Geophis immaculatus

Geophis immaculatus (Downs' Earth Snake) is a small snake of the colubrid family. It is native to Mexico and Guatemala.[1] There are no recognized subspecies.[2] Although not much has been documented about it, the population distribution is in abundance and is of least concern in terms of conservation status.

Geophis immaculatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Geophis
Species:
G. immaculatus
Binomial name
Geophis immaculatus
Downs, 1967

G. immaculatus is most closely related to the Geophis fulvoguttatus, a snake found exclusively in the Metapan mountains of El Salvador. The G. fulvoguttatus is characterised by more ventral scales and lateral reddish spots, which the G. immaculatus lacks.[3] The two species are part of a group known as Geophis Dubius that includes 11 other snake species of Central America, as categorised by Floyd Leslie Downs.[4]

Habitat

Geophis immaculatus is found in wet forests and cloud forests. Occasionally, it is observed in disturbed areas such as plantations. El Triunfo and Tacana Biosphere Reserve in Mexico are two places where it is known to inhabit.[1]

References
  1. Campbell, J.A., Muñoz-Alonso, A. & García Aguayo, A. 2007. Geophis immaculatus. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Archived June 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Version 2010.2. Downloaded on 25 July 2010.
  2. "Geophis immaculatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  3. DOWNS, FLOYD LESLIE. Intrageneric relationships among colubrid snakes of the genus geophis, wagler. OCLC 68276385.
  4. Canseco-Márquez, Luis; Pavón-Vázquez, Carlos J.; Lòpez-Luna, Marco Antonio; Oca, Adrian Nieto-Montes de (2016-11-08). "A new species of earth snake (Dipsadidae, Geophis) from Mexico". ZooKeys. 610: 131–145. doi:10.3897/zookeys.610.8605. ISSN 1313-2970.


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