Leptophis diplotropis

Leptophis diplotropis
illustration by G.H. Ford in Günther, 1872
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Leptophis
Species:	L. diplotropis
Binomial name
Leptophis diplotropis (Günther, 1872)
Synonyms
Ahætulla diplotropis Günther, 1872 Hapsidophrys diplotropis — Cope, 1886 Leptophis diplotropis — Boulenger, 1894[2]

Leptophis diplotropis, commonly known as the Pacific Coast parrot snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.^[3] It is endemic to Mexico.^[1]

Geographic range

Its range in Mexico extends from southwestern Chihuahua and southern Sonora to southeastern Oaxaca.

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies including the nominate race.

• Leptophis diplotropis diplotropis (Günther, 1872)
• Leptophis diplotropis forreri H.M. Smith, 1943

The subspecific name, forreri, is in honor of Alphonse Forrer (1836-1899), an English-born collecter of zoological specimens in Mexico for the British Museum.^[4]

Habitat

L. diplotropis is found in tropical dry forest, semi-deciduous forest, mangrove forest, oak forest and wet forest, from sea level up to 1,600 m (5,200 ft). It is a highly adaptable species, which is also found in disturbed areas.^[1]

References

1. Ponce-Campos P, García Aguayo A. (2007). "Leptophis diplotropis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
2. Boulenger GA. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Leptophis diplotropis, pp. 110-111).
3. "Leptophis diplotropis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
4. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Leptophis diplotropis forreri, p. 92).

Further reading

• Günther A. 1872. Seventh Account of new Species of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Fourth Series 9: 13-37. ("Ahætulla diplotropis", pp. 25–26 + Plate VI, figure A).

• Smith HM. 1943. Summary of the Collections of snakes and crocodilians made in Mexico under the Walter Rathbone Bacon Traveling Scholarship. Proc. U.S. National Mus. 93 (3169): 393-504. ("Leptophis diplotropis forreri, new subspecies", p. 443).