationships between the species and subspecies of the genus
+<i>Conophis</i>, I would consider <i>C. vittatus</i> the most divergent unit. The
+subspecies of <i>lineatus</i> closely resemble one another and, as a unit,
+resemble <i>pulcher</i> from which they differ
+<ins title='Correction: was "primarly"'>primarily</ins> in the position
+of the dorsalmost stripes. <i>Conophis nevermanni</i> is more divergent
+than is <i>pulcher</i> from the species <i>lineatus</i>, but probably is not so far
+removed from <i>lineatus</i> as is <i>vittatus</i>.</p>
+
+<p>In the light of what has been pointed out immediately above
+with respect to resemblances of, and differences between, the species,
+an hypothesis to account for their formation and for their presence
+in the areas where they are today is the following: Concurrent
+with climatic fluctuations in the Late Pliocene and Pleistocene,
+the northernmost population differentiated into the species <i>vittatus</i>,
+and has subsequently spread north and west from the region of
+Tehuantepec, México. During the same period <i>nevermanni</i> became
+isolated in northern Costa Rica.</p>
+
+<p>The species <i>pulcher</i> probably differentiated from the remaining
+<i>lineatus</i> stock during the Early Pleistocene orogenic upheaval in
+Guatemala. The <i>pulcher</i> stock was isolated on the Pacific Coastal
+slopes of Guatemala, while <i>lineatus</i> moved through the subhumid
+corridor of northern Middle America into México and southward
+toward Costa Rica (Stuart, 1954a). In the Late Pleistocene and
+Recent, <i>pulcher</i> moved back across the central Guatemalan highlands
+occupying its present range in northern Middle America.
+Primarily because of the formation of unsuitable habitat (wet forest)
+that presently separates the geographic ranges of populations
+of <i>lineatus</i>, this species differentiated into three subspecies.</p>
+<br />
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="SUMMARY" id="SUMMARY"></a>
+SUMMARY</div>
+
+<p>The genus <i>Conophis</i> Peters, 1860, contains four species. Three
+are monotypic and the fourth has three subspecies, making a total
+of six taxa.</p>
+
+<p>The genus is characterized by maxillary teeth of equal size followed
+by a diastema and two enlarged grooved fangs. The scales
+are smooth, in 19 rows at mid-body, and 17 nearer the tail. The
+anal is divided, apical pits are lacking, the head shields are normal
+for a colubrid, and the hemipenis is bilobed having many large
+basal spines.</p>
+
+<p>The six taxa are separated primarily on the basis of color pattern,
+but characters of scutellation, including numbers of dorsals, ventrals,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg_293]</a></span>
+caudals, and places of reduction of the number of dorsal
+scale-rows, were analyzed.</p>
+
+<p>Snakes of this genus are distributed throughout semi-arid environments
+from southern México southward into Costa Rica. They
+feed upon lizards, primarily of the genus <i>Cnemidophorus</i>; in addition
+they are known to eat small rodents and other snakes.</p>
+
+<p><i>Conophis</i> is a member of the subfamily Xenodontinae and, as
+presently understood, has no known living close relatives. A single
+specimen of <i>Dryinoides</i> from the Miocene of Montana has been
+compared with this genus. The genus <i>Conophis</i> is thought to have
+evolved in Middle America. The present distribution and differentiation
+probably are primarily the result of climatic fluctuations
+in Middle America, which produced the areas of subhumid environment
+where <i>Conophis</i> presently lives.</p>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="LITERATURE_CITED" id="LITERATURE_CITED"></a>
+LITERATURE CITED</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Auffenberg, W.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1958. A new genus of colubrid snake from the Upper Miocene of North
+America. Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1874:1-16. February 27.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Cope, E. D.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1861. Contributions to the ophiology of Lower California, México and
+Central America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 13:292-306.
+December 28.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1867. Fifth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Proc.
+Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:317-323. February 20.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1871. Ninth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Proc.
+Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23(2):200-224. October 24.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1876. On the batrachia and reptilia of Costa Rica. Journ. Acad. Nat.
+Sci. Philadelphia, series 2, 8(4):93-154, 6 pls.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1895. The classification of the ophidia. Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc.,
+18:186-219, 33 pls. April 15.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1900. The crocodilians, lizards, and snakes of North America. Ann. Rept.
+U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 153-1270, 36 pls.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Ditmars, R. L.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1931. Snakes of the World. New York, The MacMillan Company, 1931.
+xi + 207 pp., 84 pls.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Dowling, H. G.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1951. A proposed standard system of counting ventrals in snakes. British
+Journ. Herpetology, 1(5):97-99, fig. 1.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Duellman, W. E.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1958. A preliminary analysis of the herpetofauna of Colima, Mexico.
+Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:1-22, March 21.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Duméril, A. M. C., Bibron, G., and Duméril, A. H. A.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1854. Érpétologie genérale, ou histoire naturelle des reptiles. Paris, 7(pt.
+2):xii + 785. February 25. Atlas, 24 pp., 108 pls.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Duméril, A. H. A., Bocourt, M., and Mocquard, F.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1870-1909. Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale
+&#8230; Etudes sur les Reptiles. Paris, vol. 2:xiv + 1012 pp.,
+77 pls.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Garman, S.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1884a. The North American reptiles and batrachians. Bull. Essex Inst.,
+16:1-46. January 9.</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg_294]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="reference">1884b. The reptiles and batrachians of North America.  Mem. Mus.
+Comp. Zool., 8(3):xxxi + 185 pp., 9 pls. July.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Günther, A. C. L. G.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1858. Catalogue of colubrine snakes in the collection of the British
+Museum. London. xiv + 281 pp.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Huxley, J.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1942. Evolution. The Modern Synthesis. London. 645 pp.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Jan, G. and Sordelli, F.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1866. Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 19, pls. 1-6.
+December.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1881. Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 50, pls. 1-7.
+November.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Mayr, E.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1942. Systematics and the Origin of Species. New York, x + 334 pp.,
+29 figs.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Mayr, E., Linsley, E. G., and Usinger, R. L.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1953. Methods and Principles of Systematic Zoology. New York.
+ix + 328 pp., 45 figs.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Mertens, R.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1952a. Neues uber die Reptilienfauna von El Salvador. Zool. Anz.,
+148:87-93. February.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1952b. Die Amphibien und Reptilien von El Salvador auf grund der
+reisen von R. Mertens und A. Zilch. Abhand. Senken. Naturw.
+Gesell., 487:83, 1 Kart., 16 taf. December 1.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Mittleman, M. B.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1944. Feeding habits of a Central American opisthoglyph snake. Copeia,
+no. 2:122. June 30.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Neill, W. T. and Allen, R.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1961. Further studies on the herpetology of British Honduras. Herpetologica,
+17(1):37-52. April 15.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Parker, W. K.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1878. On the structure and development of the skull in the common
+snake (<i>Tropidonotus natrix</i>). Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, pt. 2:385-417,
+pp., pls. 27-33.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Peters, W.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1860. Drei neue amerikanisches Schlangen. Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin,
+1860:517-521, pl., fig. 3. October.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Radovanovic, M.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1937. Osteologie des Schlangenkopfs.  Jenaische Zeitschr.  Naturw.,
+71(2):179-312.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Savage, J. M.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1949. Notes on the Central American snake, <i>Conophis lineatus dunni</i>
+Smith, with a record from Honduras. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
+50:483-486. December 31.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Schmidt, K. P.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1928. Reptiles collected in Salvador for the California Institute of Technology.
+Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 12(16):193-201. November 21.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Schmidt, K. P. and Inger, R. F.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1957. Living Reptiles of the World. Garden City, New York, Hanover
+House. 287 pp.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Smith, H. M.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1941. Notes on snakes of the genus <i>Conophis</i>. Journ. Washington Acad.
+Sci., 31(3):117-124. March 15.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Smith, H. M. and Taylor, E. H.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1950. Type localities of Méxican reptiles and amphibians. Univ. Kansas
+Sci. Bull., 33:313-380. March 20.</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg_295]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="smcap">Stuart, L. C.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1948. The amphibians and reptiles of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Misc.
+Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 69:1-109. June 12.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1954a. A description of a subhumid corridor across northern Central
+America, with comments on its <ins title='Correction: was "hertetofaunal"'>herpetofaunal</ins> indicators. Contr.
+Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 65:1-26 pp., 6 pls. March.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1954b. Herpetofauna of the southeast highlands of Guatemala. Contr.
+Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:1-65 pp., 3 pls. November.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Szunyoghy, J.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1932. Beitrage zur vergleichenden Formenlehre des Colubridenschadels,
+nebst einer Kraniologischen Synopsis der fossilen Schlangen Ungarns.
+Acta Zool., 13:1-56.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Taylor, E. H.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1955. Additions to the known herpetological fauna of Costa Rica with
+comments on other species. No. II. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+37:299-575. October 15.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Taylor, E. H. and Smith, H. M.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1939. Miscellaneous notes on Mexican snakes. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+25:239-258. July 10.</div>
+<br />
+
+<div class="smcap">Wettstein, O.</div>
+
+<div class="reference">1934. Ergibnisse der osterreichischen biologischen Costa Rica&mdash;Expedition
+1930. Die Amphibia und Reptilien. Stiz. Akad. Wiss. Wien,
+mathem-naturw. kl., Abt. 1, bd. 143:1-39.</div>
+<br />
+
+<p><i>Transmitted November 30, 1962.</i></p>
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="center">
+<img src="images/square.png" width="16" height="17" alt="" title="" /><br />
+29-5936
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg_i]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="caption2"><a name="PUBLICATIONS" id="PUBLICATIONS"></a>
+UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS</div>
+
+<div class="caption2">MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY</div>
+
+<p>Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain this
+series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas Library,
+Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in a particular
+field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the Museum of Natural
+History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. There is no provision for
+sale of this series by the University Library, which meets institutional requests,
+or by the Museum of Natural History, which meets the requests of individuals.
+However, when individuals request copies from the Museum, 25 cents should
+be included, for each separate number that is 100 pages or more in length, for
+the purpose of defraying the costs of wrapping and mailing.</p>
+
+<p>* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply (not the Library's
+supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in this series, are as follows:</p>
+
+<table width="100%" summary="publications">
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;1.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*Vol.&nbsp;2.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">(Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 1-444, 140
+      figures in text. April 9, 1948.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;3.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*1.</td>
+  <td>The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution, and distribution. By Rollin
+      H. Baker. Pp. 1-359, 16 figures in text. June 12, 1951.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*2.</td>
+  <td>A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of birds.  By George H.
+      Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472, 47 figures in text. June 29, 1951.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By M. Dale Arvey. Pp. 473-530,
+      530, 49 figures in text, 13 tables. October 10. 1951.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*4.</td>
+  <td>Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H. Lowery, Jr., and
+      Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649, 7 figures in text, 2 tables. October 10,
+      1951.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Index. Pp. 651-681.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*Vol.&nbsp;4.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">(Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466, 41 plates, 31
+      figures in text. December 27, 1951.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;5.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*Vol.&nbsp;6.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">(Complete) Mammals of Utah, taxonomy and distribution.  By Stephen D.
+      Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text, 30 tables. August 10, 1952.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;7.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Nos. 1-15 and index. Pp. 1-651, 1952-1955.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;8.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-675, 1954-1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;9.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*1.</td>
+  <td>Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley. Pp. 1-68, 18
+      figures in text. December 10, 1955.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">2.</td>
+  <td>Additional records and extension of ranges of mammals from Utah. By
+      Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69-80.
+      December 10, 1955.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern Mexico. By Rollin
+      H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81-84. December 10, 1955.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">4.</td>
+  <td>Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in Wyoming.
+      By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85-104, 2 figures in text. May 10, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 105-116, 6
+      figures in text. May 19, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">6.</td>
+  <td>Additional remains of the multituberculate genus Eucosmodon. By Robert
+      W. Wilson. Pp. 117-123, 10 figures in text. May 19, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">7.</td>
+  <td>Mammals of Coahulia, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 125-335, 75 figures
+      in text. June 15, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">8.</td>
+  <td>Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae, with description
+      of a new subspecies from North China. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 337-346,
+      1 figure in text, 1 table. August 15, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">9.</td>
+  <td>Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney Anderson. Pp.
+      347-351. August 15, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">10.</td>
+  <td>A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahulia. By Howard J. Stains.
+      Pp. 353-356. January 21, 1957.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">11.</td>
+  <td>A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from Jalisco, Mexico.
+      By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 357-361. January 21, 1957.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">12.</td>
+  <td>Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae, in Colorado.
+      By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp. 363-<ins title='Correction: was "387"'>384</ins>,
+      7 figures in text. February 21, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">13.</td>
+  <td>New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska. By J. Knox Jones,
+      Jr. Pp. 385-388. May 12, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">14.</td>
+  <td>Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, México. By J. Knox
+      Jones, Jr. Pp. 389-396. December 19, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">15.</td>
+  <td>New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America. By Robert
+      L. Packard. Pp. 397-404. December 19, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">16.</td>
+  <td>Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 405-414,
+      1 figure in text, May 20, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">17.</td>
+  <td>Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.
+      By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 415-511, 12 figures in text, 2 tables.
+      August 1, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">18.</td>
+  <td>Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani and P. artus. By
+      E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie. Pp. 513-518, 1 map, January 14, 1960.
+      <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg_ii]</a></span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">19.</td>
+  <td>Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central America, with description
+      of a new subspecies from Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and
+      J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 519-529. January 14, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">20.</td>
+  <td>Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene), Nuevo León, México.
+      By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531-538, 1 figure in text. January 14, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">21.</td>
+  <td>Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo León, México.
+      By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539-548, 1 figure in text. January 14, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">22.</td>
+  <td>Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and David H.
+      Johnson. Pp. 549-578. February 23, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">23.</td>
+  <td>Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus Baimoys. By Robert L.
+      Packard. Pp. 579-670, 4 plates, 12 figures in text. June 16, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Index. Pp. 671-690</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;10.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">1.</td>
+  <td>Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration. By Harrison B. Tordoff and
+      Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1-44, 6 figures in text, 2 tables. September 12, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">2.</td>
+  <td>Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta and A. maritima.
+       By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45-75, 6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation.
+      By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R. McGregor. Pp. 77-127, 2 plates, 7 figures
+      in text, 4 tables. December 31, 1956.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">4.</td>
+  <td>Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster).
+      By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 129-161, 8 figures in text, 4 tables. December
+      19, 1957.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska. By James W. Bee.
+      Pp. 163-211, plates 9-10, 1 figure in text. March 12, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*6.</td>
+  <td>The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology. By Robert B. Finley,
+      Jr. Pp. 213-552, 34 plates, 8 figures in text, 35 tables. November 7, 1958.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">7.</td>
+  <td>Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in Kansas. By Donald
+      W. Janes. Pp. 553-572, 4 plates, 3 figures in text. May 4, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">8.</td>
+  <td>Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi. By Richard F. Johnston
+     and Gerhard A. Schad. Pp. 573-585. October 8, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">9.</td>
+  <td>A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from Michoacán, México.
+      By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587-598, 2 figures in text. May 2, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">10.</td>
+  <td>A taxonomic study of the middle American snake, Pituophis deppei. By
+      William E. Duellman. Pp. 599-610. 1 plate, 1 figure in text. May 2, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Index. Pp. 611-626.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;11.</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-703, 1958-1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;12.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">1.</td>
+  <td>Functional morphology of three bats: Sumops, Myotis, Macrotus. By Terry
+      A. Vaughan. Pp. 1-153, 4 plates, 24 figures in text. July 8, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*2.</td>
+  <td>The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence. By Theodore
+      H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155-180, 10 figures in text. July 10, 1959.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 181-216, 49
+      figures in text. February 19, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">*4.</td>
+  <td>A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. By
+      Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou Stewart. Pp. 217-240, 12 figures in
+      text. May 2, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>Natural history of the bell vireo. By Jon C. Barlow. Pp. 241-296, 6 figures
+      in text. March 7, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">6.</td>
+  <td>Two new pelycosaurs from the lower Permian of Oklahoma. By Richard C.
+      Fox. Pp. 297-307, 6 figures in text. May 21, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">7.</td>
+  <td>Vertebrates from the barrier island of Tamaulipas, México. By Robert K.
+      Selander, Richard F. Johnston, B. J. Wilks, and Gerald G. Raun. Pp. 309-345,
+      pls. 5-8. June 18, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">8.</td>
+  <td>Teeth of Edestid sharks. By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 347-362, 10 figures
+      in text. October 1, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">More numbers will appear in volume 12.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;13.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">1.</td>
+  <td>Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae). By Frank B.
+      Cross and W. L. Minckley. Pp. 1-18. June 1, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">2.</td>
+  <td>A distributional study of the amphibians of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
+      México. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19-72, pls. 1-8, 3 figures in text.
+      August 16, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta) from Coahulia,
+      México. By John M. Legler. Pp. 73-84, pls. 9-12, 3 figures in text. August
+      16, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">4.</td>
+  <td>Autecology of the copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch. Pp. 85-288, pls. 13-20,
+      26 figures in text. November 30, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>Occurrence of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in the Great Plains and
+      Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. 289-308,
+      4 figures in text. February 10, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">6.</td>
+  <td>Fishes of the Wakarusa river in Kansas. By James E. Deacon and Artie L.
+      Metcalf. Pp. 309-322, 1 figure in text. February 10, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">7.</td>
+  <td>Geographic variation in the North American cyprinid fish, Hybopsis gracilis.
+      By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross. Pp. 323-348, pls. 21-24, 2 figures
+      in text. February 10, 1961.
+      <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg_iii]</a></span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">8.</td>
+  <td><ins title='Correction: was "Decriptions"'>Descriptions</ins>
+      of two species of frogs, genus Ptychohyla; studies of American
+      hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 349-357, pl. 25, 2 figures
+      in text. April 27, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">9.</td>
+  <td>Fish populations, following a drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes
+      rivers of Kansas. By James Everett Deacon. Pp. 359-427, pls. 26-30, 3 figs.
+      August 11, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">10.</td>
+  <td>Recent soft-shelled turtles of North America (family Trionychidae). By
+      Robert G. Webb. Pp. 429-611, pls. 31-54, 24 figures in text. February
+      16, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">Index. Pp. 613-624.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;14.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">1.</td>
+  <td>Neotropical bats from western México.  By Sydney Anderson.  Pp. 1-8.
+      October 24, 1960.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">2.</td>
+  <td>Geographic variation in the harvest mouse. Reithrodontomys megalotis, on
+      the central Great Plains and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, Jr.,
+      and B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9-27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson.
+      Pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figures in text. July 24, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">4.</td>
+  <td>A new subspecies of the black myotis (bat) from eastern Mexico. By E.
+      Raymond Hall <ins title='Correction: was "anad"'>and</ins>
+      Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 69-72, 1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>North American yellow bats, "Dasypterus," and a list of the named kinds
+      of the genus Lasiurus Gray. By E. Raymond Hall and J. Knox Jones, Jr.
+      Pp. 73-98, 4 figures in text. December 29, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">6.</td>
+  <td>Natural history of the brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii) in Kansas with
+      description of a new subspecies. By Charles A. Long. Pp. 99-111, 1 figure
+      in text. December 29, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">7.</td>
+  <td>Taxonomic status of some mice of the Peromyscus boylii group in eastern
+      Mexico, with description of a new subspecies. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 113-120,
+      1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">8.</td>
+  <td>A new subspecies of ground squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma) from Tamaulipas,
+      Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 121-124. March 7, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">9.</td>
+  <td>Taxonomic status of the free-tailed bat, Tadarida yucatanica Miller. By J.
+      Knox Jones, Jr., and Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 125-133, 1 figure in text. March 7,
+      1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">10.</td>
+  <td>A new doglike carnivore, genus Cynaretus, from the Clarendonian Pliocene,
+      of Texas. By E. Raymond Hall and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 135-138,
+      2 figures in text. April 30, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">11.</td>
+  <td>A new subspecies of wood rat (Neotoma) from northeastern Mexico. By
+      Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 139-143. April 30, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">12.</td>
+  <td>Noteworthy mammals from Sinaloa, Mexico. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., Ticul
+      Alvarez, and M. Raymond Lee. Pp. 145-159, 1 figure in text. May 18,
+      1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">13.</td>
+  <td>A new bat (Myotis) from Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 161-164,
+      1 figure in text. May 21, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">14.</td>
+  <td>The mammals of Veracruz. By E. Raymond Hall
+      <ins title='Correction: was "anad"'>and</ins> Walter W. Dalquest.
+      Pp. 165-362, 2 figures. May 20, 1963.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">15.</td>
+  <td>The recent mammals of Tamaulipas, México. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 363-473,
+      5 figures in text. May 20, 1963.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">More numbers will appear in volume 14.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">Vol.&nbsp;15.</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">1.</td>
+  <td>The amphibians and reptiles of Michoacán, México. By William E. Duellman.
+      Pp. 1-148, pls. 1-6, 11 figures in text. December 20, 1961.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">2.</td>
+  <td>Some reptiles and amphibians from Korea. By Robert G. Webb, J. Knox
+      Jones, Jr., and George W. Byers. Pp. 149-173. January 31, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">3.</td>
+  <td>A new species of frog (Genus Tomodactylus) from western México. By
+    Robert G. Webb. Pp. 175-181, 1 figure in text. March 7, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">4.</td>
+  <td>Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the Museum of Natural History,
+      the University of Kansas. By William E. Duellman and Barbara Berg.
+      Pp. 183-204. October 26, 1962.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">5.</td>
+  <td>Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Petén, Guatemala.
+      By William E. Duellman. Pp. 205-249, pls. 7-10, 6 figures in text. October
+      4, 1963.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="text_rt vtop">6.</td>
+  <td>A revision of snakes of the genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle
+      America). By John Wellman. Pp. 251-295, 9 figures in text. October 4,
+      1963.</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td colspan="2">More numbers will appear in volume 15.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="trans_notes">
+<a name="typos" id="typos"></a><div class="caption2">Transcriber's Notes</div>
+
+<p>For consistancy, a number of word which had alternate spellings were
+altered to match the most prevalent version used. For example, where
+the word Mexico was used in the body of the article, the more frequent
+spelling (México) was substituted. However, in the reference sections,
+the spelling was not altered as that may have been the spelling used
+by the article's author. All occurrances of Érpétologie Genérale were
+correcteded to Erpétologie Générale (Pp. <a href="#Page_255">255</a>,
+<a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>,
+<a href="#Page_277">277</a>, and <a href="#Page_278">278</a>).</p>
+
+<p>On page 279 under <a href="#Variation"><i>Variation</i></a> there appears to be a miscalculation:</p>
+  <div class="center">668 mm. + 182 mm. = 850 mm. <b>not</b>
+   840 as in original text.</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="caption2">Typographical Corrections</div>
+<br />
+
+<table summary="Corrections">
+<tr>
+  <td class="brdbt">Page</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="brdbt">Correction</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>immaculaate &#8658; immaculate</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>chacteristic &#8658; characteristic</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_266">266</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>elevatons &#8658; elevations</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_267">267</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Dumeril &#8658; Duméril</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Duméil &#8658; Duméril</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Tehauntepec &#8658; Tehuantepec</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>Deleted repeated "Oaxaca,"</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_292">292</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>primarly &#8658; primarily</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>hertetofaunal &#8658; herpetofaunal</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_i">i</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td> V.  9 No. 12 - Pp. 363-387 &#8658; Pp. 363-384</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_iii">iii</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>V. 13 No. &nbsp;8 - Decriptions &#8658; Descriptions</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_iii">iii</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>V. 14 No. &nbsp;8 - anad &#8658; and</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td><a href="#Page_iii">iii</a></td>
+  <td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>V. 14 No. 14 - anad &#8658; and</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<br />
+<br />
+</div>
+<br />
+<br />
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus
+Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
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@@ -0,0 +1,3259 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+Author: John Wellman
+
+Release Date: September 23, 2011 [EBook #37512]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVISION OF SNAKES OF THE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Tom Cosmas, Joseph Cooper and
+the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note
+
+Typographical corrections are listed at the end of this version.
+The list of publications has been compiled after the article's text.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS
+  MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+  Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.
+
+  October 4, 1963
+
+  A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+  (Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+  BY
+  JOHN WELLMAN
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
+  LAWRENCE
+  1963
+
+
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+  Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,
+  Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.
+
+  Volume 15, No. 6, pp. 251-295, 9 figs.
+  Published October 4, 1963
+
+  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
+  Lawrence, Kansas
+
+  PRINTED BY
+  JEAN M. NEIBARGER. STATE PRINTER
+  TOPEKA. KANSAS
+  1963
+
+  [Illustration: Union Label]
+
+  29-5936
+
+
+
+
+A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis
+(Family Colubridae, from Middle America)
+
+BY
+
+JOHN WELLMAN
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                                                  PAGE
+
+ INTRODUCTION                                                      253
+
+ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS                                                   254
+
+ MATERIALS AND METHODS                                             254
+
+ GENUS Conophis Peters                                             255
+   Key to the Species and Subspecies                               257
+   Analysis of Characters                                          257
+   Scutellation                                                    258
+   Size and Proportions                                            258
+   Color Pattern                                                   260
+   Sexual Dimorphism                                               260
+   _C. lineatus_                                                   262
+   _C. lineatus dunni_                                             262
+   _C. lineatus lineatus_                                          267
+   _C. lineatus concolor_                                          270
+   _C. nevermanni_                                                 272
+   _C. pulcher_                                                    274
+   _C. vittatus_                                                   277
+   Skull                                                           282
+   Dentition                                                       288
+   Vertebrae                                                       288
+   Hemipenes                                                       289
+   Food and Feeding                                                289
+   Effect of Poison                                                290
+
+ TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION                             291
+
+ SUMMARY                                                           292
+
+ LITERATURE CITED                                                  293
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Need for a comprehensive systematic review of the snakes of the genus
+_Conophis_ was pointed out by Stuart (1954a, b). Since these snakes
+appeared to be of zoogeographic importance in the Central American
+region, I undertook the review as set forth on the following pages.
+
+
+
+
+ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
+
+
+For permission to examine specimens, and for information concerning
+specimens in their care, I am grateful to Mr. L. C. Battersby and Miss
+Alice G. C. Grandison, British Museum (Natural History); Mr. Charles
+M. Bogert and Dr. Richard G. Zweifel, American Museum of Natural
+History; Dr. Doris M. Cochran, United States National Museum; Prof.
+William B. Davis, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas; Dr.
+Josef Eiselt, Naturhistorisches Museums, Vienna; Prof. Norman Hartweg
+and Prof. Laurence C. Stuart, Museum of Zoology, University of
+Michigan; Dr. Robert F. Inger, Chicago Natural History Museum; Dr.
+Alan E. Leviton, California Academy of Sciences; Mr. Edmond V.
+Malnate, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia; Prof. George S.
+Myers, Stanford University Natural History Museum; Mr. Wilfred T.
+Neill, Ross Allen's Reptile Institute; Mr. Neil D. Richmond, Carnegie
+Museum; Dr. William J. Riemer, University of Florida Collections;
+Prof. Robert C. Stebbins, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of
+California; Prof. Hobart M. Smith, University of Illinois Natural
+History Museum; and Dr. Ernest E. Williams, Museum of Comparative
+Zoology, Harvard.
+
+Prof. William E. Duellman supplied invaluable information and guidance
+in my study. I am grateful to Prof. E. Raymond Hall for use of
+facilities of the Museum of Natural History and editorial assistance.
+I thank Prof. Laurence C. Stuart and Prof. Edward H. Taylor for
+information and suggestions. My own field experience in Middle America
+came as a result of assisting Professor Duellman in his own researches
+supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF-G
+9827). For these things I am deeply grateful. Specimens that I have
+seen alive were collected by field companions Dale L. Hoyt and Jerome
+B. Tulecke. Finally, I am grateful to my wife, Margaret L. Wellman,
+for much help including typing much of the manuscript.
+
+
+
+
+MATERIALS AND METHODS
+
+
+Of the 325 specimens of the genus _Conophis_ available to me,
+representing most of those in museum collections, scale counts were
+made in the usual manner on 309. Ventrals were counted following the
+system proposed by Dowling (1951:97-99); the anal plate was not
+included. The anteroposterior position of the place where reduction
+occurs in the number of the dorsal rows of scales is designated by
+citing the number of the ventral scale directly beneath that place.
+
+Measurements were taken to the nearest millimeter by means of a
+millimeter stick. Body length is the distance from the tip of the
+snout to the posterior edge of the anal plate; tail length, from the
+latter point to the tip of the tail; and total length, the sum of the
+body plus tail.
+
+Descriptions of color are based on preserved specimens. Where
+descriptions of the color of living individuals are given, the data
+were taken from Kodachrome slides made available to me by William E.
+Duellman. Due to the transient nature of the longitudinal dark stripes
+in these snakes, no standard terminology has been devised, except that
+the posterior continuations of the stripes which on the head pass
+through the eye are termed lateral stripes; the posterior
+continuations of the median stripe of the head are termed
+dorsolateral stripes. A paravertebral stripe is one that is present
+on the scale-row on either side of, but not including, the mid-dorsal
+(vertebral) scale-row.
+
+In order to reduce confusion in the discussion of variation, the
+numbers designating the rows of dorsal scales are written as 1st, 2nd,
+whereas the numbers designating the stripes are written as first,
+second.
+
+Except in three dried skeletons, teeth were counted on dentigerous
+bones _in situ_. Since teeth are often missing, the sockets were
+counted in order to obtain an accurate count.
+
+In accounts of the species and subspecies, the observed range of
+variation is followed by the mean in parentheses; in some instances
+the mean is followed by the standard deviation, also in parentheses.
+An example is 65-79 (70.6 +- 3.93).
+
+Each synonymy includes all generic and specific combinations known to
+me that have been used for the genus, and, in addition, references to
+catalogues, checklists, and reports of collections.
+
+Localities of occurrence that are not plotted on the distribution maps
+are recorded in italic type under Specimens Examined. In the list of
+Specimens Examined the localities and specimens are listed in the
+following order: countries in alphabetical order; states or
+departments in alphabetical order in each country; localities in
+alphabetical order in each state or department; museum numbers in
+numerical order after the abbreviations of names of museums. When more
+than one specimen bears a single catalogue number, the number of
+specimens is given in parentheses following the museum catalogue
+number. Specimens for which data are given only as to country or to
+state or department are listed first after the name of that political
+unit under "no specific locality."
+
+The abbreviations for the museum collections are:
+
+  AMNH     American Museum of Natural History
+  ANSP     Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
+  BMNH     British Museum (Natural History)
+  CAS      California Academy of Sciences
+  CNHM     Chicago Natural History Museum
+  ERA-WTN  E. Ross Allen-Wilfred T. Neill, Ross Allen's Reptile Institute
+  KU       University of Kansas Museum of Natural History
+  MCZ      Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard
+  MVZ      Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California
+  NMW      Naturhistorisches Museums Wien, Vienna
+  SU       Stanford University Natural History Museum
+  TCWC     Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Agricultural and
+             Mechanical College of Texas
+  UF       University of Florida Collections
+  UIMNH    University of Illinois Museum of Natural History
+  UMMZ     University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
+  USNM     United States National Museum
+
+
+
+
+Family COLUBRIDAE
+
+Subfamily Xenodontinae
+
+Genus =Conophis= Peters
+
+
+  _Tomodon_ (part) Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril, Erpetologie Generale,
+     7(pt.2):936, February 7(pt.2):936, February 25, 1854 (_lineatus_
+     and _vittatus_); Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 28:455, 1860
+     (_pulcher_).
+
+  _Psammophis_ (part), Guenther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes in
+    the Collection of the British Museum, London, 1858:135
+    (_lineatus_).
+
+  _Conophis_ Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1860:519-520,
+    pl., fig. 3 (_vittatus_); Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, 13:300, December 28, 1861 (_lineatus concolor_);
+    Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:318-319, February 20,
+    1867 (_lineatus concolor_); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (_pulcher_); Bocourt in
+    Dumeril, Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique
+    et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5, 1886
+    (_lineatus lineatus_); Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., 23:489,
+    October 28, 1886; Hoffmann, Klassen und Ordnungen des
+    Thier-Reichs. Reptilien. Bd. 6, 3:1707, 1890; Cope, Trans.
+    Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:207, April 15, 1895; Dunn, Bull.
+    Antivenin Inst. Amer., 2(1):21, 24, April, 1928; Copeia, no.
+    4:214, December 31, 1937 (_nevermanni_).
+
+  _Tachymenis_ (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16:33,
+    January 9, 1884 (_vittatus_ and _lineatus_).
+
+  _Erythrolamprus_ (in part), Ditmars, Bull. Antivenin Inst.
+    Amer., 2(2):27-29, June.
+
+  _Coniophanes_ (in part), Wettstein, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien,
+    mathem-naturw. kl. 143:37-38, 1934 (_nevermanni_).
+
+_Historical summary._--In 1854 Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril described
+and figured _Tomodon lineatum_ from America. In 1860 Peters described
+and figured as a new genus and species, _Conophis vittatus_, based on
+a specimen that he had obtained from a dealer in Hamburg. The
+provenance of this specimen is not known, for it was discovered aboard
+a ship near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was not until 1871
+that Cope included _lineatus_ in the genus _Conophis_. Cope (1861)
+proposed the name _Conophis vittatus_ (_nec_ Peters, 1860). Later
+(1900) he changed its name to _Conophis lineaticeps_. Early
+uncertainty of the relationships of the species _lineatus_ caused
+Guenther (1858) to place it in the genus _Psammophis_. With the
+exception of Garman (1884a and 1884b) who placed _lineatus_ in the
+genus _Tachymenis_, and Wettstein (1934) who reported five specimens
+of _Conophis nevermanni_ as _Coniophanes i. imperialis_, all specimens
+reported after 1876 were placed in the genus _Conophis_.
+
+The only previous attempt to review the systematics of this genus was
+made by Smith (1941) who based his study primarily on specimens in the
+United States National Museum. He examined only 28 specimens,
+including none of one species (_nevermanni_).
+
+_Description._--Hemipenis slightly bifurcate having forked sulcus
+spermaticus, large spines near base, and smaller spines or papillae on
+flounces nearer apices; prediastemal maxillary teeth 8-12, subequal in
+length, and followed by short diastema and one enlarged fang or two;
+fangs grooved, only one functional at any one time, unless snake is in
+process of shedding teeth; teeth 6-10 on palatine, 15 to 19 on
+pterygoid, 15 to 21 on dentary; teeth on dentary decreasing in size
+posteriorly; large parotid (venom) gland on either side of head in
+temporal region; head shields of basically unmodified colubrid type
+excepting decurved rostral; rostral concave below and therein modified
+for burrowing; internasals and prefrontals paired; nasals divided;
+loreal single; preocular one, rarely two; postoculars, two;
+supralabials, 7-8, 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th under eye; infralabials,
+8-11, usually 9 or 10; temporals, normally 1 plus 2 plus 3;
+chin-shields subequal in length; ventrals, 149-183, rounded and
+overlapping; caudals, 55-89, paired and imbricate; anal divided;
+dorsal scales smooth and in 19 rows at mid-body with no apical pits
+or keels; scale reduction normally involving fusion of 3rd and 4th
+rows, resulting in 17 scale-rows near tail; tail length more than 20
+per cent of body length; maximum total length exceeding 1.1 meters;
+dorsal color pattern consisting of dark stripes, or no darkening, on
+paler ground-color; ventral surfaces immaculate pale yellowish or
+white, except on specimens having single lateral dark spots on some or
+all ventrals; pupil round; diurnal or crepuscular; feeding primarily
+on small lizards, sometimes on small mammals or other snakes.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid regions of southern Mexico and Central
+America as far south as Costa Rica.
+
+
+KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES
+
+Although many juveniles differ greatly in general coloration from the
+adults, both the juveniles and the adults of any species or subspecies
+can be identified from the following key; juveniles differ from adults
+in extent and intensity of dark pigmentation but not in rows of scales
+involved.
+
+ 1. Seven supralabials (3rd and 4th below orbit); 3 to 8 dark
+    stripes along body                                               2
+
+    Eight supralabials (4th and 5th below orbit); unstriped or with
+    more than 4 dark stripes along body, or dark with 2 or 4 pale
+    stripes                                                          3
+
+ 2. Dark stripes involving no more than one longitudinal
+    scale-row                    _C. lineatus lineatus_ (part), p. 267
+
+    Dark stripes involving at least two adjacent scale-rows
+                                                 _C. vittatus_, p. 277
+
+ 3. Supralabials having black borders above; head and body
+    generally black with 2 or 4 white lines running length
+    of body                                    _C. nevermanni_, p. 272
+
+    Supralabials immaculate or having dark borders below; head
+    and body usually pale with dark stripes, or without stripes      4
+
+ 4. Lateral dark stripe through eye involving upper half of second
+    scale-row; dark stripe on paravertebral row, at least
+    posteriorly                                   _C. pulcher_, p. 274
+
+    Lateral dark stripe becoming indistinct on body, or restricted
+    to 4th or 3rd and 4th rows anteriorly, not involving 2nd
+    scale-row on anterior 1/3 of body (an auxiliary lateral stripe
+    sometimes present involving 2nd row); no paravertebral stripes   5
+
+ 5. Stripes disappearing posteriorly (except for small spots of
+    pigment on scale-row 4 or 7); 1st scale-row unpigmented
+                                        _C. lineatus concolor_, p. 270
+
+    Stripes present posteriorly; 1st scale-row pigmented             6
+
+ 6. Lateral stripes narrow on nape, restricted to 4th scale-row
+    on body                      _C. lineatus lineatus_ (part), p. 267
+
+    Lateral stripes involving 3rd and 4th rows, at least on
+    nape                                   _C. lineatus dunni_, p. 262
+
+
+Analysis of Characters
+
+Characters showing inter-specific and intra-specific variation and
+that have a wide range of variation were analyzed statistically, when
+possible, in order to determine extent of variation. One character
+(see table 3) was analyzed for sexual dimorphism, and for it the
+coefficient of difference is also given. The statistical terms and
+formulae have been adopted from Mayr, Linsley and Usinger (1953).
+Dorsal head shields varied individually and were of no taxonomic
+importance. Osteological and hemipeneal characters did not show enough
+variation to be considered here.
+
+
+Scutellation
+
+Labials, dorsals, ventrals, and subcaudals were the most useful
+scales.
+
+_Labials._--All species usually have eight supralabials except _C.
+vittatus_, which has seven. The only other population having a
+relatively high frequency of occurrence of seven supralabials is _C.
+l. lineatus_. In specimens having eight supralabials, the fourth and
+fifth enter the orbit; in specimens having seven supralabials, the
+third and fourth enter the orbit (the second and third are fused).
+Usually there are ten infralabials, sometimes nine or eleven;
+specimens having seven supralabials usually have nine infralabials,
+sometimes eight, rarely ten.
+
+_Dorsals._--Although there is no variation in the number of rows of
+dorsal scales, there is some in the method of scale reduction. There
+are 19 rows of dorsal scales from close behind the head to about
+midway on the body where two rows are lost, leaving 17 rows from there
+to near the base of the tail. This reduction is accomplished by fusion
+of the scales of the 3rd and 4th rows or sometimes by the dropping out
+of the 3rd row. The place at which reduction occurs in number of
+dorsal scales in relation to the ventral (scale) directly below is
+highly variable and of little taxonomic importance (table 1).
+
+TABLE 1.--VARIATION IN THE PLACE OF DOSAL SCALE REDUCTION IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+
+ ==============+===========+========+=======+======+======+======
+               | Number of |        |       | Std. | Std. | Coe.
+     Taxon     | Specimens | Range  | Mean  | Dev. | Err. | Var.
+ --------------+-----------+--------+-------+------+------+------
+ _l. concolor_ |     45    | 89-114 | 102.5 | 5.57 | 0.83 | 5.43
+ _l. dunni_    |     36    | 91-111 | 102.1 | 4.59 | 0.77 | 4.50
+ _l. lineatus_ |     26    | 91-107 | 100.2 | 3.59 | 0.72 | 3.58
+ _nevermanni_  |      6    | 84- 97 |  93.2 | 4.71 | 1.92 | 5.05
+ _pulcher_     |     26    | 94-119 | 104.6 | 4.90 | 0.96 | 4.68
+ _vittatus_    |    170    | 84-118 | 102.3 | 6.60 | 0.16 | 6.45
+ --------------+-----------+--------+-------+------+------+------
+
+
+_Ventrals._--The number of ventral scutes varies from 149-183, and
+shows no significant variation in the means (table 2).
+
+_Subcaudals._--The number of subcaudal scutes varies from 55 to 89. In
+some populations there is no overlap in the range of variation of
+males and females. The total variation and sexual dimorphism are
+analyzed in table 3.
+
+
+Size and Proportions
+
+Although considerable variation in size is observable, little
+taxonomic use is made of size since sufficient series are not
+available to determine age classes. The subspecies attaining the
+largest size is _C. lineatus concolor_; all others are smaller and of
+about the same size and proportions. The longest specimen, a male of
+_C. l. concolor_, has a body length of 893 mm., a tail length of 274
+mm., and a total length of 1167 mm.
+
+TABLE 2.--VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF VENTRALS IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+
+ ==============+===========+=========+=======+======+======+======
+               | Number of |         |       | Std. | Std. | Coe.
+     Taxon     | Specimens |  Range  | Mean  | Dev. | Err. | Var.
+ --------------+-----------+---------+-------+------+------+------
+ _l. concolor_ |     45    | 158-170 | 163.7 | 1.56 | 0.23 | 0.95
+ _l. dunni_    |     36    | 159-178 | 167.2 | 4.56 | 0.76 | 2.72
+ _l. lineatus_ |     26    | 157-169 | 163.5 | 3.59 | 0.72 | 2.20
+ _nevermanni_  |      6    | 173-183 | 176.5 | 4.00 | 1.63 | 2.27
+ _pulcher_     |     26    | 149-180 | 169.5 | 5.31 | 1.04 | 3.13
+ _vittatus_    |    171    | 149-180 | 163.7 | 6.33 | 0.15 | 3.87
+ --------------+-----------+---------+-------+------+------+------
+
+
+TABLE 3.--SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AS INDICATED BY VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF
+   SUBCAUDALS IN CONOPHIS.
+
+ Key to Columns
+ ====================================
+ Num. Spc. = Number of Specimens
+ Std. Dev. = Standard Deviation
+ Std. Err. = Standard Error
+ Coe. Var. = Coefficient of Variation
+ Coe. Dif. = Coefficient of Difference
+
+ ====================+=====+====+=======+======+======+======+======+=====
+                     |     |Num.|       |      | Std. | Std. | Coe. | Coe.
+        Taxon        | Sex |Spc.| Range | Mean | Dev. | Err. | Var. | Dif.
+ --------------------+-----+----+-------+------+------+------+------+-----
+ _lineatus concolor_ | [M] | 22 | 68-74 | 70.3 | 2.14 | 0.46 | 3.04 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 1.97
+                     | [F] | 16 | 56-65 | 61.8 | 2.18 | 0.55 | 3.53 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _lineatus dunni_    | [M] | 14 | 67-80 | 74.5 | 3.86 | 1.03 | 5.18 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.95
+                     | [F] | 16 | 60-72 | 67.1 | 3.91 | 0.97 | 5.82 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _lineatus lineatus_ | [M] | 11 | 67-73 | 69.8 | 6.17 | 1.85 | 8.84 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.60
+                     | [F] |  9 | 60-66 | 62.4 | 6.17 | 2.06 | 9.89 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _nevermanni_        | [M] |  3 | 82-89 | 85.3 | .... | .... | .... |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | ....
+                     | [F] |  2 | 71-76 | 73.5 | .... | .... | .... |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _pulcher_           | [M] |  7 | 70-79 | 74.3 | 3.11 | 1.17 | 4.19 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 0.93
+                     | [F] | 11 | 65-71 | 68.2 | 3.42 | 1.08 | 5.01 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      |
+ _vittatus_          | [M] | 95 | 59-76 | 67.8 | 3.33 | 0.34 | 4.91 |
+                     |     |    |       |      |      |      |      | 1.28
+                     | [F] | 58 | 55-66 | 60.0 | 2.75 | 0.36 | 4.58 |
+ --------------------+-----+----+-------+------+------+------+------+-----
+
+
+Color Pattern
+
+This is the primary feature used to separate species and subspecies in
+this genus. The color pattern consists of three black or deep brown
+stripes on the dorsal part of the head, one mid-dorsally, and one on
+each side of the head passing through the eye. On the body, there are
+usually dark longitudinal stripes on a pale tan or white background.
+There may be as few as three in _vittatus_, and as many as 13 in _l.
+dunni_; except that there is none in _C. l. concolor_. There are two
+pairs of primary dark stripes. The first is the body stripe that is
+the posterior extension of the stripe which on the head passes through
+the eye and is termed the lateral stripe. The other primary stripe is
+the posterior continuation of the mid-dorsal head stripe. Usually it
+is split into two dorsolateral stripes on the body. Stripes may be
+present on the scale-row to either side of the primary stripe. These
+stripes are usually dark brown or black and are the secondary stripes.
+Finally, additional stripes may be present that are paler brown and
+bear no direct relationship to the primary stripes. These are
+auxiliary stripes.
+
+Every stripe originates either as broad continuous stripe or as a row
+of spots or dashes, forming a discontinuous stripe, which in some
+specimens becomes continuous posteriorly. The stripes are usually
+black or deep brown, although auxiliary stripes are sometimes paler.
+The dorsal ground color is pale brown, tan, olive, or white; usually
+the ground color is palest ventrally and darkest dorsally.
+
+In some specimens of _Conophis_ the lateral tips of the ventrals are
+spotted, one spot on each end of each ventral. Otherwise, the ventrals
+are immaculate white.
+
+In some species there is considerable ontogenetic change in color
+pattern, although the juveniles bear the basic color characteristics
+of the adults. For example, juveniles of the sympatric species _C.
+lineatus dunni_ and _C. pulcher_ can be separated on the basis of
+which scale-rows are darkly pigmented. _C. l. dunni_ has eight stripes
+in juveniles and as many as 13 in adults. Juveniles show a greater
+contrast between the black stripes and the pale ground color than do
+adults. With increased age (size) the stripes in some populations
+become paler and are split; simultaneously the ground color becomes
+darker.
+
+
+Sexual Dimorphism
+
+Sexual dimorphism is evident in all species and subspecies of
+_Conophis_. Differences always exist in the number of subcaudals and
+in the tail/body ratio; males have more subcaudals and relatively
+longer tails than do females (table 3). Otherwise, there is little
+sexual dimorphism in these snakes. Males and females cannot be
+differentiated by any feature of coloration.
+
+Formulation of a biological concept of the species as defined by Mayr
+(1942) is difficult when most of the data primarily relied upon are
+from preserved specimens. Nevertheless, a total view of variation was
+attempted so that differences within and between populations could be
+recognized. Differences, between populations, that seem to be part of
+a continuous or internal cline (Huxley, 1942) are not used for
+characterizing subspecies.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 1. Patterns of dorsal coloration at
+      mid-body of adults of all species and subspecies of the genus
+      _Conophis_ except _C. lineatus concolor_. A. _C. lineatus
+      dunni_ (UMMZ 107339) from Santa Rosa, Guatemala. B. _C.
+      lineatus dunni_ (UMMZ 116537) from 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa,
+      Nicaragua. C. _C. lineatus dunni_ (ANSP 3480) from "San Jose,"
+      Costa Rica. D. _C. l. lineatus_ (KU 23253) from Rio Blanco,
+      20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, Veracruz, Mexico. E. _C. nevermanni_
+      (ANSP 22424) "San Jose," Costa Rica. F. _C. pulcher_ (UIMNH
+      33646) from Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico. G. _C. vittatus_ (KU
+      39626) from Atencingo, Puebla, Mexico. H. _C. vittatus_ (TCWC
+      9473) from 1 mi. S Colotlipa, Guerrero, Mexico. I. _C.
+      vittatus_ (UMMZ 82653) from "vicinity of" Salina Cruz, Oaxaca,
+      Mexico. Approximately x 3/4.]
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus= (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril)
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part) Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril,
+    Erpetologie Generale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.
+
+_Diagnosis._--No dark pigmentation posterior to nape; lateral dark
+stripe anteriorly passing through eye and posteriorly involving 4th or
+3rd and 4th scale-rows only; first scale-row darkly pigmented; no
+paravertebral dark stripe; six to thirteen (or no) dark stripes at
+mid-body; usually eight (sometimes seven) supralabials immaculate
+white or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--The variation in this species is discussed more
+completely in the descriptions of the subspecies. One hundred and
+seven specimens have 157 to 178 (164.8) ventrals. Eighty-eight of
+these snakes having complete tails have 56 to 80 (68.0) subcaudals;
+the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 222 to 247 (233.5)
+in 87 of these. On 107 specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal
+scale-rows takes place between ventrals 89 and 114 (101.8). Sexual
+dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; there are, on the
+average, fewer subcaudals in females than in males of each subspecies.
+The largest specimen is a male _C. l. concolor_ (USNM 46345) from
+Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, having a body length of 893 mm., a tail
+length of 274 mm. and a total length of 1167 mm. The smallest is a
+juvenile _C. l. dunni_ (MCZ 49749) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, having
+a body length of 162 mm., a tail length of 51 mm. and a total length
+of 213 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. Dark color, or lack thereof,
+has been used to separate the subspecies of _C. lineatus_. The
+ground-color is pale brown, pale olive or white, either with no
+stripes on the body or with eight to thirteen dark stripes at
+mid-body. Specimens having dark stripes on the body always have black
+or dark brown pigmentation on the first, 4th and 7th dorsal
+scale-rows. In some there is dark pigmentation on the 2nd, 3rd, 8th
+and 10th rows of scales. The stripes appear on the nape or farther
+posteriorly, usually on the anterior third of the body, either as a
+series of spots or dashes that form a continuous stripe farther
+posteriorly or as a continuous stripe.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally on those specimens having dark stripes present on the
+dorsum; spots are absent on all specimens having no dorsal stripes and
+on some specimens having dorsal stripes. Except for the dark lateral
+spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white. Usually the
+dorsal ground-color is pale tan, especially on the striped forms. The
+ground-color is usually palest on the lower dorsal scale rows and
+darkest dorsally.
+
+Three populations are separable as subspecies; one has no stripes on
+the body and occurs in the Yucatan Peninsula. The other two have
+stripes on the dorsum and vary clinally in coloration from the north
+(Veracruz, Mexico) to south (Costa Rica) (Fig. 2). Reasons for
+separating these widespread, variable snakes into two subspecies are
+that they are discontinuous in distribution (the population in
+Veracruz is disjunct from the one that extends from Guatemala to Costa
+Rica), and that these populations have distinctly different color
+patterns.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 2. Selected locality records for the
+      subspecies of _Conophis lineatus_.]
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus dunni= Smith
+
+  _Psammophis lineatus_, Guenther, Catalogue of Colubrine Snakes
+    in the Collection of the British Museum, p. 135, 1858.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Cope, 3rd Ann. Rept. Peabody Acad. Sci.,
+    p. 82, 1871; Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23:204,
+    October 24, 1871; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Guenther,
+    Biologia Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Boulenger,
+    Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural
+    History), 3:122-123, 1896; Werner, Arch. Naturges., 90, abt. A,
+    12:143, 1925; Schmidt, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+    12:199-200, November 21, 1928; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan,
+    4:212, 1929; Werner, Zool. Jahrb., 57:184, 1929; Stuart, Occas.
+    Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 292:5, June 29, 1934; Dunn,
+    Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31, 1937.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus similis_ Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:123-124, March 15, 1941 (Type.--United States National
+    Museum, No. 79963; type locality.--Managua, Nicaragua; _nec_
+    Bocourt _in_ Dumeril, Bibron and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique
+    au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, 2:647-648, 1886);
+    Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus dunni_ Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.
+    92:394-395, November 5, 1942; Savage, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
+    50:483-486, December 31, 1949; Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+    34(pt. 1):145, October 1, 1951; Neill and Allen, Publ. Res.
+    Div. Ross Allen's Rept. Inst., 2:56, November 10, 1959;
+    Herpetologica, 16:146-148, fig. 2, September 23, 1960.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher pulcher_, Stuart, Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool.
+    Univ. Michigan, 69:79, June 12, 1948; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 45:24, May, 1950; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 49:14, August, 1951; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
+    Univ. Michigan, 65:19-20 (part), March, 1954.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher plagosus_, Mertens, Zool. Anz., 148:93,
+    February, 1952; Abhand. Senken. Naturw. Gesell., 487:61-62,
+    December 1, 1952.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus nevermanni_, Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+    Bull., 37(pt. 1):563-565, fig. 16, October 15, 1955.
+
+
+_Type._--United States National Museum, no. 79963, obtained by Lt. H.
+C. Kellers. Type locality: Managua, Nicaragua. There are also three
+paratypes; one a topotype (USNM 79964), one from "Nicaragua" (USNM
+25237), and one from Esparta, Costa Rica (USNM 37758).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and
+posteriorly involving 3rd and 4th scale-rows; 1st scale-row darkly
+pigmented; no paravertebral dark stripe, although vertebral row
+sometimes darkly pigmented; six to thirteen stripes at mid-body; eight
+supralabials immaculate or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--Thirty-six specimens have 159 to 178 (167.2 +- 4.56)
+ventrals. Thirty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 80
+(70.5 +- 5.36) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 224 to 247 (237.6). In 36 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 91 and 111 (102.1 +-
+4.59). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; 16
+females have 60 to 72 (67.1), and 14 males have 67 to 80 (74.5)
+subcaudals. The largest specimen (ERA-WTN BH-300) is a female from
+Augustine, British Honduras, having a body length of 732 mm., a tail
+length of 183 mm. and a total length of 915 mm. A juvenile (MCZ 49794)
+from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body length of 162 mm., a tail
+length of 51 mm. and a total length of 213 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. The ground-color is pale
+brown or white with dark stripes of black or deep brown present
+dorsally and laterally. Some specimens from Costa Rica have as many as
+13 dark stripes at mid-body (fig. 1, C). In these snakes the first
+row of dorsal scales bears a series of large, slightly elongated, dark
+spots; on the 2nd row a narrow dark brown stripe on the middle of the
+scales; on the 3rd a black stripe on the dorsal one-third to one-half
+of the scales; on the 4th and the 7th rows black stripes on the medial
+half of the scales of each row; on the 8th and 10th (vertebral) rows
+dark brown stripes on the medial third of the scales of each row. A
+specimen from Guatemala (UMMZ 107339) shows the greatest reduction of
+stripes and dark pigmentation (fig. 1, A); it has only eight stripes
+at mid-body: on the first row of dorsal scales a discontinuous stripe
+is formed by a series of dashes; the 3rd row bears a series of small
+black spots near the base and tip of each scale; the 4th and 7th rows
+bear continuous black stripes on the medial third to fourth of the
+scales of each row; the 8th row has extremely small dark spots near
+the tips of some scales.
+
+The primary stripes, characteristic of the species _lineatus_, are
+those on the 1st, 4th and 7th rows of dorsal scales; these are the
+most prominent stripes. In some specimens these primary stripes begin
+as spots or dashes on the nape and become continuous stripes
+posteriorly; in others they are continuous for the length of the body.
+The stripe on the 1st row is most variable; usually it consists of
+only a discontinuous series of dashes for most of its length. The
+secondary stripes are those on the 3rd and 8th rows; of these, only
+the one on the 3rd scale-row is present on the nape. The stripe on the
+3rd row in combination with the dark stripe on the 4th row is the
+posterior continuation of the dark stripe that on the head passes
+through the eye; this stripe is characteristic of _C. lineatus dunni_.
+Both secondary stripes usually begin anteriorly as a series of spots
+or dashes and become continuous stripes posteriorly; occasionally near
+the base of the tail they fuse with the primary stripes on the 4th and
+7th rows. In some specimens in Costa Rica indistinct stripes are
+present on the 10th (posteriorly the 9th) rows, and in some specimens
+in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica similar indistinct stripes are
+present on the 2nd row.
+
+Usually there are more or less conspicuous dark spots laterally on the
+ventrals, but in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the
+dark lateral spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white.
+The dorsal ground-color is a pale brown or brownish white in preserved
+specimens on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th rows of scales where dark
+stripes or spots are not present. The ground-color of the dorsum
+between the 5th rows on each side is a somewhat darker shade of pale
+to medium brown.
+
+Never is more than the lower one-third of each of the supralabials
+brown. In many specimens little or no brown is present on the lower
+margins of these scales. Some of the specimens having brown on the
+supralabials also have dusky markings of tan or gray on the chin and
+infralabials. Specimens from the northern part of the range
+(Guatemala) less frequently have dark chins and supralabials than do
+specimens from the southern part of the range (Costa Rica). There is,
+nevertheless, at any one locality considerable variation in the amount
+of dark pigmentation present on the chin and supralabials, thereby
+indicating that the slight geographic trend in this character is not
+significant.
+
+Probably the most common pattern of dorsal coloration consists of
+eight or ten dark stripes (fig. 1, B). In snakes having this pattern
+the stripes on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th rows are always present and
+prominent, although those on the 1st and 3rd rows sometimes are
+present as discontinuous rows of dashes. The ground-color from the
+venter to the 7th row is usually pale brown, and that dorsally between
+the 7th rows on each side is usually a darker, medium brown. A series
+of spots or dashes or a continuous stripe is sometimes present on the
+8th row of scales.
+
+Snakes having a larger number of dark stripes and more dark
+pigmentation occur in the southern part of the range. There seems to
+be a cline from paler snakes having fewer stripes in the north to
+darker snakes in the south.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 3. Patterns of dorsal coloration at
+      mid-body of juveniles of two sympatric species of _Conophis_.
+      A. _C. lineatus dunni_ (MCZ 49794) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      B. _C. pulcher_ (MCZ 49791) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
+      Approximately x 1.]
+
+In juveniles, there are six or eight black stripes boldly contrasting
+with a white or pale tan ground-color (fig. 3, A). The first pair of
+stripes is on the 1st scale-row; the second pair, on the 3rd and 4th
+scale-rows; the third pair, on the 7th row; the fourth pair (when
+present), on the 8th row. Ontogenetic change in coloration consists of
+the splitting of the second pair of dark stripes in the juvenile.
+Additional stripes may form later on the 2nd and/or 10th rows of
+dorsal scales.
+
+_Remarks._--Savage (1949:483-486) stated that his specimen of _C. l.
+dunni_ (from Honduras) resembled _l. lineatus_ in having secondary
+stripes on the 2nd and 8th rows and dark pigmentation throughout the
+length of the 2nd row. As can be seen from the preceding discussion of
+variation, a specimen having this color pattern is clearly within the
+observed range of variation of _l. dunni_. The specimen in no way
+represents an intergrade between _C. l. dunni_ and _l. lineatus_.
+
+A specimen in the British Museum (Natural History), catalogued in 1853
+(no. 53.2.4.16), has the locality listed as "Mexico." Since this
+specimen is of _C. l. dunni_ and this subspecies occurs only south of
+Mexico, the locality must be considered erroneous; possibly the
+locality as recorded referred only to the fact that the specimen came
+from tropical Middle America.
+
+The absence of paravertebral stripes, the presence of a lateral
+dark stripe on the nape involving the 3rd and 4th rows of scales,
+and the darkly pigmented 1st scale-row, in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus, distinguish _C. l. dunni_ from all other
+snakes in Mexico and Central America. The only sympatric species of
+this genus, _C. pulcher_, differs in that it has paravertebral stripes
+(though never a vertebral dark stripe). _Conophis pulcher_ has a
+lateral dark stripe that includes the upper half of the second
+scale-row on the anterior part of the body; stripes of _C. l. dunni_
+never include more than the 3rd and 4th rows. Even as juveniles the
+paravertebral row is not darkly pigmented in _C. l. dunni_ as it is in
+_C. pulcher_.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats from sea level to elevations of
+1000 m. from the Cuilco Valley in western Guatemala, El Peten and
+British Honduras southeastward to northeastern and southern Honduras,
+western Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 41 specimens, as follows: BRITISH
+HONDURAS: _Cayo District_: Augustine, ERA-WTN BH-300; _Mountain Pine
+Ridge, 10 mi. E Augustine_, ERA-WTN BH-298.
+
+COSTA RICA: _no specific locality_, AMNH 17309. "_Cartago_," BMNH
+71.11.22.15. _Puntarenas_: 32 km. N Barranca, KU 35630; Esparta, USNM
+37758. "_San Jose_," ANSP 3480, 12232.
+
+EL SALVADOR: _Morazan_: El Divisadero, CNHM 10999. _San Miguel: San
+Pedro_, MCZ 57061.
+
+GUATEMALA: _El Peten_: Sojio (Toocog), AMNH 69969, 69986.
+_Huehuetenango_: flood plain Rio Cuilco, W of Finca Canibal, 18 km. N
+Tacana, UMMZ 98283. _Santa Rosa_: Santa Rosa, UMMZ 107339.
+
+HONDURAS: _no specific locality_, AMNH 32814, UF 7657. _Cortes:
+Cofradia_, SU 8422; _Gracias_, CNHM 28560; _Hacienda de Santa Ana, W
+San Pedro Sula_, CNHM 5297; San Pedro Sula, UMMZ 68695(2); _near San
+Pedro Sula_, MCZ 27563. _Francisco Morazan: Potrero de Melio, Escuela
+Agricola Pan-americana_, MCZ 49987; Tegucigalpa, MCZ 49784, 49786,
+49789-90, 49792, 49794.
+
+MEXICO: _no specific locality_, BMNH 53.2.4.16.
+
+NICARAGUA: _no specific locality_, UMMZ 65633, USNM 25237. _Leon_: El
+Polvon, MCZ 5645, 5696. _Managua_: Managua, USNM 79963-64; _3 mi. SW
+Managua_, KU 42315; _8 mi. WNW Managua_, KU 42314; _1 mi. N Sabana
+Grande_, KU 42311-13. _Matagalpa_: 1.5 mi. N Matagalpa, UMMZ 116537.
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus lineatus= (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril)
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part) Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril,
+    Erpetologie Generale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73,
+    February 25, 1854; Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., 5:406-407, 1876.
+
+  _Tomodon lineatus_, Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Fis., Genoa,
+    2(2):234, March 1863; Elenco sistematico degli ofidi. Milano,
+    p. 57, 1863; Muller, Reisen in den Vereinigten Staaten,
+    Canada, und Mexico. Bd. 3. Beitrage zur Geschichte, Statistik,
+    und Zoologie von Mexiko. 3:607, 1865; Jan and Sordelli,
+    Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens, Milano. liv. 19, pl. 6,
+    fig. 3, December, 1866; liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34, November,
+    1881.
+
+  _Tachymenis lineata_ (in part), Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., 16:
+    33, January 9, 1884; Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 8:60-61, July,
+    1884.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Bocourt _in_ Dumeril, Bocourt and
+    Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+    Centrale, 2:643-644, pl. 38, fig. 5, 1886; Cope, Trans. Amer.
+    Philos. Soc., 18:218, pl. 28, fig. 2, (hemipenis), April 15,
+    1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum
+    (Natural History), 3:122-123 (part), 1896; Cope, Ann. Rept. U.
+    S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1242, pl. 26, fig. 2,
+    (hemipenis), 1900; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:212, 1929;
+    Mittleman, Copeia, no. 2:122, June 30, 1944.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus lineatus_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:122, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395,
+    November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407, October 29,
+    1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:43,
+    October 5, 1945; Shannon and Smith, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.,
+    52:505, December 31, 1949; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
+    Bull., 33(pt. 2):351, March 20, 1950; Werler and Smith, Texas
+    Journ. Sci. 4(4):565, December 30, 1952; Fugler and Dixon,
+    Herpetologica, 14:186, December 1, 1958.
+
+_Type._--Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, no. 3738. Type
+locality.--"Mexico," restricted to Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico, by
+Smith and Taylor (1950:351). Little is known about the type specimen,
+and nothing, concerning its collector or the locality at which it was
+collected. Smith (1941:122) assumed that the specimen illustrated by
+Bocourt in Dumeril, Bocourt, and Mocquard (1886:pl. 38, fig. 5) was
+the type of _C. l. lineatus_. I have also made this assumption
+concerning the identity of the type specimen of this species,
+especially because of the many inconsistencies appearing in the plate
+accompanying the description by Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril (1854:pl.
+73), and by Jan and Sordelli (1866:pl. 6). Neither show the nape nor a
+regular number of dorsal scales by which accurate determination of
+color pattern can be made and by means of which _C. l. dunni_ and _C.
+l. lineatus_ can be separated.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Lateral dark stripe anteriorly passing through eye and
+posteriorly involving fourth scale-row only; first scale-row darkly
+pigmented; no paravertebral stripe; no dark pigment on vertebral row;
+six or eight dark stripes at mid-body, secondary stripes often present
+posteriorly; usually eight (sometimes seven) supralabials immaculate
+or having dark ventral margins.
+
+_Variation._--Twenty-six specimens have 157 to 169 (163.5 +- 3.59)
+ventrals. Twenty of these snakes having complete tails have 60 to 73
+(66.5 +- 4.26) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 224 to 238 (230.1) in nineteen of these. In 26 specimens
+the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scale-rows takes place between
+ventrals 91 and 107 (100.2 +- 3.59). Sexual dimorphism is evident in
+the number of subcaudals; nine females have 60 to 66 (62.4), and 11
+males have 68 to 73 (69.8) subcaudals. The largest specimen (AMNH
+19643) is a male from "Mexico," having a body length of 626 mm., a
+tail length of 168 mm. and a total length of 786 mm. No small
+juveniles have been examined; the smallest specimen (AMNH 19618) is a
+male from Veracruz, Mexico, having a body length of 325 mm., a tail
+length of 90 mm. and a total length of 415 mm.
+
+The greatest variation is in coloration. In preserved specimens the
+ground-color is white, tannish-white, or often pale blue, with dark
+stripes of black or deep brown present dorsolaterally and laterally.
+Secondary stripes of paler brown are sometimes present, but the pale
+browns have faded badly on many specimens. Normally four black stripes
+are present at mid-body--a lateral pair on the 4th row of dorsal scales
+and a dorsolateral pair on the 7th row (fig. 1, D). The lateral pair
+is the posterior continuation of the stripe that on the head passes
+through the eye; it continues on the nape as a narrow stripe on the
+4th row only. In a few specimens the lateral stripe broadens to
+include the upper third of the 3rd row posterior to the nape. In some
+specimens both the dorsolateral and lateral dark stripes are present
+on the nape as a row of elongated spots or dashes that become
+continuous stripes of even width one-third to one-half of the distance
+posteriorly along the body; in other specimens the stripes are
+continuous on the nape. Posterior to the place of dorsal
+scale-reduction from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion of the 3rd and 4th
+rows, the lateral and dorsolateral stripes are moved downward by one
+row. In some specimens secondary black or dark brown stripes are
+present in the form of a series of dashes on the 5th and 8th rows;
+posterior to the place of scale reduction, these dashes are on the 4th
+and 7th rows. These dashes form a continuous stripe near the base of
+the tail. On the tail the secondary and primary stripes on adjacent
+rows sometimes fuse into a single broader stripe.
+
+Usually the 1st row of dorsal scales is dark brown; in some specimens
+the brown on the 1st or 7th row has faded in preservative. A few
+specimens have small black spots on the moderate brown background of
+the 1st row; in others the 1st row is only a somewhat darker brown
+than the ground-color. The 2nd row sometimes is a medium brown, and
+appears to be an additional stripe.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally; in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the
+lateral spots (when present) the ventrals are immaculate white. The
+dorsal ground-color is pale brownish-white, white or pale blue between
+the 4th and 7th rows of dorsal scales and dorsally between the 7th
+rows on each side. Stripes are never present on the uniformly pale
+colored 8th, 9th and vertebral scale-rows.
+
+Usually there are eight supralabials on each side; however, seven of
+the 27 specimens examined have seven supralabials on each side, and
+three others have seven on one side, and eight on the other. Never is
+more than the lower third of the supralabials dark brown. In many
+specimens little or no brown is on the supralabials. There is little
+or no brown on the chin.
+
+Variation in coloration and in number of supralabials appears to be of
+no geographic significance.
+
+Although no juveniles have been collected, I expect that juveniles
+resemble adults in coloration. Probably there would be a greater
+contrast between the dark stripes and the pale ground-color in
+juveniles.
+
+In life an adult from three miles northwest of Lerdo de Tejada,
+Veracruz, Mexico (UMMZ 114484), had black stripes on the 4th and 7th
+rows of dorsal scales, and black spots on a brown background on the
+1st row. The 2nd row had a medial, pale to medium brown auxiliary
+stripe on a brownish-white background. Posterior to the nape the 3rd
+row was medium brown. The area between the 4th and 7th rows and the
+dorsum between the 7th row of scales on each side was a pale
+brownish-white. Posterior to the place of scale-reduction the primary
+stripes were displaced downward by one row to the 3rd and 6th rows and
+secondary stripes originated as elongated spots on the 4th and 7th
+rows. Near the tail the secondary stripes were broad and continuous.
+The head was white or tannish-white with three dark brown or black
+stripes.
+
+_Remarks._--In his diagnosis of _C. l. lineatus_, Smith (1941:122)
+states: "lateral dark stripe ... very narrow posterior to nape,
+extending along fourth scale row; posteriorly a stripe along third and
+eighth (farther posteriorly the seventh) scale rows; a narrow dark
+stripe along sixth scale row, continuous throughout length of
+body...." I fail to find a dark stripe on the 6th row throughout the
+length of the body. In all specimens that I have seen, there is a dark
+stripe on the 7th row anteriorly and on the 6th row posteriorly. In
+many specimens the stripes on the 3rd and 8th (posteriorly the 7th)
+scale-rows are absent or present so far posteriorly that the 8th row
+is never involved.
+
+The dark brown on the first scale-row and the presence of a lateral
+dark stripe on the 4th row of dorsal scales only, in combination with
+the characteristics of the genus, distinguish _C. l. lineatus_ from
+all other snakes in Mexico.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats on the coastal plain of Veracruz,
+Mexico, from Tecolutla to Lerdo de Tejada and Piedras Negras (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 27, as follows: MEXICO: _no specific
+locality_, AMNH 19614-15, 19621-24, 19642-43, NMW 16827. _Veracruz: no
+specific locality_, AMNH 19618-20, CAS 73640, NMW 16829; _4 km. S
+Alvarado_, KU 58124; _14 mi. N Alvarado_, UIMNH 46978; 6 mi. SE Boca
+del Rio, UIMNH 28023; Etiopa, 2 mi. S Tecolutla, UIMNH 3847; _ca._ 30
+mi. E Jalapa, AMNH 81948; 3 mi. NW Lerdo de Tejada, UMMZ 114484-85;
+Paso del Macho, USNM 109708; Rio Blanco, 20 km. WNW Piedras Negras, KU
+23253; Veracruz, AMNH 19612, UF 8990; _W side Veracruz_, AMNH 19616;
+_2 mi. W Veracruz_, AMNH 19617, 19619.
+
+
+=Conophis lineatus concolor= Cope
+
+  _Conophis vittatus_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    13:300, December 28, 1861 (_nec_ Peters, 1860; type.--United
+    States National Museum, no. 4941; type locality--"Peten,"
+    Guatemala); Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:76, 1887.
+
+  _Conophis concolor_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    18:318-319, February 20, 1867; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876; Bocourt _in_ Dumeril,
+    Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans
+    l'Amerique Centrale, 2:648, 1886; Mueller, Verh. Ges. Basel,
+    8:263, 1887; Cope, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77; 1887; Ann.
+    Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900; Schmidt and
+    Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:178, October 31,
+    1936; Andrews, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 20:358,
+    December 28, 1937; Smith, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ.
+    Michigan, 388:7, October 31, 1938; Taylor and Smith, Univ.
+    Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:253, July 10, 1939; Smith, Zool. Ser.
+    Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:31, January 30, 1939; Cochran, Bull.
+    U. S. Nat. Mus., 220:167, 1961; Neill and Allen,
+    Herpetologica, 17:44-46, fig. 3, April 15, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_ (in part), Guenther, Biologica
+    Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Gaige _in_ Pearse,
+    _et al._ Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ., 457:302, February 5,
+    1936.
+
+  _Conophis lineaticeps_ Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for
+    1898, pp. 1094-95, 1900 (Substitute name for _Conophis
+    vittatus_ Cope, 1861, _nec_ Peters, 1860).
+
+  _Conophis lineatus concolor_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:122-123, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:407,
+    October 29, 1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    187:43, October 5, 1945; Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):352, March 20, 1950.
+
+_Types._--Two in the United States National Museum, no. 12368 (two
+specimens). Type locality: "Yucatan," restricted to Chichen Itza,
+Yucatan, Mexico by Smith and Taylor (1950:352).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Dark stripes either absent posterior to the nape, or
+present as a row of small spots on fourth or seventh scale-row; no
+dark stripe on first scale-row; eight supralabials having dark ventral
+margins.
+
+_Variation._--Forty-five specimens have 158 to 170 (163.7 +- 1.56)
+ventrals. Thirty-eight of these snakes having complete tails have 56
+to 74 (66.7 +- 4.77) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 222 to 245 (230.6). In 45 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 89 and 114 (102.5 +-
+5.57). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; 16
+females have 56 to 65 (61.8), and 22 males have 68 to 74 (70.3)
+subcaudals. The longest specimen (USNM 46395) is a male from Chichen
+Itza, Yucatan, having a body length of 893 mm., a tail length of 274
+mm., and a total length of 1167 mm. A juvenile (AMNH 38833) from
+Chichen Itza, Yucatan, has a body length of 194 mm., a tail length of
+50 mm., and a total length of 244 mm.
+
+The venter is immaculate white or pale yellow and the dorsum of the
+body is immaculate pale gray to pale olive. Some specimens have small
+dark brown spots on the tips of the scales of the 4th or of the 7th
+row, but never on both. Only on the nape are spots present on both the
+4th and the 7th rows; these spots are the posterior continuations of
+the dark stripes on the head and on many specimens do not reach the
+nape. Posterior to the place of scale reduction from 19 to 17 rows by
+the fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows of scales, the dark spots (when
+present) are on the 3rd or 6th row of scales.
+
+The coloration of juveniles is the same as that of adults. Color in
+life is thought not too different from that of preserved specimens,
+for notes on the color of living individuals (Neill and Allen,
+1961:44) agree with what I have observed on preserved snakes.
+
+_Remarks._--The specimen from "Peten" (USNM, no. 4941) is the only
+specimen that has a controversial history. As can be seen from the
+synonymy of the species, the relationship of this specimen with the
+rest of the genus has been interpreted in several ways. Smith
+(1941:122-123) stated that the above specimen was catalogued as being
+from El Salvador; however, the locality was presumed by him to be El
+Peten, Guatemala, due to the presence in the bottle of a piece of
+paper inscribed "_Conophis vittatus_, Peten, J. M. Dow." This specimen
+is the one mentioned by Cope (1861:300, 1876:76, and 1900:1094-95),
+and in the first paper is ascribed to Guatemala. In 1900 this specimen
+was named _C. lineaticeps_ by Cope who thought the specimen differed
+significantly from _C. concolor_ (Cope, 1867:318-319). This specimen
+has the coloration normal for _C. l. concolor_ as far posteriorly as
+mid-body; beyond mid-body the dark lines, typical of _C. l. lineatus_
+or of _C. l. dunni_, are present. It is likely that this specimen is
+an intergrade between _C. l. concolor_ and _C. l. dunni_, the other
+subspecies present in Guatemala.
+
+The only specimen not from the Yucatan Peninsula is allegedly from
+Patuca, Honduras (USNM 20271). It was obtained in the 1870's. Possibly
+more collecting will verify the presence of _C. l. concolor_ in
+northern Honduras. This individual may be merely a genetically
+aberrant specimen from an area where normal specimens are _C. l.
+dunni_. Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) suggested that the specimen from
+Patuca implies widely overlapping distributions for _C. l. dunni_ and
+_C. concolor_. The occurrence of _C. l. concolor_ in Honduras needs to
+be verified before this assumption is made. There can, therefore, at
+present be no objection to the view that intergradation between the
+subspecies _C. l. dunni_ and _C. l. concolor_ could occur through a
+relatively broad area of El Peten and British Honduras.
+
+Neill and Allen (1961:44-45) further suggest that the present range of
+_C. l. dunni_ extends "presumably still farther northward toward the
+Mexican state of Veracruz where _C. l. lineatus_ exists." Actually the
+presence of the subspecies _C. l. dunni_ and _C. l. lineatus_ as
+presently disjunct populations implies merely that they were
+presumably a continuous population at some time in the past.
+
+The characteristics of the genus in combination with the reduction of
+dark coloration posterior to the head distinguish this snake from all
+other snakes in Mexico and Central America.
+
+_Distribution._--The Yucatan Peninsula: eastern Campeche, all of
+Yucatan, probably in Quintana Roo, and the northern third of British
+Honduras. A record for northeastern Honduras is questioned (fig. 2).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 48, as follows: BRITISH HONDURAS:
+_Belize District_: 13.0 mi. W, 1.5 mi. S Belize, ERA-WTN BH-1562.
+
+GUATEMALA: _El Peten, no specific locality_, USNM 4941.
+
+HONDURAS: _Colon_: Patuca, USNM 20271.
+
+MEXICO: _Campeche_: Champoton, UMMZ 73063-66; Encarnacion, CNHM
+106462. _Yucatan: no specific locality_, BMNH 80.7.13.30; Chichen
+Itza, AMNH 38826, 38833, CNHM 20610-11, 26986-87, 36299-300, 36303-04,
+36307, 36316, MCZ 7422, 28748, UMMZ 68236, 73060-62, 80806, USNM
+46395; Kantunil, CNHM 36301, 36305-06, 36308-09, 36312-13; _Libre
+Union_, CNHM 36298, 36302, 36310-11, 36314; Mayapan, CNHM 40720;
+Merida, CNHM 19411, 19413, NMW 16828; Progreso, CNHM 40721; Tekom,
+CNHM 49374; Yokdzonot, CNHM 36315.
+
+
+=Conophis nevermanni= Dunn
+
+  _Coniophanes imperialis imperialis_, Wettstein, Sitz. Akad.
+    Wiss. Wien. mathem-naturw. Kl., 143:37-38, 1934.
+
+  _Conophis nevermanni_ Dunn, Copeia, no. 4:214, December 31,
+    1937; Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395, November 5, 1942;
+    Savage, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 50:484, December 31, 1949;
+    Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 34(pt. 1): 145-146, October
+    1, 1951.
+
+_Type._--Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, no. 22423,
+obtained by Emmet R. Dunn from Prof. Manuel Valerio. Type locality:
+Rio Poas de Aserri (a few miles south of San Jose), Costa Rica.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Head and body dark brown or black above with two or four
+white stripes along body; usually two white lines on head immediately
+above eye passing from canthus rosetralis posteriorly to connect with
+white stripe on 6th row of dorsal scales; eight supralabials with
+black margins above.
+
+_Variation._--Six specimens have 173 to 183 (176.5 +- 4.00) ventrals.
+Five of these snakes having complete tails have 71 to 89 (80.6 +- 7.15)
+subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals varies from 250 to
+263 (257.0). In the six specimens the reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal
+scales takes place between ventrals 84 and 97 (93.2 +- 4.71). Sexual
+dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals; two females have 71
+and 76 (73.5), and three males have 82 to 89 (85.3) subcaudals. The
+longest specimen (ANSP 22424) is a female from San Jose, Costa Rica,
+having a body length of 660 mm., a tail length of 168 mm. and a total
+length of 828 mm.
+
+The dorsal coloration (fig. 1, E) varies from a black ground-color
+with two or four narrow white stripes to a dark brown ground-color
+with a series of black stripes and four white stripes. In the black
+specimens there are no dark stripes. The darkest specimen (NMW
+16838:1) has only two white stripes; these more or less continuous
+stripes are on the ventral third of the 2nd row of scales and
+occasionally on the dorsalmost part of the first scale-row. The venter
+is immaculate white except for black on the tips of the ventral
+scales. The dorsum above the 2nd scale-row is uniform black. There are
+no white stripes on the head.
+
+The palest specimen (NMW 16838:2) has four dorsal white stripes; the
+lateral pair of these stripes is on the ventral half of the 2nd and
+the dorsal third of the 1st scale-rows; the dorsolateral pair is on
+the dorsal two-thirds of the 6th and the ventral third of the 7th rows
+of scales. This latter stripe is the posterior continuation of the
+white stripe on the head, which originates immediately posterior to
+the rostral scale and passes posteriorly along the canthus rostralis
+and along the lateral margin of the supraocular scale to the nape.
+Posterior to the place of scale reduction, the dorsolateral white
+stripe is displaced ventrally one scale-row. Except for black flecks
+or spots on the lateral margins of the ventrals, the venter is
+immaculate white. The dorsum above the lateral white stripes is brown
+and black; there is a pair of dorsolateral white stripes. The dorsal
+half of the 2nd, most of the 3rd, 4th and 5th rows of scales are
+black; the dorsal margin of the 3rd, both margins of the 4th, and the
+ventral margin of the 5th rows are paler brown. The dorsal two-thirds
+of the 7th, all but the dorsal most part of the 8th, and the middle
+two-thirds of the 10th scale-rows are black; the areas between are a
+medium brown.
+
+Only six specimens are available on which to base a description of the
+variation in this species. Furthermore, there are no juveniles, notes
+on the colors of living individuals, or photographs of this species.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 4. Selected locality records for _Conophis
+      pulcher_ and _Conophis nevermanni_.]
+
+_Remarks._--Taylor (1955:563-565) hesitantly referred a specimen (KU
+35630) from 32 kilometers north of Barranca, Puntarenas Province,
+Costa Rica, to _Conophis lineatus nevermanni_. This specimen, a
+female, has 169 ventrals and ventral scale-reduction taking place
+opposite the 109th ventral; both of these characters are well out of
+the range of _C. nevermanni_. Furthermore, the ventral margins of the
+supralabials are brown, and the pale dorsal stripes are tan and too
+wide for _C. nevermanni_ (compare figs. 1, C and E). The specimen
+definitely is _C. lineatus dunni_, and corresponds well with another
+specimen from Costa Rica (ANSP 12232).
+
+The dark brown or black dorsum with two or four white stripes and the
+presence of eight supralabials having dark brown dorsal margins, in
+combination with the characters of the genus, serve to distinguish
+_Conophis nevermanni_ from other Central American snakes.
+
+_Distribution._--Pacific coastal plain of northwestern Costa Rica and
+the Meseta Central of central Costa Rica (fig. 4).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of six, as follows: COSTA RICA:
+_Guanacaste_: Bebedero, Rio Tenorio, NMW 16838(5). "_San Jose_," ANSP
+22424.
+
+
+=Conophis pulcher= Cope
+
+  _Tomodon lineatus_ (in part), Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. London,
+    28:455, 1860.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    20(5):308, 1869; Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2,
+    8:137, 1876; Bocourt _in_ Dumeril, Bocourt and Mocquard,
+    Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale,
+    2:646-648, pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886; Ferrai-Perez, Proc. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., p. 196, September 28, 1886; Cope, Bull. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194,
+    April 15, 1895; Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, p. 1095,
+    1900; Alvarez del Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas, pp. 154-155,
+    1960.
+
+  _Tomodon pulcher_, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 408, 1876.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher_ var. _similis_ Bocourt _in_ Dumeril,
+    Bocourt and Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans
+    l'Amerique Centrale, 2:647-648, pl. 38, fig. 6, 1886
+    [Type.--Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, no. 6090;
+    type locality.--unknown, restricted to Tonala, Chiapas, by
+    Smith and Taylor (1950:326)].
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_, Guenther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, p.
+    165, March, 1895; Boulenger, Catalogue of the Snakes in the
+    British Museum (Natural History), 3:122-123, 1896; Stuart,
+    Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 292:5, June 29, 1934;
+    Slevin, Proc. California Acad. Sci. 4th Ser., 23:409, December
+    29, 1939.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher pulcher_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:121, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 92:395,
+    November 5, 1942; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ.
+    Michigan, 65:19-20 (part), March, 1954; Contr. Lab. Vert.
+    Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:63, November, 1954; Cochran, Bull. U.
+    S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher plagosus_ Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci. 31:121-122, March 15, 1941 (Type.--United States National
+    Museum, no. 109707; type locality: Tonala, Chiapas); Smith and
+    Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt. 2):326, March 20,
+    1950; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+    65:19-20, March, 1954; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis pulcher similis_, Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    187:43-44, October 5, 1945; Univ.  Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):43-44, March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos
+    Recursos Nat. Renov. pp. 132-133, 1953.
+
+_Types._--Three in the United States National Museum, nos. 6751 (2
+specimens) and 6803, obtained by Henery Hague. Type locality: "Peten,"
+or "Verapaz," Guatemala. There is much doubt about localities for many
+of Hague's specimens collected in the 1860's (Stuart, 1948:10). Since
+_Conophis pulcher_ is found predominantly in semi-arid environments,
+the types might have come from the semi-arid Cahabon, Negro, or Salama
+river basins--all places near the sugar plantation that Hague managed
+at San Jeronimo, Baja Verapaz. Possibly the types were obtained from
+as far away as the Motagua Valley or the southeastern highlands of
+Guatemala, both of which areas Hague is known to have visited.
+
+_Diagnosis._--Paravertebral stripes present at least posteriorly (fig.
+1, F); eight or ten stripes at mid-body; lateral dark stripe passing
+through eye anteriorly and including at least upper one-half of second
+scale-row from neck region posteriorly to place of scale reduction
+near mid-body; eight supralabials immaculate or having dark ventral
+margins.
+
+_Variation._--Twenty-six specimens have 161 to 182 (169.5 +- 5.31)
+ventrals. Eighteen of these snakes with complete tails have 65 to 79
+(70.6 +- 3.93) subcaudals; the number of ventrals plus subcaudals
+varies from 231 to 251 (239.3). In 26 specimens the reduction from 19
+to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 94 and 119 (104.6 +-
+4.90). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of subcaudals;
+eleven females have 65 to 71 (68.2), and seven males have 70 to 79
+(74.3) subcaudals. The longest specimen (AMNH 58364) is a female from
+El Zamarano, Honduras, having a body length of 703 mm., a tail length
+of 164 mm. and a total length of 867 mm. The smallest juvenile (MCZ
+49793) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has a body length of 162 mm., a
+tail length of 46 mm. and a total length of 208 mm.
+
+The dorsal ground-color is pale brown or white; black or dark brown
+stripes are present dorsally and laterally. Normally ten stripes are
+present at mid-body; the first pair on the first row of dorsal scales;
+the second pair on the upper half of 2nd and lower part of 3rd rows;
+the third pair on 4th row; the fourth pair on 7th and sometimes part
+of 8th rows; the fifth pair (paravertebral stripes) on the 9th row.
+Posterior to the place of reduction from 19 to 17 rows by the fusion
+of the 3rd and 4th rows, the third, fourth and fifth pairs of stripes
+are displaced downward one row. Sometimes the second and third pairs
+of stripes are fused resulting in only eight stripes at mid-body. On
+some specimens the fourth and fifth pairs of stripes are close
+together, but in none are they fused so as to result in a pattern of
+six stripes at mid-body.
+
+The paravertebral stripes begin anteriorly on the nape or at any point
+on the anterior one-third of the body and continue as discrete stripes
+onto the base of the tail. Anteriorly these stripes are always broken
+into a series of dashes; posteriorly the stripes are continuous. In
+specimens in which the paravertebral stripes do not begin on the
+anterior-most part of the body, there is no paravertebral pigmentation
+anteriorly.
+
+In addition to the paravertebrals, the other dorsal dark stripes are
+variable. In some specimens the stripes are present anteriorly and
+gradually disappear near mid-body (the first dark stripe only on three
+specimens). In other specimens the stripes are present anteriorly as
+dashes and become continuous at mid-body; in others the stripes are
+continuous throughout. Posteriorly continuous stripes are of uniform
+width; anteriorly sometimes they are wide on the tip of each scale and
+narrow on the base (fig. 1, F). The variation in continuity and width
+described above is found in all of the dorsal dark stripes.
+
+The ventrals usually have more or less conspicuous dark spots
+laterally; in some specimens there are no spots. Except for the dark
+lateral spots, when present, the ventrals are immaculate white.
+Usually the dorsal ground-color is a pale tan, especially between the
+first and second, and the third and fourth dark stripes. The areas
+between the second and third dark stripes and across the dorsum
+between the fourth stripes on each side are pale brown. In some
+specimens the dorsum between the paravertebral stripes is still paler
+brown.
+
+Never is more than the lower third of the supralabials brown. Many
+specimens have little brown, and others none. In most of those
+specimens having brown on the supralabials, the chin and infralabials
+are dusky tan or gray. There is little or no brown on the supralabials
+or the chin in the northern part of the range (Chiapas), whereas the
+greatest amount of brown on the labials and chin is found on some
+specimens from the southern part of the range (Honduras). Since there
+is considerable variation in the amount of brown on the chin and
+labials of specimens from single localities, the slight geographic
+trend in this character seemingly is not significant.
+
+In juveniles six black or dark brown stripes boldly contrast with a
+white or pale tan ground-color. At mid-body the first pair of dark
+stripes is on the 1st scale row; the second pair on the 3rd and 4th
+rows; the third pair on the 7th, 8th and at least the lower half of
+the 9th rows (fig. 3, B). Ontogenetic change in coloration consists of
+the splitting of the second and third pairs of dark stripes in the
+juvenile. The first stripe does not split. Consequently adults have
+ten dark stripes.
+
+In life an adult from Tonala, Chiapas, had black stripes. The
+ground-color below the second stripe, and between the third and fourth
+dark stripes was tan. The area between the second and third dark
+stripes was reddish-brown, as was the dorsum between the fourth pair
+of dark stripes, except that the 10th scale-row was paler.
+
+Three excellent photographs of this species have been published under
+the name _Conophis lineatus_ (Ditmars, 1931:pls. 26 and 27).
+
+_Remarks._--Smith (1941:121-122) described _C. pulcher plagosus_ from
+Tonala, Chiapas, and characterized the subspecies by its having "(1)
+the ventrals completely unspotted; (2) secondary lines on
+paravertebral rows not continuous posteriorly; (3) all other lines on
+body also somewhat spotted in appearance; (4) dusky markings on chin
+and supralabial border very dim (less distinct than in _p. pulcher_ or
+any member of the _lineatus_ series)." Although all Chiapan specimens
+lack ventral spots, specimens from Guatemala have no spots, small
+spots, or large spots. Even in specimens from Tegucigalpa, Honduras,
+the southernmost limit of the range, the spotting varies from a few
+inconspicuous spots to many large spots. Paravertebral rows were
+continuous posteriorly in all specimens examined by me. Likewise, all
+other stripes were continuous bands of uniform width posteriorly,
+having appeared anteriorly as rows of spots or dashes. The amount of
+brown on the chin and labials has been shown previously not to be
+geographically significant. The absence of characters of adequate
+significance to separate populations precludes the naming of
+subspecies in this species.
+
+Mertens (1952a:93, and 1952b:61-62) designated three specimens from El
+Salvador as _C. pulcher plagosus_. In the latter paper, Mertens, on
+the basis of a description of a specimen of "_C. lineatus_" from
+Divisadero, El Salvador, given by Schmidt (1928:200), referred that
+specimen also to _C. pulcher plagosus_. I have examined this specimen
+and refer it to _C. lineatus dunni_. Although I have not seen Merten's
+specimens, on the basis of the excellent descriptions given by Mertens
+(1952b:61-62), I refer the three Salvadoranean specimens to _C.
+lineatus dunni_.
+
+The presence of paravertebral stripes in combination with the
+characteristics of the genus distinguish _Conophis pulcher_ from all
+other snakes in southern Mexico and Central America. The only
+sympatric species of this genus, _C. lineatus dunni_, differs in that
+it lacks paravertebral stripes, although it may have a single
+vertebral stripe. _Conophis lineatus dunni_ has lateral dark stripes
+that are present on the 3rd and 4th scale-rows, never on the anterior
+third of the body as in _C. pulcher_. Even in juveniles the third pair
+of dark stripes includes the lower part of the 9th scale-row in _C.
+pulcher_, whereas the dorsal most dark stripe of _C. lineatus dunni_
+never includes more than the lower part of the 8th scale-row.
+
+_Distribution._--Pacific coastal region of Chiapas, Mexico,
+southeastward into Guatemala; southeastern highlands and the dry
+valley of central and eastern Guatemala; Caribbean lowlands of
+Honduras southward to the region of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (fig. 4).
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 27, as follows: GUATEMALA: _no
+specific locality_, CNHM 22912, NMW 16830. _Jutiapa_: Hacienda Mongoy,
+UMMZ 106725. _El Progreso_: El Progreso, CAS 67000; _El Rancho_, UMMZ
+106724; _San Antonio_, CAS 66999. "Peten," USNM 6751(2), 6803.
+_Sacatepequez_: Duenas, BMNH 64.1.26.17, 64.1.26.126-127. _Zacapa_:
+Pepesca, AMNH 72555-56.
+
+HONDURAS: _no specific locality_, AMNH 58364. _Cortes_: San Pedro
+Sula, CNHM 5295-96. _Francisco Morazan: El Zamarano_, AMNH 70189;
+Tegucigalpa, MCZ 49785, 49787-88, 49791, 49793, 49795.
+
+MEXICO: _Chiapas_: _Soconusco_, UIMNH 33646-47; Tonala, USNM 109707.
+
+
+=Conophis vittatus= Peters
+
+  _Tomodon lineatum_ (in part), Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril,
+    Erpetologie Generale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, February 25, 1854.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus_ Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp.
+    519-520, pl.,  fig. 3, October, 1860; Cope, Proc. Amer.
+    Philos. Soc., 11:162, 1870; Bocourt _in_ Dumeril, Bocourt and
+    Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+    Centrale, 2:644-646, pl. 38, fig. 7, 1886; Guenther, Biologia
+    Centrali-Americana, p. 165, March, 1895; Boulenger, Catalogue
+    of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History),
+    3:123-124, 1896; Cope, Amer. Nat., 30:1024, 1896; Ann. Rept.
+    U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 1094-1095, 1232, 1900; Gadow,
+    Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 2:225, 1905; Amaral, Mem. Inst.
+    Butantan, 4:211, 1929; Gadow, Jorullo, p. 55, 1930; Smith,
+    Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:31-32, January 30, 1939;
+    Taylor and Smith, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:252-253, pl. 23,
+    July 10, 1939; Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+    65:23, March, 1954; Alvarez del Toro, Reptiles de Chiapas, pp.
+    153-154, 1960.
+
+  _Conophis lineatus_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
+    16(3):167, 1864 [_nec_ Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril,
+    Erpetologie Generale, 7(pt. 2):936-938, atlas, pl. 73,
+    February 25, 1854; specimen from Colima]; Sumichrast, Arch.
+    Sci. Nat., p. 246, 1873.
+
+  _Tomodon vittatus_, Bocourt, Journ. de Zool., p. 407, 1876.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti sumichrasti_ Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat.
+    Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Types.--United
+    States National Museum, nos. 29123, 30258; type
+    locality.--Tehuantepec, Mexico); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    32:77, 1887; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):334, March 20, 1950; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos
+    Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 124, 1953.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti viduus_ Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci.,
+    Philadelphia, ser. 2, 8:137, 1876 (Type.--United States
+    National Museum, no. 30259; type locality.--Tehuantepec,
+    Mexico); Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 32:77, 1887; Cochran,
+    Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis sumichrasti_, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc.,
+    18:271, August 11, 1879; Sumichrast, Bull. Soc. Zool. France,
+    p. 182, 1880; Cope, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., 18:194, April
+    15, 1895; Cochran, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 220:167, 1961.
+
+  _Tachymenis lineata_ (in part), Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool.,
+    8:60-61, July, 1884.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus sumichrasti_, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl.
+    Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus videns_ Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    for 1898, p. 1095, 1900 (apparent _lapus_ for _viduus_).
+
+  _Conophis vittatus vittatus_, Cope, Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl.
+    Mus. for 1898, p. 1095, 1900; Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:119-120, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Ann. Carnegie Mus., 30:91, November 2, 1944;
+    Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 187:44, October 5,
+    1945; Smith, Rev. Soc. Mexicanos Hist. Nat., 7:71, December,
+    1946; Smith and Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33(pt.
+    2):331, March 20, 1950; Davis and Smith, Herpetologica, 8:134,
+    January 30, 1953; Maldonado-Koerdell, Inst. Mexicanos Recursos
+    Nat. Renov., p. 130, 1953; Peters, Occas. Papers Mus. Zool.
+    Univ. Michigan, 554:22, June 23, 1954; Duellman, Occas. Papers
+    Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 560:15, October 22, 1954; Webb and
+    Fugler, Herpetologica, 13:35, March 30, 1957; Duellman, Occas.
+    Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:15, March 21, 1958;
+    Zweifel, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1949:2, 5, June 17, 1959;
+    Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 15(1):91-92,
+    December 20, 1961.
+
+  _Conophis vittata_, Gadow, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 2:196,
+    1905; Through Southern Mexico, p. 181, 1908.
+
+  _Conophis viduus_, Smith, Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+    24:31, January 30, 1939; Hartweg and Oliver, Misc. Publ. Mus.
+    Zool. Univ. Michigan, 47:26-27, July 13, 1940.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus viduus_, Smith, Journ. Washington Acad.
+    Sci., 31:120-121, March 15, 1941; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
+    92:395, November 5, 1942; Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 93:408,
+    October 29, 1943; Woodbury and Woodbury, Journ. Washington
+    Acad. Sci., 34(11):370, 1944; Smith and Taylor, Proc. U. S.
+    Natl. Mus., 187:44, October 5, 1945; Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
+    33(pt. 2):340, March 20, 1950; Werler and Smith, Texas Journ.
+    Sci., 4:565, fig. 16, December 30, 1952; Maldonado-Koerdell,
+    Inst. Mexicanos Recursos Nat. Renov., p. 130, 1953; Davis and
+    Dixon, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 72:82-83, July 24, 1959.
+
+  _Conophis vittatus vittatus_ x _Conophis vittatus viduus_,
+    Alvarez del Toro and Smith, Herpetologica, 12:13, March 6,
+    1956.
+
+_Type._--Zoologisches Museum Berlin. Type locality not given, for the
+specimen was purchased from a dealer in Hamburg. The type locality was
+first restricted to "Acapulco," Guerrero, by Smith (1941:119), then to
+Laguna Coyuca, Guerrero, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor (1950:331).
+
+_Diagnosis._--Three or four dorsal dark stripes, each involving two or
+more adjacent scale-rows; never having brown or black on the 1st
+scale-row; seven supralabials immaculate white or pale tannish-white.
+
+_Variation._--One hundred seventy-one specimens have 149 to 181 (163.7
++- 6.33) ventrals. One hundred fifty-three of these having complete
+tails have 55 to 76 (64.8 +- 4.90) subcaudals; the number of ventrals
+plus subcaudals varies from 214 to 245 (228.5). In 170 specimens the
+reduction from 19 to 17 dorsal scales takes place between ventrals 84
+and 118 (102.3 +- 6.60). Sexual dimorphism is evident in the number of
+subcaudals; 58 females have 55 to 66 (60.0) and 95 males have 59 to 76
+(67.8) subcaudals. The longest specimen (AMNH 68004) is a male from
+Escurano, Oaxaca, Mexico, having a body length of 668 mm., a tail
+length of 182 mm. and a total length of 850 mm. A juvenile (CNHM
+40435) from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, has a body length of 133 mm.,
+a tail length of 31 mm. and a total length of 164 mm.
+
+Variation in coloration is of such magnitude that it has been used as
+the basis for recognition of subspecies. Unfortunately, until this
+time, most specimens reported upon in the literature represented the
+two extremes of variation. After examining the coloration of 174
+specimens with respect to geographic distribution, I conclude that
+only one highly variable species is represented. Specimens from the
+northern and western parts of the range (Michoacan, Colima, and
+Durango) have the color pattern of _C. vittatus_ as described by
+Peters (1860:518-521); these snakes have four narrow black stripes on
+a white or pale tan background, and an immaculate white venter. The
+lateral dark stripe, which on the head passes through the eye, is
+present on the dorsal half of the 3rd and the ventral half of the 4th
+scale-rows; the dorsolateral dark stripe, which passes along the
+middle of the head and splits on the nape, is present on the middle of
+the 8th scale-row. The other extreme in color pattern consists of
+three broad stripes; the two dorsolateral stripes are fused. This
+pattern is prevalent in specimens from the area around Tehuantepec,
+Oaxaca. The lateral stripes include the dorsal half to two-thirds of
+the 2nd, all of the 3rd and 4th, and half of the 5th scale-rows; the
+fused dorsolateral stripes sometimes cover all of the area dorsal to
+and including the dorsal third of the 7th scale-row.
+
+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_.
+
+_Remarks._--I have been unable to find variation of geographic
+importance in scutellation in this species. A wide range of variation
+in the characters of scutellation is present in specimens from most
+localities; it shows no significant clinal or geographic trends. As I
+have stated previously, in the discussion of variation, coloration has
+been the feature primarily used by previous workers to distinguish two
+"subspecies" for this species; _C. vittatus vittatus_ having four
+black stripes and _C. vittatus viduus_ having three black stripes.
+Most of the three-striped snakes occur in the vicinity of Tehuantepec,
+Oaxaca, whereas the four-striped snakes are found near the margins of
+the range of the species in Durango, Colima, Michoacan, Morelos and
+Puebla. Specimens that would have to be considered intergrades between
+the "subspecies" are found in Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
+At the time the subspecies were proposed only specimens from
+Tehuantepec or from marginal areas were known. Utilizing the large
+number of specimens of this species presently available, geographic
+variation is found to be clinal, from those with three stripes from
+near Tehuantepec, through several intermediate patterns present on
+specimens from single localities in Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, to
+those with four dark stripes in areas farthest removed to the north
+and west from Tehuantepec. Since only coloration shows geographic
+variation, and since this variation represents a continuous cline,
+subspecies cannot be recognized for this species.
+
+The presence and position of the three or four dark stripes on the
+body and the absence of brown on the 1st scale-row or on the ventral
+scales, in combination with the generic characters, distinguish
+_Conophis vittatus_ from all other Mexican snakes. The only other
+snake that occurs in western Mexico that has been confused with _C.
+vittatus_ is _Coniophanes piceivittus taylori_, which has 25, instead
+of 19, scale-rows.
+
+_Distribution._--Semi-arid habitats on Pacific slopes from extreme
+southern Durango southeastward to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, and
+inland in the eastern Balsas Basin to Morelos and western Puebla
+(fig. 5).
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 5. Selected locality records for _Conophis
+      vittatus_.]
+
+_Specimens examined._--Total of 174, as follows: MEXICO: _no specific
+locality_, AMNH 66150-52, SU 9465. _Chiapas_: Piedra Parada, USNM
+121453. _Pizo de Oro_, UIMNH 40821. Tuxtla Gutierrez, Parque Madero,
+UIMNH 37992-93, 38036-37. _Colima: no specific locality_, MCZ 46860,
+USNM 31394, 31396-97. 1 mi. SW Colima, AMNH 12783. S of Manzanillo,
+AMNH 19641. _Durango_: Hacienda de Gabriel, AMNH 14217. _Guerrero:
+Acahuizotla_, TCWC 7419, 9469. _1 mi. W Acahuizotla_, TCWC 7418. 3 mi.
+W Acapulco, AMNH 71626. _6 mi. E Acapulco_, TCWC 9476-77. _10 mi. S
+Acapulco_, TCWC 8578. _Agua del Obispo_, CNHM 104948, TCWC 11586. near
+Chilpancingo, MVZ 45067, UMMZ 85722-23. _1 mi. SW Colotlipa_, TCWC
+9471-74. _2 mi. SW Colotlipa_, TCWC 9475. 14 mi. S Ixtapan de la Sal,
+KU 67648. _Laguna Coyuca_, CNHM 25881, UMMZ 80942. near La Union, AMNH
+66337. _Magueyes, Laguna Coyuca_, AMNH 66149. _Playa Encantada_, TCWC
+9470. 1 mi. S Tierra Colorada, KU 67649. near _Xaltinanguis, km. 405_,
+CNHM 104947. _Michoacan_: Coalcoman, UMMZ 104693. _1/2 mi. SE
+Coalcoman_, UMMZ 104492. _1 mi. N. Coalcoman_, UMMZ 112543. _1 mi. NE
+Coalcoman_, UMMZ 104692. Puerta de la Playa, UMMZ 105155. 12 mi. S
+Tzitzio (by road), UMMZ 99153. _Morelos: 12 km. NW Axochiapan_, TCWC
+7311, UIMNH 17613, 25924. 7 mi. SE Cuernavaca, MVZ 32258. _Huajintlan,
+km. 133_, CNHM 103270. 12 km. S Puente de Ixtla, km. 133, CNHM 104949.
+_Oaxaca: Bisiliana_, AMNH 68010. _near Caoba, foot of Cerro Arenal_,
+AMNH 68009. _Cerro Arenal_, AMNH 68000-03. _Cerro de Laollaga_, UIMNH
+36213. _Cerro de San Pedro_, UIMNH 17616. _Cerro Palma de Oro_, UIMNH
+37116. "_C. Madrena, Sto. T. Quieri_," UIMNH 46904. near Chivela, MCZ
+25021. Cinco Cerros, UIMNH 37114. _Dami Liesa_, AMNH 66877, UIMNH
+6158, 37115. _Escuranos_, AMNH 66873-74, 68004-06. _Finca Santa
+Teresa, 2 km. NW Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82648. _Huilotepec_, AMNH 66878,
+UIMNH 40820. _between Huilotepec and Tehuantepec_, AMNH 65106, UMMZ
+82644-45. _Las Tejas_, UIMNH 6151-54. _Mixtequilla_, UIMNH 6157,
+36211. _between Mixtequilla Mountains and Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82652.
+_between Niltepec and "Carixxal,"_ AMNH 68876. 10.8 mi. SE Oaxaca,
+UMMZ 114483. _Quiengola_, UIMNH 17617. _between Quiengola Mountains
+and Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82647. _Rancho Poso Rio, 6 km. S Tehuantepec_,
+UIMNH 6144-49, 37117-19, UMMZ 82649-51. _Rincon Bamba_, CNHM
+105129-30, UIMNH 17615. _Salazar_, AMNH 66875. _vicinity of Salina
+Cruz_, UMMZ 82653. _San Geronimo_, AMNH 4306, CNHM 1457. _San Lucas
+Ixtepec_, UIMNH 36206. San Juan Lajarcia, UIMNH 36212. San Mateo del
+Mar, AMNH 65914. _San Pablo_, UIMNH 36207. _Santa Maria (Cerro de
+Liesa)_, AMNH 68011. Tapanatepec, MCZ 27806-11. Tehuantepec, AMNH
+19644, 65107-09, 65907-13 plus 7, 66871-72, 66879, 68007-08, CNHM
+40435-36, 105126-28, MCZ 46403, UIMNH 6150, 17614, 17618, 29692,
+36208, 37120-21, UMMZ 82642-43, 82646, USNM 109709-14, _1-2 leagues
+SSE Tehuantepec_, UMMZ 82639-41. Tenango, UIMNH 36209-10. between
+Tlacolulita and Tequisistlan, CNHM 105125. _Yerba Santa_, UIMNH
+6155-56. Puebla: Atencingo, KU 39626.
+
+
+Skull
+
+In studying the osteology of the genus _Conophis_, I have examined
+two complete skeletons (one _C. vittatus_ and one _C. lineatus_); two
+additional skulls of _C. vittatus_ and _C. lineatus_; and 24 sets of
+dentigerous bones, representing all of the species. Terminology
+of the skeletal elements is that of Duellman (1958), Parker (1878),
+Radovanovic (1937) and Szunyoghy (1932). The drawing of
+the right side of the skull of a specimen of _Tomodon lineatus_ that
+appears in Jan and Sordelli (1881:liv. 50, pl. 2, fig. 34) is of little
+value due to its small size and lack of detail.
+
+The skull of _Conophis_ is typical of a relatively unspecialized
+colubrid snake. Skulls of _Conophis lineatus concolor_ and _C. vittatus_
+closely resemble each other. The following description is based
+primarily on the skull of _C. lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-778).
+
+The elements are discussed in the following order: nasal region,
+cranium and associated elements, maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch,
+mandible, dentition, and vertebrae.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 6. The skull, lacking dentigerous bones, of
+      _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal,
+      (B) lateral, and (C) ventral views. x 3.]
+
+_Nasal region._--The premaxillary is relatively heavy and has a
+concavity posteroventrally. The lateral processes slope downward, but
+remain fairly thick, and do not project far laterally. This shape
+(fig. 6) tends to strengthen the nasal region; this anterior
+strengthening may be a reflection of the fossorial habits of these
+snakes. There are no posterior processes of the premaxillary; thus the
+line of fusion with the nasals and septo-maxillaries is broad. The
+nasal plate is more than twice as long as wide. The nasals are
+relatively flat above, although each curves slightly downward medially
+and fuses into the medial nasal septum; laterally each nasal is
+narrower and deflected downward, forming a small dorsal shield over
+the nasal cavity. The septo-maxillaries are closely associated with
+the vomers and form the cavity in which the organ of Jacobson is
+situated. The broad medial part of the septo-maxillary forms the roof
+and anterior border of the cavity, whereas the anterior part of the
+vomer contains the main part of the capsule and forms the posterior
+and most of the lateral borders of the cavity. The vomer has a thin
+anterior ridge that gradually disappears before it reaches the border
+of the premaxillary. The vomer is approximately U-shaped, when viewed
+from below. It has no posterior process and does not articulate with
+the parasphenoid; there is a sizeable gap between the two bones. The
+septo-maxillary has a lateral process that terminally is directed
+slightly anteriorly.
+
+_Cranium and associated elements._--The frontal is almost three times
+as long as it is wide; it is flat above with an emarginate
+dorsolateral margin that forms the upper limit of the optic capsule.
+Ventrally the frontal is concave and forms the median limits of the
+optic cavity. Farther ventrally the frontal joins with the
+parasphenoid, which at this place forms the ventral extent of the
+skull, and together with the basisphenoid forms the ventral part of
+the posterior three-fourths of the skull. In ventral aspect, the
+parasphenoid is a long, thin bone, slightly expanded anteriorly. It
+forms the anterior floor of the optic foramen; whereas the frontal
+forms the anterior roof of the same opening. The frontal and its
+septo-maxillary process surround the olfactory fenestra. The
+prefrontal articulates with the anterolateral process of the frontal.
+The posterior surface of the prefrontal forms the anterior wall of the
+orbit of the eye. The articulating surface upon which the median
+process of the maxillary bone rests is situated ventrally. The
+anterior dorsal surface of the prefrontal, together with the
+anterolateral edge of the frontal, extends slightly over the nasal
+cavity, affording some degree of protection for the contained organs
+and forming the posterior border of the cavity. A small nasal process
+also extends anteriorly from the ventrolateral surface of the
+prefrontal. The orbital-nasalis foramen is located in the anterior
+surface of the prefrontal. The parietals are fused into one large bone
+that forms the roof and sides of the middle part of the cranial
+cavity. From its suture with the frontal, the dorsal surface of the
+parietal is relatively flat in the area bounded laterally by the
+parietal crests, which extend posteromedially from the anterolateral
+corners of the bone and converge medially at a point near its
+posterior margin. A slight posterior extension of the parietal crests
+forms the supratemporal crest, which is present on the posterior part
+of the parietal and on the anterior part of the supraoccipital. The
+postfrontals are attached to the anterolateral processes of the
+parietal. Together the anterior surfaces of these two bones form the
+posterior rim of the orbit of the eye. The postfrontal extends
+laterally and ventrally and has a terminal extension that projects
+anterolaterally. In an articulated skull the trans-palatine articulates
+with the ventrolateral articulating surface of the postfrontal.
+Anteromedially, the parietal forms the roof and posterior margin of
+the optic foramen. The basisphenoid, which is fused with the
+parasphenoid, also forms a small part of the posteroventral margin of
+the optic foramen. The basisphenoid forms the floor of the middle part
+of the cranial cavity and the ventromedial down-pouching that
+contains the pituitary body. Posterolateral to the parietal and dorsal
+to the posterior part of the basisphenoid is the prootic. Laterally
+this bone is deeply emarginate; posteriorly it forms a large part of
+the otic notch, through which the columella passes. The columella is a
+long, thin bony rod that terminates posteriorly in cartilage. It is
+the cartilagenous part of the columella that connects with the
+external sound detecting mechanism. There are several foramina on the
+lateral surface of the prootic. On the anterolateral surface of the
+prootic, branches of the trigeminal nerve pass through three foramina
+whereas the facial nerve passes through the single posterior foramen
+near the otic notch. The squamosal is attached dorsoventrally to the
+posterior part of the parietal and to the lateral part of the prootic.
+At this place of attachment there is on the prootic a relatively heavy
+crest that forms a rather broad articulating base. The squamosal is
+long, flat, and curves slightly in a dorsal direction throughout its
+length; it becomes thinner and narrower posteriorly. The posterior
+third of the squamosal forms a broad base by means of which the
+squamosal articulates with the quadrate. The columella and the
+squamosal extend posteriorly beyond the limits of the braincase.
+Posteriorly the skull consists of four bones: an unpaired median
+dorsal supraoccipital, an unpaired median ventral basioccipital and
+two lateral exoccipitals. The basioccipital does not have noticeable
+pterygoid processes, but is rather smooth ventrally and only slightly
+emarginate on its posterolateral margins. Posteriorly, this bone forms
+the ventral part of the occipital condyle. The rest of the condyle, on
+each side, is formed by the exoccipitals. The exoccipitals also form
+part of the base to which the squamosal is attached. The exoccipitals
+extend around the sides of the foramen magnum and meet dorsally. Each
+exoccipital also forms the posterior part of the otic notch, which
+traverses the exoccipital. The exoccipitals bear moderate occipital
+crests that extend posterolaterally across the supraoccipital as
+branches from the supratemporal crest. The supraoccipital also has a
+medial crest that extends a short distance posteriorly from the
+supratemporal crest onto the exoccipitals at their dorsal line of
+fusion.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 7. The maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch of
+      _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing (A) dorsal,
+      (B) lateral, and (C) ventral views. x 3. Teeth shown by means
+      of broken lines were represented only by their sockets.]
+
+_Maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch._--In an articulated skull, the
+anterior edge of the maxillary is immediately posterior to the lateral
+tip of the premaxillary (fig. 7). The maxillary is curved moderately
+laterally and is not robust at its tip, but it becomes heavier about
+one-third of its length posteriorly. A dorsomedian process begins at
+about one-third of its distance from the anterior end; the prefrontal
+articulates with this process. The process is broad and almost flat,
+except that at its medial end, an elongate, rounded knob extends
+ventrally. The dorsomedian process of the maxillary extends toward,
+but does not meet, a lateral process from the palatine. The maxillary
+teeth are set in sockets on the ventral surface of the bone. Just
+posterior to the level of the last prediastemal tooth is the median
+trans-palatine process that articulates with the anteromedian part of
+the trans-palatine. Immediately posterior to this process, the
+maxillary narrows slightly; then it broadens to form an obliquely
+oriented knob. The posteroventral surface of the posterior knob of the
+maxillary bears one or two enlarged maxillary teeth. (These teeth are
+discussed further in the section on Dentition.) The anterolateral part
+of the trans-palatine articulates with the dorsal surface of the
+posterior knob of the maxillary. Toward the middle of its length, the
+trans-palatine narrows considerably; then it broadens again and
+articulates with the pterygoid. The palatine is slightly rounded at
+its anterior end, which extends anteriorly to the posterior margin of
+the vacuity containing Jacobson's organ. The palatine extends
+posteriorly to the trans-palatine process of the maxilla, where the
+palatine articulates with the pterygoid. A posterior pterygoid process
+from the palatine projects posteromedially from the end of the
+palatine and overlaps the anterior end of the pterygoid. Just less
+than one-half the distance from the anterior end of the palatine,
+there is a lateral process that curves ventrolaterally forming a blunt
+tip posteriorly. Slightly more posteriorly and on the medial side of
+the palatine, is a medial sphenoid process, which is thin, rather
+broad, and curves ventromedially; ultimately it comes to lie near the
+anterior part of the parasphenoid. The palatine teeth are set in
+shallow sockets on the ventral edge of the bone. Of the bones of the
+maxillo-palatal-pterygoid arch, those on the pterygoid extend farthest
+posteriorly. The pterygoid is broad medially and posteriorly, although
+pointed at its posterior tip. The trans-palatine articulates in a
+broad line at about one-third of the distance along the lateral margin
+of the pterygoid. Immediately posterior to this articulation, there is
+a median ridge on the pterygoid; lateral to the pterygoid ridge is an
+abrupt hollow, the pterygoid groove. Posteromedially, this groove
+becomes gradually more shallow and disappears. The dorsal surface of
+the pterygoid is rounded anteriorly and somewhat flattened
+posteriorly, whereas the ventral surface is gently rounded along its
+length, except that there is a high median crest. The pterygoid teeth
+are situated in shallow sockets along this crest. The teeth diminish
+in size posteriorly.
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 8. The left mandible and associated
+      quadrate of _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (UMMZ S-788) showing
+      (A) lateral and (B) medial views. x 3. Teeth shown by means of
+      broken lines were represented only by their sockets.]
+
+_Mandible._--The dentary (fig. 8) is compressed laterally and rounded
+below. The teeth, which are longest about one-third of the way from
+the anterior end of the dentary, are set in sockets on the medial side
+of the bone. The posterior half of the dentary overlies the fused
+surangular-prearticular part of the articular. Ventrally, the
+posterior part of the dentary underlies the splenial, which is set in
+a median trench within the dentary. Near the common suture of the
+dentary and the splenial is the large inferior alveolar foramen;
+completely within the splenial and ventral to the inferior alveolar
+foramen is the anterior mylohyoid foramen. Posterior to the splenial
+and also forming a part of the ventral surface of the mandible is the
+wedge-shaped angular, which lies directly beneath the fused
+surangular-prearticular. As has been implied, the articular, the
+surangular, and the prearticular are fused. The prearticular part of
+this bone forms a part of Meckel's canal. In the surangular part,
+immediately posterior to the end of the dentary, is the large
+surangular foramen. Lying in a longitudinal axis along the medial
+surface of the articular is a high crest, dorsal to which is a deep
+hollow. The lateral wall of the articular above this hollow is thin
+and rounded dorsally; the ventral surface is uniformly round and
+slightly curved dorsally, except that it ends with a short tympanic
+crest, which projects beyond the articulation with the quadrate. Where
+the quadrate articulates with the dorsolateral surface of the
+posterior portion of the squamosal, the former is broad and has a high
+mid-lateral crest, which extends about one-third of the distance down
+the quadrate before disappearing. The columellar process (the place of
+fusion of the columella) is about two-thirds of the way down the
+medial surface of the quadrate. Ventrally the quadrate has a narrow
+neck dorsal to its articulation with the articular. The articulation
+is formed by two lateral flanges of the quadrate that fit over a
+medial ridge formed by the articular.
+
+
+Dentition
+
+Teeth on the maxillary and pterygoid decrease in size posteriorly,
+whereas those of the dentary do likewise except for the first one or
+two that are usually slightly smaller than those immediately
+posterior. The palatine teeth are subequal in size. The enlarged,
+grooved teeth on the maxillary are in shallow sockets on the
+posteroventral surface of the posterior knob of the maxillary. These
+teeth point posteriorly. The grooves are deep and are situated
+anterolaterally. One or two enlarged grooved teeth are present on a
+given maxillary. There seems to be a correlation between the type of
+preservation, the age of the snake, and the number of grooved teeth.
+Old (large) individuals always have only one grooved tooth that is
+rooted and functional, whereas some of the younger animals have two in
+place. Usually replacement teeth are present in alcoholic specimens,
+but these unrooted teeth are lost in the preparation of dried
+skeletons. Thus, it seems that in _Conophis_ only one pair of grooved
+teeth is functional at any one time, although usually replacement
+teeth are present behind and beside the functional one. Some specimens
+have one tooth in the medial socket on one side and one in the lateral
+socket on the other. Replacement teeth on the maxillary and dentary
+are present in the buccal tissue on the medial side of the bones,
+whereas on the palatines and pterygoids, the replacement teeth are
+present laterally. Apparently there are no significant differences in
+dentition among the members of the genus _Conophis_.
+
+
+Vertebrae
+
+The fiftieth vertebra of _Conophis vittatus_ (UMMZ 82642) can be
+described as follows: The neural spine is elongate, thin and low; the
+posterior edge is sharply emarginate, and the anterior edge is only
+slightly emarginate. The zygosphene is thin dorsoventrally; in a
+ventral or dorsal view the zygosphene has a slightly concave anterior
+edge, the flat surface of which is oriented ventrolaterally. The
+centrum is elongate and triangular from below; it is widest at the
+paradiapophyses and narrowest at the short condylar neck. The condylus
+is directed posteriorly. The centrum, when viewed laterally, is
+slightly concave and has prominent subcentral ridges that extend from
+the median side of the paradiapophysial articular surfaces posteriorly
+to the neck of the condylus. The paradiapophysial articular surfaces
+are well developed and have two facets. The diapophysial surface is
+larger and more spherical than the parapophysial one. The
+parapophysial process projects beyond the parapophysial articular
+surface and is nearly even with the lip of the cotyle, which is
+slightly oval. The neural arch is slightly depressed; its width is
+somewhat less than the width of the cotyle. The articular surfaces of
+the postzygapophyses are oval and are directed posterolaterally. There
+is a strongly developed concave interzygapophysial ridge. A
+well-developed accessory spine extends laterally beyond the oval
+articular facets of the pre-zygapophysis and forms a slightly
+flattened, blunt spine. Excellent drawings of the middle thoracic
+vertebra of _Conophis lineatus dunni_ from Honduras were published by
+Auffenberg (1958:6).
+
+
+Hemipenes
+
+The hemipenes of _Conophis_ are moderately caliculate, having spines
+covering the surface from the base to near the apex (fig. 9). These
+spines are largest near the base and are reduced to small papillate
+projections near the apex. The apex terminates in a small disc having
+three to five laminae in _C. vittatus_ and one lamina in _C. lineatus
+concolor_. The sulcus is bifurcate; the fork is near the base and
+almost gives the appearance of two sulci on some specimens. Distally
+the apices are widely separated, and the intervening space gives the
+hemipenis a slightly bilobed appearance in some species (especially
+_C. vittatus_) or a deeply bilobed appearance in others (especially
+_C. lineatus concolor_).
+
+   [Illustration: FIG. 9. The everted left hemipenis of _Conophis
+      vittatus_ (UMMZ 82650). x 5.]
+
+The everted hemipenis reaches posteriorly to the eighth subcaudal
+scale. The sulcus bifurcates at the third subcaudal scale. The
+situation is similar _in situ_ (Cope, 1895:pl. 28, fig. 2).
+
+There are no apparent hemipenial differences among the species of the
+genus _Conophis_. As can be seen in the above description, the
+hemipenis of _C. vittatus_ is less bilobed and has a more pronounced
+disc at the apex than the others. The hemipenis of _C. lineatus
+concolor_ is most bilobed, but has the smallest apical disc. The other
+species and subspecies vary widely within these extremes.
+
+
+Food and Feeding
+
+_Conophis_ eats mostly small lizards, especially _Cnemidophorus_. In
+Mexico _Conophis_ occurs in semi-arid habitat where _Cnemidophorus_ is
+common. A specimen each of _Conophis vittatus_ and _C. lineatus
+lineatus_ were obtained while I was collecting _Cnemidophorus_. The
+only record of _Conophis_ having fed on a warm-blooded vertebrate was
+obtained in the course of this study, when I recovered from the
+stomach of a _Conophis lineatus concolor_ (CNHM 36299) from Chichen
+Itza, Yucatan, a heteromyid rodent (_Heteromys gaumeri_).
+
+Ralph Axtell (personal communication) observed _Conophis_ actively
+searching for food at dusk. His observations were made near
+Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and the snakes were seen to chase lizards of the
+genus _Cnemidophorus_. Near Alvarado, Veracruz, in the late afternoon,
+I watched a _Conophis lineatus lineatus_ follow a lizard into a hole.
+
+Mittleman (1944:122) presents the only discussion of the mode of
+feeding of a captive specimen of _Conophis lineatus_ ssp. When
+presented with a _Thamnophis_ slightly smaller than itself, the
+_Conophis_ struck, and within eight minutes immobilized the
+_Thamnophis_. Within one-half hour the _Thamnophis_ was swallowed.
+Three days later the _Conophis_ ate another _Thamnophis_, though still
+distended from its first meal; nine days later it ate a _Storeria_. In
+the course of several months, the _Conophis_ ate various toads and
+hylids and two more _Storeria_. Apparently members of the genus
+_Conophis_ do not constrict their prey, but rely upon a combination of
+loss of blood and action of the venom to completely immobilize their
+prey.
+
+Ditmars (1931:pls. 26-27) showed three photographs of "_Conophis
+lineatus_" (actually _Conophis pulcher_) ingesting another snake,
+identified by him as a young _Ophis (= Xenodon) colubrinus_.
+
+
+Effect of Poison
+
+The rear fangs of these snakes are large for the size of the snake.
+Various collectors have been bitten, and several reports of the effect
+of the poison have been published. The snakes are aggressive and bite
+constantly while being handled. A field companion, Dale L. Hoyt, was
+bitten on the forefinger by a specimen of _C. l. lineatus_ and
+immediately felt a burning sensation. The finger swelled, much as it
+would if stung by a wasp, but it returned to normal size in about
+twenty-four hours. Ditmars (1931:legend pl. 27) reported immediate
+burning pain and a localized swelling, an inch in diameter and half an
+inch high, which lasted for several hours. Mertens (1952b:83) reported
+merely that the hand of the gardener at the Instituto Tropical in San
+Salvador bled strongly for a full hour. Edward H. Taylor was bitten by
+a specimen of _Conophis vittatus_ (Taylor and Smith, 1939:252); pain
+and swelling lasted for some time. Taylor (personal communication) is
+still troubled by damage incurred by that bite, which apparently
+resulted in mechanical damage to the second joint of the middle
+finger, for the joint swells when the finger is used or exercised.
+William E. Duellman (personal communication) was bitten on the hand in
+July, 1956. There was immediate pain and localized swelling, both of
+which disappeared several hours later.
+
+
+
+
+TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND EVOLUTION
+
+
+The genus _Conophis_ is known only from the Recent. Except that
+_Conophis_ belongs to the subfamily xenodontinae and probably is of
+New World origin, little is known about the relationships of the
+genus. Auffenberg (1958) described a new genus and species of fossil
+colubrid snake from the Miocene of Montana as _Dryinoides oxyrhachis_
+and compared it with several recent genera. This specimen, of which
+there is a relatively complete skull and a series of vertebrae, seems
+most closely to resemble a specimen of _Conophis lineatus dunni_ (UF
+7657) from Honduras, with which it was compared in basic osteology.
+The two genera could be related, for the progenitors of _Conophis_
+possibly inhabited much of North America in the Miocene.
+
+Another possibility is that the main stock of the xenodontines reached
+South America in earliest Tertiary times, and that the formation of
+the Panamanian and Colombian seaways that separated South America and
+Central America from the Late Paleocene to the middle of the Pliocene
+left the _Conophis_ stock isolated in Middle America where members of
+the genus dispersed through semi-arid habitats.
+
+Turning our attention now to the species within the genus, instead of
+the genus as a whole, _Conophis vittatus_ is readily set apart from
+other members of the genus on the basis of the universal presence of
+seven supralabials. In basic coloration it also differs, having no
+stripe on the 1st scale-row, or spots on the venter, and a maximum of
+four broad stripes on the body. The other species appear to be more
+closely related; these make up the _C. lineatus_-group. _Conophis
+nevermanni_ differs so much from the other species that it might be
+placed in a separate group. Nevertheless, the basic striped pattern,
+which is masked by the increased melanism of many specimens, indicates
+that _nevermanni_ is more closely related to the _lineatus_-group than
+to _vittatus_. The _lineatus_-group, thus, consists of _pulcher_,
+_nevermanni_ and the three subspecies of _lineatus_. In this group the
+color pattern is characterized by the high frequency of ventral
+spotting, darkening of part of the supralabials, dark pigmentation on
+the 1st scale-row, and more than four dark stripes on the body of
+adults. _Conophis lineatus concolor_, on which the dark pigmentation
+on the body apparently is secondarily lost, is an exception.
+
+If differences in color pattern be used as an indication of the
+relationships between the species and subspecies of the genus
+_Conophis_, I would consider _C. vittatus_ the most divergent unit.
+The subspecies of _lineatus_ closely resemble one another and, as a
+unit, resemble _pulcher_ from which they differ primarily in the
+position of the dorsalmost stripes. _Conophis nevermanni_ is more
+divergent than is _pulcher_ from the species _lineatus_, but probably
+is not so far removed from _lineatus_ as is _vittatus_.
+
+In the light of what has been pointed out immediately above with
+respect to resemblances of, and differences between, the species, an
+hypothesis to account for their formation and for their presence in
+the areas where they are today is the following: Concurrent with
+climatic fluctuations in the Late Pliocene and Pleistocene, the
+northernmost population differentiated into the species _vittatus_,
+and has subsequently spread north and west from the region of
+Tehuantepec, Mexico. During the same period _nevermanni_ became
+isolated in northern Costa Rica.
+
+The species _pulcher_ probably differentiated from the remaining
+_lineatus_ stock during the Early Pleistocene orogenic upheaval in
+Guatemala. The _pulcher_ stock was isolated on the Pacific Coastal
+slopes of Guatemala, while _lineatus_ moved through the subhumid
+corridor of northern Middle America into Mexico and southward toward
+Costa Rica (Stuart, 1954a). In the Late Pleistocene and Recent,
+_pulcher_ moved back across the central Guatemalan highlands occupying
+its present range in northern Middle America. Primarily because of the
+formation of unsuitable habitat (wet forest) that presently separates
+the geographic ranges of populations of _lineatus_, this species
+differentiated into three subspecies.
+
+
+
+
+SUMMARY
+
+
+The genus _Conophis_ Peters, 1860, contains four species. Three are
+monotypic and the fourth has three subspecies, making a total of six
+taxa.
+
+The genus is characterized by maxillary teeth of equal size followed
+by a diastema and two enlarged grooved fangs. The scales are smooth,
+in 19 rows at mid-body, and 17 nearer the tail. The anal is divided,
+apical pits are lacking, the head shields are normal for a colubrid,
+and the hemipenis is bilobed having many large basal spines.
+
+The six taxa are separated primarily on the basis of color pattern,
+but characters of scutellation, including numbers of dorsals,
+ventrals, caudals, and places of reduction of the number of dorsal
+scale-rows, were analyzed.
+
+Snakes of this genus are distributed throughout semi-arid environments
+from southern Mexico southward into Costa Rica. They feed upon
+lizards, primarily of the genus _Cnemidophorus_; in addition they are
+known to eat small rodents and other snakes.
+
+_Conophis_ is a member of the subfamily Xenodontinae and, as presently
+understood, has no known living close relatives. A single specimen of
+_Dryinoides_ from the Miocene of Montana has been compared with this
+genus. The genus _Conophis_ is thought to have evolved in Middle
+America. The present distribution and differentiation probably are
+primarily the result of climatic fluctuations in Middle America, which
+produced the areas of subhumid environment where _Conophis_ presently
+lives.
+
+
+
+
+LITERATURE CITED
+
+
+AUFFENBERG, W.
+
+    1958.  A new genus of colubrid snake from the Upper Miocene of
+           North America. Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1874:1-16. February 27.
+
+
+COPE, E. D.
+
+    1861.  Contributions to the ophiology of Lower California,
+           Mexico and Central America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
+           Philadelphia, 13:292-306. December 28.
+
+    1867.  Fifth contribution to the herpetology of tropical
+           America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18:317-323.
+           February 20.
+
+    1871.  Ninth contribution to the herpetology of tropical
+           America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 23(2):200-224.
+           October 24.
+
+    1876.  On the batrachia and reptilia of Costa Rica. Journ.
+           Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, series 2, 8(4):93-154, 6 pls.
+
+    1895.  The classification of the ophidia. Trans. Amer. Philos.
+           Soc., 18:186-219, 33 pls. April 15.
+
+    1900.  The crocodilians, lizards, and snakes of North America.
+           Ann. Rept. U. S. Natl. Mus. for 1898, pp. 153-1270, 36 pls.
+
+
+DITMARS, R. L.
+
+    1931.  Snakes of the World. New York, The MacMillan Company,
+           1931. xi + 207 pp., 84 pls.
+
+
+DOWLING, H. G.
+
+    1951.  A proposed standard system of counting ventrals in
+           snakes. British Journ. Herpetology, 1(5):97-99, fig. 1.
+
+
+DUELLMAN, W. E.
+
+    1958.  A preliminary analysis of the herpetofauna of Colima,
+           Mexico. Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 589:1-22,
+           March 21.
+
+
+DUMERIL, A. M. C., BIBRON, G., AND DUMERIL, A. H. A.
+
+    1854.  Erpetologie generale, ou histoire naturelle des
+           reptiles. Paris, 7(pt. 2):xii + 785. February 25.
+           Atlas, 24 pp., 108 pls.
+
+
+DUMERIL, A. H. A., BOCOURT, M., AND MOCQUARD, F.
+
+    1870-1909. Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique
+           Centrale ... Etudes sur les Reptiles. Paris, vol. 2:xiv +
+           1012 pp., 77 pls.
+
+
+GARMAN, S.
+
+    1884a. The North American reptiles and batrachians. Bull.
+           Essex Inst., 16:1-46. January 9.
+
+    1884b. The reptiles and batrachians of North America. Mem.
+           Mus. Comp. Zool., 8(3):xxxi + 185 pp., 9 pls. July.
+
+
+GUeNTHER, A. C. L. G.
+
+    1858.  Catalogue of colubrine snakes in the collection of the
+           British Museum. London. xiv + 281 pp.
+
+
+HUXLEY, J.
+
+    1942.  Evolution. The Modern Synthesis. London. 645 pp.
+
+
+JAN, G. AND SORDELLI, F.
+
+    1866.  Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 19,
+           pls. 1-6. December.
+
+    1881.  Iconographie Generale des Ophidiens. Milano. livr. 50,
+           pls. 1-7. November.
+
+
+MAYR, E.
+
+    1942.  Systematics and the Origin of Species. New York, x +
+           334 pp., 29 figs.
+
+
+MAYR, E., LINSLEY, E. G., AND USINGER, R. L.
+
+    1953.  Methods and Principles of Systematic Zoology. New York.
+           ix + 328 pp., 45 figs.
+
+
+MERTENS, R.
+
+    1952a. Neues uber die Reptilienfauna von El Salvador. Zool.
+           Anz., 148:87-93. February.
+
+    1952b. Die Amphibien und Reptilien von El Salvador auf grund
+           der reisen von R. Mertens und A. Zilch. Abhand. Senken.
+           Naturw. Gesell., 487:83, 1 Kart., 16 taf. December 1.
+
+
+MITTLEMAN, M. B.
+
+    1944.  Feeding habits of a Central American opisthoglyph snake.
+           Copeia, no. 2:122. June 30.
+
+
+NEILL, W. T. AND ALLEN, R.
+
+    1961.  Further studies on the herpetology of British Honduras.
+           Herpetologica, 17(1):37-52. April 15.
+
+
+PARKER, W. K.
+
+    1878.  On the structure and development of the skull in the
+           common snake (_Tropidonotus natrix_). Phil. Trans. Roy.
+           Soc. London, pt. 2:385-417, pp., pls. 27-33.
