Pliocercus elapoides

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Pliocercus elapoides
Variegated false coral snake (Pliocercus elapoides).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Pliocercus
Species:
P. elapoides
Binomial name
Pliocercus elapoides
Cope, 1860
Synonyms [2]

Pliocercus elapoides, also known commonly as the variegated false coral snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern North America and northern Central America. There are four recognized subspecies.

Contents

Geographic range

P. elapoides is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and southeastern Mexico. [1] [2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. elapoides is forest. [1]

Description

Resembling a venomous coral snake, P. elapoides has a dorsal color pattern of red, black, and yellow rings. The red scales are tipped with black. [2]

Behavior

P. elapoides is nocturnal, terrestrial and semi-fossorial. [1]

Reproduction

P. elapoides is oviparous. [2]

Subspecies

Four 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 Pliocercus .

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lee, J.; Calderón Mandujano, R.; Lopez-Luna, M.A.; Luque, I.; Ariano, D. (2013). "Pliocercus elapoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013 e.T63877A3130570. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Species Pliocercus elapoides at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading