Conophis lineatus

Conophis lineatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Conophis
Species:	C. lineatus
Binomial name
Conophis lineatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron, & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
Synonyms [2]
Tomodon lineatum A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Lygophis lineatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) Tachymenis lineata (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) Conophis pulcher Cope, 1869

Conophis lineatus, also known commonly as the road guarder and la culebra guardacaminos lineada in local Spanish, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. There are two recognized subspecies. ^[2]

Eating a rose-bellied lizard ( Sceloporus variabilis )

Description

Dorsally, Conophis lineatus has 6–11 dark stripes. The areas between the stripes are tan or whitish. The lower portions of the upper labials are brown. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows on the neck, 19 rows at midbody, and 17 rows posteriorly. ^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Conophis lineatus are forest and savanna, but it has also been found in disturbed habitats. ^[1]

Behavior

Conophis lineatus is terrestrial. ^[1]

Diet

Conophis lineatus preys upon lizards, predominately species of the family Teiidae, and also eats eggs of ground-nesting birds. ^[1]

Venom

Conophis lineatus is rear-fanged and mildly venomous. Bites to humans cause pain, swellling, and bruising, with symptoms lasting as long as two months. ^[3]

Reproduction

Conophis lineatus is oviparous. ^{[1] [2]}

Subspecies

Two subspecies of Conophis lineatus are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. ^[2]

• Conophis lineatus concolor Cope, 1867
• Conophis lineatus lineatus(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)

References

1. Flores-Villela, O.; Köhler, G.; Sunyer, J.; Townsend, J.H.; Wilson, L.D. (2013). "Conophis lineatus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013 e.T63758A3128953. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T63758A3128953.en . Retrieved 27 November 2025.
2. Species Conophis lineatus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Keyler, Daniel E. (2025). "Road Guarder (Conophis lineatus concolor: Dipsadidae): Case documentation of a clinically significant envenoming". Toxicon. 255: 108215.

Further reading

• Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III. Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Conophis lineatus, pp. 122–123).
• Duméril, A.-M.-C.; Bibron, G.; Duméril, A.-[H.-A.] (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire copmplète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. (Tomodon lineatum, new species, pp. 936–938). (in French).
• Heimes, P. (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. ISBN   978-3899731002. 572 pp.
• Savage, J.M. (2002). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two Continents, betwen Two Seas. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN   0-226-73537-0. xx + 945 pp.