Thamnophis copei explained

Thamnophis copei, Cope's mountain meadow snake, is a vulnerable species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species was originally described by Alfredo Dugès in 1897, and is endemic to Mexico. It is the type species of the genus Adelophis Dugès, 1879.

Description

Thamnophis copei is a small and moderately slender snake that has a maximum total length (including tail) of 392mm. The tail is about one fifth of the total length.

Habitat and geographic range

Thamnophis copei lives in the wetlands of west-central Mexico, in such areas in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and northern Morelos.

Conservation status

Thamnophis copei is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and human settlement. Mexico has placed national laws protecting the species, and the species is being researched for more ways to protect it. It is protected in the Sierra Los Huicholes reserve.

Further reading

Dugès A (1879). In: Cope ED (1879). "Eleventh Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 18: 261-277. (Adelophis copei, new species, pp. 265–266).