Geophis sartorii explained

Geophis sartorii, also known commonly as Sartorius' snail-sucker and the terrestrial snail sucker, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern North America and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Etymology

The specific name, sartorii, is in honor of German-born Mexican naturalist Christian Carl Wilhelm Sartorius.[1]

Geographic range

G. sartorii is found in southeastern Mexico, and in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. sartorii is forest, at altitudes from sea level to .

Description

G. sartorii may attain a snout-to-vent length of with a tail length of . The body is black, with 16–20 narrow rings, which are yellowish to reddish in color.[3]

Diet

G. sartorii preys upon snails.

Reproduction

G. sartorii is oviparous.[2]

Mimicry

G. sartorii mimicks Micrurus elegans, a species of venomous coral snake with which it is sympatric.[2]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

Nota bene

A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Geophis.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
  2. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. [George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]