+
+
+PETERS, W.
+
+    1860.  Drei neue amerikanisches Schlangen. Monatsb. Akad. Wiss.
+           Berlin, 1860:517-521, pl., fig. 3. October.
+
+
+RADOVANOVIC, M.
+
+    1937.  Osteologie des Schlangenkopfs. Jenaische Zeitschr.
+           Naturw., 71(2):179-312.
+
+
+SAVAGE, J. M.
+
+    1949.  Notes on the Central American snake, _Conophis lineatus
+           dunni_ Smith, with a record from Honduras. Trans. Kansas
+           Acad. Sci., 50:483-486. December 31.
+
+
+SCHMIDT, K. P.
+
+    1928.  Reptiles collected in Salvador for the California
+           Institute of Technology. Zool. Ser. Field Mus. Nat. Hist.,
+           12(16):193-201. November 21.
+
+
+SCHMIDT, K. P. AND INGER, R. F.
+
+    1957.  Living Reptiles of the World. Garden City, New York,
+           Hanover House. 287 pp.
+
+
+SMITH, H. M.
+
+    1941.  Notes on snakes of the genus _Conophis_. Journ.
+           Washington Acad. Sci., 31(3):117-124. March 15.
+
+
+SMITH, H. M. AND TAYLOR, E. H.
+
+    1950.  Type localities of Mexican reptiles and amphibians.
+           Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 33:313-380. March 20.
+
+
+STUART, L. C.
+
+    1948.  The amphibians and reptiles of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
+           Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, 69:1-109. June 12.
+
+    1954a. A description of a subhumid corridor across northern
+           Central America, with comments on its herpetofaunal
+           indicators. Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan,
+           65:1-26 pp., 6 pls. March.
+
+    1954b. Herpetofauna of the southeast highlands of Guatemala.
+           Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ. Michigan, 68:1-65 pp.,
+           3 pls. November.
+
+
+SZUNYOGHY, J.
+
+    1932.  Beitrage zur vergleichenden Formenlehre des
+           Colubridenschadels, nebst einer Kraniologischen Synopsis
+           der fossilen Schlangen Ungarns. Acta Zool., 13:1-56.
+
+
+TAYLOR, E. H.
+
+    1955.  Additions to the known herpetological fauna of Costa
+           Rica with comments on other species. No. II. Univ. Kansas
+           Sci. Bull., 37:299-575. October 15.
+
+
+TAYLOR, E. H. AND SMITH, H. M.
+
+    1939.  Miscellaneous notes on Mexican snakes. Univ. Kansas Sci.
+           Bull., 25:239-258. July 10.
+
+
+WETTSTEIN, O.
+
+    1934.  Ergibnisse der osterreichischen biologischen Costa
+           Rica--Expedition 1930. Die Amphibia und Reptilien. Stiz.
+           Akad. Wiss. Wien, mathem-naturw. kl., Abt. 1, bd. 143:1-39.
+
+
+
+_Transmitted November 30, 1962._
+
+
+  29-5936
+    []
+
+
+
+UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS
+
+MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
+
+
+Institutional libraries interested in publications exchange may obtain
+this series by addressing the Exchange Librarian, University of Kansas
+Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Copies for individuals, persons working in
+a particular field of study, may be obtained by addressing instead the
+Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
+There is no provision for sale of this series by the University
+Library, which meets institutional requests, or by the Museum of
+Natural History, which meets the requests of individuals. However,
+when individuals request copies from the Museum, 25 cents should be
+included, for each separate number that is 100 pages or more in
+length, for the purpose of defraying the costs of wrapping and
+mailing.
+
+* An asterisk designates those numbers of which the Museum's supply
+(not the Library's supply) is exhausted. Numbers published to date, in
+this series, are as follows:
+
+
+  Vol.  1.  Nos. 1-26 and index. Pp. 1-638, 1946-1950.
+
+ *Vol.  2.  (Complete) Mammals of Washington. By Walter W. Dalquest.
+               Pp. 1-444, 140 figures in text. April 9, 1948.
+
+  Vol.  3. *1. The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution,
+               and distribution. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp. 1-359,
+               16 figures in text. June 12, 1951.
+
+           *2. A quantitative study of the nocturnal migration of
+               birds.  By George H. Lowery, Jr. Pp. 361-472,
+               47 figures in text. June 29, 1951.
+
+            3. Phylogeny of the waxwings and allied birds. By
+               M. Dale Arvey. Pp. 473-530, 530, 49 figures in text,
+               13 tables. October 10. 1951.
+
+           *4. Birds from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. By George H.
+               Lowery, Jr., and Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 531-649,
+               7 figures in text, 2 tables. October 10, 1951.
+
+            Index. Pp. 651-681.
+
+ *Vol.  4. (Complete) American weasels. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 1-466,
+               41 plates, 31 figures in text. December 27, 1951.
+
+  Vol.  5. Nos. 1-37 and index. Pp. 1-676, 1951-1953.
+
+ *Vol.  6. (Complete) Mammals of Utah, taxonomy and distribution. By
+               Stephen D. Durrant. Pp. 1-549, 91 figures in text,
+               30 tables. August 10, 1952.
+
+  Vol.  7. Nos. 1-15 and index. Pp. 1-651, 1952-1955.
+
+  Vol.  8. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-675, 1954-1956.
+
+  Vol.  9. *1. Speciation of the wandering shrew. By James S. Findley.
+               Pp. 1-68, 18 figures in text. December 10, 1955.
+
+            2. Additional records and extension of ranges of mammals
+               from Utah. By Stephen D. Durrant, M. Raymond Lee, and
+               Richard M. Hansen. Pp. 69-80. December 10, 1955.
+
+            3. A new long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) from northeastern
+               Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker and Howard J. Stains. Pp. 81-84.
+               December 10, 1955.
+
+            4. Subspeciation in the meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus,
+               in Wyoming. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 85-104, 2 figures in
+               text. May 10, 1956.
+
+            5. The condylarth genus Ellipsodon. By Robert W. Wilson.
+               Pp. 105-116, 6 figures in text. May 19, 1956.
+
+            6. Additional remains of the multituberculate genus
+               Eucosmodon. By Robert W. Wilson. Pp. 117-123,
+               10 figures in text. May 19, 1956.
+
+            7. Mammals of Coahulia, Mexico. By Rollin H. Baker. Pp.
+               125-335, 75 figures in text. June 15, 1956.
+
+            8. Comments on the taxonomic status of Apodemus peninsulae,
+               with description of a new subspecies from North China.
+               By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 337-346, 1 figure in text,
+               1 table. August 15, 1956.
+
+            9. Extensions of known ranges of Mexican bats. By Sydney
+               Anderson. Pp. 347-351. August 15, 1956.
+
+           10. A new bat (Genus Leptonycteris) from Coahulia. By
+               Howard J. Stains. Pp. 353-356. January 21, 1957.
+
+           11. A new species of pocket gopher (Genus Pappogeomys) from
+               Jalisco, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 357-361.
+               January 21, 1957.
+
+           12. Geographic variation in the pocket gopher, Thomomys
+               bottae, in Colorado. By Phillip M. Youngman. Pp.
+               363-384, 7 figures in text. February 21, 1958.
+
+           13. New bog lemming (genus Synaptomys) from Nebraska.
+               By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 385-388. May 12, 1958.
+
+           14. Pleistocene bats from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo Leon,
+               Mexico. By J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 389-396.
+               December 19, 1958.
+
+           15. New subspecies of the rodent Baiomys from Central America.
+               By Robert L. Packard. Pp. 397-404. December 19, 1958.
+
+           16. Mammals of the Grand Mesa, Colorado. By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 405-414, 1 figure in text, May 20, 1959.
+
+           17. Distribution, variation, and relationships of the montane
+               vole, Microtus montanus. By Sydney Anderson. Pp. 415-511,
+               12 figures in text, 2 tables.  August 1, 1959.
+
+           18. Conspecificity of two pocket mice, Perognathus goldmani
+               and P. artus. By E. Raymond Hall and Marilyn Bailey
+               Ogilvie. Pp. 513-518, 1 map, January 14, 1960.
+
+           19. Records of harvest mice, Reithrodontomys, from Central
+               America, with description of a new subspecies from
+               Nicaragua. By Sydney Anderson and J. Knox Jones, Jr.
+               Pp. 519-529. January 14, 1960.
+
+           20. Small carnivores from San Josecito Cave (Pleistocene),
+               Nuevo Leon, Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall. Pp. 531-538,
+               1 figure in text. January 14, 1960.
+
+           21. Pleistocene pocket gophers from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo
+               Leon, Mexico. By Robert J. Russell. Pp. 539-548, 1 figure
+               in text. January 14, 1960.
+
+           22. Review of the insectivores of Korea. By J. Knox Jones,
+               Jr., and David H. Johnson. Pp. 549-578. February 23, 1960.
+
+           23. Speciation and evolution of the pygmy mice, genus
+               Baimoys. By Robert L. Packard. Pp. 579-670, 4 plates,
+               12 figures in text. June 16, 1960.
+
+           Index. Pp. 671-690
+
+  Vol. 10.  1. Studies of birds killed in nocturnal migration.
+               By Harrison B. Tordoff and Robert M. Mengel. Pp. 1-44,
+               6 figures in text, 2 tables. September 12, 1956.
+
+            2. Comparative breeding behavior of Ammospiza caudacuta
+               and A. maritima. By Glen E. Woolfenden. Pp. 45-75,
+               6 plates, 1 figure. December 20, 1956.
+
+            3. The forest habitat of the University of Kansas Natural
+               History Reservation. By Henry S. Fitch and Ronald R.
+               McGregor. Pp. 77-127, 2 plates, 7 figures in text,
+               4 tables. December 31, 1956.
+
+            4. Aspects of reproduction and development in the prairie
+               vole (Microtus ochrogaster). By Henry S. Fitch. Pp.
+               129-161, 8 figures in text, 4 tables. December 19, 1957.
+
+            5. Birds found on the Arctic slope of northern Alaska.
+               By James W. Bee. Pp. 163-211, plates 9-10, 1 figure
+               in text. March 12, 1958.
+
+           *6. The wood rats of Colorado: distribution and ecology.
+               By Robert B. Finley, Jr. Pp. 213-552, 34 plates, 8 figures
+               in text, 35 tables. November 7, 1958.
+
+            7. Home ranges and movements of the eastern cottontail in
+               Kansas. By Donald W. Janes. Pp. 553-572, 4 plates,
+               3 figures in text. May 4, 1959.
+
+            8. Natural history of the salamander, Aneides hardyi.
+               By Richard F. Johnston and Gerhard A. Schad. Pp. 573-585.
+               October 8, 1959.
+
+            9. A new subspecies of lizard, Cnemidophorus sacki, from
+               Michoacan, Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 587-598,
+               2 figures in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+           10. A taxonomic study of the middle American snake, Pituophis
+               deppei. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 599-610. 1 plate,
+               1 figure in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+           Index. Pp. 611-626.
+
+  Vol. 11. Nos. 1-10 and index. Pp. 1-703, 1958-1960.
+
+  Vol. 12.  1. Functional morphology of three bats: Sumops, Myotis,
+               Macrotus. By Terry A. Vaughan. Pp. 1-153, 4 plates,
+               24 figures in text. July 8, 1959.
+
+           *2. The ancestry of modern Amphibia: a review of the evidence.
+               By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Pp. 155-180, 10 figures in text.
+               July 10, 1959.
+
+            3. The baculum in microtine rodents. By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 181-216, 49 figures in text. February 19, 1960.
+
+           *4. A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian
+               of Kansas. By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr., and Peggy Lou
+               Stewart. Pp. 217-240, 12 figures in text. May 2, 1960.
+
+            5. Natural history of the bell vireo. By Jon C. Barlow.
+               Pp. 241-296, 6 figures in text. March 7, 1962.
+
+            6. Two new pelycosaurs from the lower Permian of Oklahoma.
+               By Richard C. Fox. Pp. 297-307, 6 figures in text.
+               May 21, 1962.
+
+            7. Vertebrates from the barrier island of Tamaulipas, Mexico.
+               By Robert K. Selander, Richard F. Johnston, B. J. Wilks,
+               and Gerald G. Raun. Pp. 309-345, pls. 5-8. June 18, 1962.
+
+            8. Teeth of Edestid sharks. By Theodore H. Eaton, Jr.
+               Pp. 347-362, 10 figures
+               in text. October 1, 1962.
+
+           More numbers will appear in volume 12.
+
+  Vol. 13.  1. Five natural hybrid combinations in minnows (Cyprinidae).
+               By Frank B. Cross and W. L. Minckley. Pp. 1-18.
+               June 1, 1960.
+
+            2. A distributional study of the amphibians of the Isthmus
+               of Tehuantepec, Mexico. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 19-72,
+               pls. 1-8, 3 figures in text. August 16, 1960.
+
+            3. A new subspecies of the slider turtle (Pseudemys
+               scripta) from Coahulia, Mexico. By John M. Legler.
+               Pp. 73-84, pls. 9-12, 3 figures in text. August
+               16, 1960.
+
+            4. Autecology of the copperhead. By Henry S. Fitch.
+               Pp. 85-288, pls. 13-20, 26 figures in text.
+               November 30, 1960.
+
+            5. Occurrence of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, in
+               the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. By Henry S. Fitch
+               and T. Paul Maslin. Pp. 289-308, 4 figures in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            6. Fishes of the Wakarusa river in Kansas. By James E. Deacon
+               and Artie L. Metcalf. Pp. 309-322, 1 figure in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            7. Geographic variation in the North American cyprinid fish,
+               Hybopsis gracilis. By Leonard J. Olund and Frank B. Cross.
+               Pp. 323-348, pls. 21-24, 2 figures in text.
+               February 10, 1961.
+
+            8. Descriptions of two species of frogs, genus Ptychohyla;
+               studies of American hylid frogs, V. By William E. Duellman.
+               Pp. 349-357, pl. 25, 2 figures in text. April 27, 1961.
+
+            9. Fish populations, following a drought, in the Neosho and
+               Marais des Cygnes rivers of Kansas. By James Everett Deacon.
+               Pp. 359-427, pls. 26-30, 3 figs. August 11, 1961.
+
+           10. Recent soft-shelled turtles of North America (family
+               Trionychidae). By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 429-611, pls. 31-54,
+               24 figures in text. February 16, 1962.
+
+           Index. Pp. 613-624.
+
+  Vol. 14.  1. Neotropical bats from western Mexico.  By Sydney Anderson.
+               Pp. 1-8. October 24, 1960.
+
+            2. Geographic variation in the harvest mouse.
+               Reithrodontomys megalotis, on the central Great Plains
+               and in adjacent regions. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and
+               B. Mursaloglu. Pp. 9-27, 1 figure in text. July 24, 1961.
+
+            3. Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. By Sydney
+               Anderson. Pp. 29-67, pls. 1 and 2, 3 figures in text.
+               July 24, 1961.
+
+            4. A new subspecies of the black myotis (bat) from eastern
+               Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall and Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 69-72,
+               1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            5. North American yellow bats, "Dasypterus," and a list of
+               the named kinds of the genus Lasiurus Gray. By E. Raymond
+               Hall and J. Knox Jones, Jr. Pp. 73-98, 4 figures in text.
+               December 29, 1961.
+
+            6. Natural history of the brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii) in
+               Kansas with description of a new subspecies. By Charles A.
+               Long. Pp. 99-111, 1 figure in text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            7. Taxonomic status of some mice of the Peromyscus boylii
+               group in eastern Mexico, with description of a new
+               subspecies. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 113-120, 1 figure in
+               text. December 29, 1961.
+
+            8. A new subspecies of ground squirrel (Spermophilus
+               spilosoma) from Tamaulipas, Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez.
+               Pp. 121-124. March 7, 1962.
+
+            9. Taxonomic status of the free-tailed bat, Tadarida
+               yucatanica Miller. By J. Knox Jones, Jr., and Ticul
+               Alvarez. Pp. 125-133, 1 figure in text. March 7, 1962.
+
+           10. A new doglike carnivore, genus Cynaretus, from the
+               Clarendonian Pliocene, of Texas. By E. Raymond Hall and
+               Walter W. Dalquest. Pp. 135-138, 2 figures in text.
+               April 30, 1962.
+
+           11. A new subspecies of wood rat (Neotoma) from northeastern
+               Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez. Pp. 139-143. April 30, 1962.
+
+           12. Noteworthy mammals from Sinaloa, Mexico. By J. Knox Jones,
+               Jr., Ticul Alvarez, and M. Raymond Lee. Pp. 145-159,
+               1 figure in text. May 18, 1962.
+
+           13. A new bat (Myotis) from Mexico. By E. Raymond Hall.
+               Pp. 161-164, 1 figure in text. May 21, 1962.
+
+           14. The mammals of Veracruz. By E. Raymond Hall and Walter W.
+               Dalquest. Pp. 165-362, 2 figures. May 20, 1963.
+
+           15. The recent mammals of Tamaulipas, Mexico. By Ticul Alvarez.
+               Pp. 363-473, 5 figures in text. May 20, 1963.
+
+           More numbers will appear in volume 14.
+
+  Vol. 15.  1. The amphibians and reptiles of Michoacan, Mexico. By
+               William E. Duellman. Pp. 1-148, pls. 1-6, 11 figures in
+               text. December 20, 1961.
+
+            2. Some reptiles and amphibians from Korea. By Robert G. Webb,
+               J. Knox Jones, Jr., and George W. Byers. Pp. 149-173.
+               January 31, 1962.
+
+            3. A new species of frog (Genus Tomodactylus) from western
+               Mexico. By Robert G. Webb. Pp. 175-181, 1 figure in text.
+               March 7, 1962.
+
+            4. Type specimens of amphibians and reptiles in the Museum
+               of Natural History, the University of Kansas. By William
+               E. Duellman and Barbara Berg. Pp. 183-204. October 26, 1962.
+
+            5. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El
+               Peten, Guatemala. By William E. Duellman. Pp. 205-249, pls.
+               7-10, 6 figures in text. October 4, 1963.
+
+            6. A revision of snakes of the genus Conophis (Family
+               Colubridae, from Middle America). By John Wellman.
+               Pp. 251-295, 9 figures in text. October 4, 1963.
+
+            More numbers will appear in volume 15.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+For consistancy, a number of word which had alternate spellings were
+altered to match the most prevalent version used. For example, where
+the word Mexico was used in the body of the article, the more frequent
+spelling (Mexico) was substituted. However, in the reference sections,
+the spelling was not altered as that may have been the spelling used
+by the article's author. All occurrances of Erpetologie Generale were
+correcteded to Erpetologie Generale (Pp. 255, 262, 267, 277, and 278).
+
+
+ On page 279 under _Variation_ there appears to be a miscalculation:
+    668 mm. + 182 mm. = 850 mm. not 840 as in original text.
+
+
+Typographical Corrections
+
+  Page  Correction
+  ===== ===========================================
+  264   immaculaate => immaculate
+  264   chacteristic => characteristic
+  266   elevatons => elevations
+  267   Dumeril => Dumeril
+  277   Dumeil => Dumeril
+  279   Tehauntepec => Tehuantepec
+  280   Deleted repeated "Oaxaca,"
+  292   primarly => primarily
+  295   hertetofaunal => herpetofaunal
+    i   V.  9 No. 12: Pp. 363-387 => Pp. 363-384
+  iii   V. 13 No.  8: Decriptions => Descriptions
+  iii   V. 14 No.  8: anad => and
+  iii   V. 14 No. 14: anad => and
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Revision of Snakes of the Genus
+Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America), by John Wellman
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REVISION OF SNAKES OF THE ***
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