Conophis

Not to be confused with Coniophis.

Conophis
Conophis lineatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Dipsadinae
Genus:	Conophis W. Peters, 1860

Conophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to Mexico and Central America.

Species and geographic ranges

The genus Conophis contains the following three species which are recognized as being valid. ^[1]

• Conophis lineatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua – road guarder
• Conophis morai Pérez-Higareda, López-Luna & H.M. Smith, 2002 – Mexico – Mora's road guarder
• Conophis vittatus W. Peters, 1860 – Guatemala, Mexico – striped road guarder

Nota bene : Binomial authorities in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Conophis.

Behavior and Ecology

Conophis species are primarily diurnal (active during the day) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling). Their diet consists mainly of:

• Lizards
• Small mammals
• Other snakes
• Frogs and toads

They are oviparous, laying eggs to reproduce. 

References

1. Genus Conophis at The Reptile Database.

Further reading

• Heimes, Peter (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt, Germany: Chimaira. 572 pp. ISBN   978-3899731002.
• Peters W (1860). "Drei neue Schlangen des k. zoologischen Museums aus America vor und fügte hieran Bemerkungen über die generelle Unterscheidung von anderen bereits bekannten Arten ". Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin1860: 517-521 + one plate. (Conophis, new genus, p. 519; C. vittatus, new species, pp. 519–520 + plate figures 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d). (in German).