38 BULLETIN 18 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



'■'■Oaxaca'''] doubtful records are frora Huasteca Potosina, Qiteretaro 

 [Duges, La Naturaleza, ser. 2, vol. 2, 1896, p. 481], and perhaps 

 "Teliuantepec" [Sumichrast, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, vol. 5, 1880, p. 

 182]). 



Genus CONIOPHANES Hallowell 



Coniophancs Haixowell, in Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 12, 



18G0, p. 248.— Bailey, Pop. Michigan Acad. Sci. Arts Lett., vol. 24, pt. 2, 1938 



(1939), pp. 1-48. pis. 1-3 (generic revision). 

 Olaphyrophis Jan, Elenco sistematico degli Ofidi, 1863, p. 54 (tjrpe, G. pictus Jan 



[ = C. b. Uptinctatus]). 

 Eydrocalamus Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc, vol. 22, 1884 (1885), pp. 176-177 



(type, Homalopsis qiiinquevittatus Dumeril and Bibron). 



Genotype. — Goronella flssidens Gimther. 



Range. — Extreme southern United States and central Guerrero 

 south on both coasts to South America, thence southward to Peru. 



Species. — Thirteen species and subspecies are known from Mexico; 

 the genus as a whole contains 17 species and subspecies. 



KEY TO MEXICAN FORMS OF CONIOPHANES"" 



1. Dorsal scale rows 23 to 25 2 



Dorsal scale rows 21 or fewer 3 



2. Lateral dark stripes broad (4 to 5 scale rows), sharply defined on lower 



edge piceivittis 



Lateral dark stripe narrow (% to 1% scale rows), shading gradually to 

 ventrals schmidti 



3. Belly with a double row of large, regular dark spots, one pair to a 



ventral; dorsals in 21 rows; chin mottled 4 



Belly immaculate or with numerous small black spots ; chin usually 

 spotted, but not mottled (unless head is black) 5 



4. Ventrals fewer than 150; no conspicuous lateral dark stripe. 



bipunctatus biseriatus 

 Ventrals more than 150 ; a conspicuous lateral dark stripe quinquevittatus 



5. Head and neck black for about 10 scales, followed by a cream collar ; 



body unicolor, red in life lateritius 



Head and neck not black 6 



6. Dorsals in 19 to 21 rows; no light temporal stripe through top of orbit; 



anal ridges in mature males ; hemipenis single, spinous, capitate 7 



Dorsals in 17 to 19 rows (very rarely 21 ) ; a light temporal stripe through 

 top of orbit; anal ridges absent; hemipenis bifurcate, spineless 10 



7. A regular row of relatively large dark spots near ends of ventrals, in 



addition to other dark flecks that may or may not be present ; dorso- 

 lateral white stripe extending posteriorly a considerable distance on 

 neck ; inner dark border of dorsolateral tail stripes absent on posterior 



part of body, present only on tail fissidens fissidens 



No regular row of relatively large dark spots near ends of ventrals; 

 belly with small flecks of black, unspotted ; dorsolateral white stripes 

 very short (no more than twice length of head), or absent posteriorly. 



^» Adapted from Bailey, op. cit., pp. 13-14. 



