Coniophanes

Updated on Nov 05, 2023

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Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Coniophanes Rank Genus		Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Colubridae Higher classification Xenodontinae

Similar Snake, Reptile, Colubridae, Coniophanes imperialis, Conophis

Black striped snake coniophanes imperialis

Coniophanes is a genus of colubrid snakes, typically referred to as black-striped snakes, but they also have many other common names. The genus consists of 17 species, and despite the common name, not all of them display striping.

Coniophanes Coniophanes piceivittis The Reptile Database

Coniophanes dromiciformis a colubrid snake endemic to the equatorial pacific dry forests

Geographic range

Coniophanes Schmidt39s Blackstriped Snake Coniophanes schmidti

Species of Coniophanes are found primarily in Mexico and Central America, but range as far north as southern Texas in the United States, and as far south as Peru in South America.

Description

Coniophanes Blackstriped Snake Coniophanes imperialis clavatus

Snakes of the genus Coniophanes grow to a total length (including tail) of 31–46 cm (12–18 in) and are typically brown in color, with black striping down the sides and center of the back, and a red or orange underside. Some of the species, such as C. alvarezi, are solid brown.

Habitat and behavior

Coniophanes Coniophanes imperialis imperialis Blackstriped snake from Flickr

Coniophanes snakes are secretive burrowers. They spend most of their time digging into loose soils, forest leaf litter, or under rotting cactus. They are nocturnal, emerging from their underground retreats in the late evening to feed on frogs, lizards, small rodents, and smaller snakes.

Reproduction

Coniophanes Field Herp Forum View topic Catch Up in South Texas 20102011

Species in the genus Coniophanes are oviparous, laying clutches of up to 10 eggs in loose soil. The eggs hatch in around 40 days, depending on relative temperature and humidity. Hatchlings are about 17 cm (6.5 in) in length.

Species

The following 17 species are recognized as being valid.

Coniophanes Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research Snakes of the

C. alvarezi Campbell, 1989 – Chiapan stripeless snake – Mexico

C. andresensis Bailey, 1937 – Isla San Andreas snake – Isla San Andres, Colombia

C. bipunctatus (Günther, 1858) – two-spotted snake – Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, and Costa Rica

C. b. bipunctatus (Günther, 1858)

C. b. biseriatus H.M. Smith, 1940

C. dromiciformis (W. Peters, 1863) – Peters' running snake – Ecuador and Peru

C. fissidens (Günther, 1858) – yellowbelly snake – Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia

C. f. convergens Shannon & H.M. Smith, 1950

C. f. dispersus H.M. Smith, 1941

C. f. fissidens (Günther, 1858)

C. f. proterops (Cope, 1860)

C. f. punctigularis (Cope, 1860)

C. imperialis (Baird & Girard, 1859) – black-striped snake – United States (Texas), Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras

C. i. imperialis (Baird & Girard, 1859)

C. i. clavatus (W. Peters, 1864)

C. i. copei Hartweg & Oliver, 1938

C. joanae Myers, 1966 – Panama

C. lateritius Cope, 1862 – stripeless snake – Mexico

C. longinquus Cadle, 1989 – Peru

C. melanocephalus (W. Peters, 1869)

C. meridanus Schmidt & Andrews, 1936 – peninsula stripeless snake

C. michoacanensis Flores-Villela & E.N. Smith, 2009

C. piceivittis Cope, 1870 – Cope's black-striped snake – Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica

C. p. frangivirgatus J. Peters, 1950

C. p. piceivittis Cope, 1870

C. quinquevittatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – five-striped snake – Mexico and Guatemala

C. sarae Ponce-Campos & H.M. Smith, 2001

C. schmidti Bailey, 1937 – faded black-striped snake – Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

C. taylori Hall, 1951

Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Coniophanes.

References

Coniophanes Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA