

Kansas llNivEiisiTy Science Bulletin. 



Vol. II, No. 13. JUNE, 1904. \^lTIifTo'^x^ 



^SNAKES OF KANSAS^ 



BY EDWIN B. BRANSON. 

 Submitted in partial fulfilnieDt of the requicements for the degree of Master of Arts. 



INTRODUCTION. 



T^HE original intention of the author was to include in this 

 paper only snakes that he knew occurred in Kansas, but 

 he has found it desirable to add descriptions of others that have 

 been reported from the state, the occurrence of which appears 

 doubtful. He has also included descriptions of species that 

 may reasonably be expected to occur in the state because they 

 are found close to its boundaries. 



The first list of Kansas snakes was published by Annie E. 

 Mozley in 1878. This list included only those species preserved 

 in the museum of Kansas University. It gave thirty-two species 

 and two subspecies, but the writer has had access to the material 

 used, by Miss Mozley and finds only twenty-three valid species and 

 four valid subspecies. Eutunia sirtalis, E. sanrita, E.parietalis, E. 

 marciana, E.pro.iima and one unidentified species of Garter Snake 

 are listed by Miss Mozley, but the writer has failed to find Eu- 

 tania marciana and Eutunia saurita in the collections. Mozley's 

 E. sirtalis, E. sirtalis tlorsalis and E. parietalis belong to the 

 species sirtalis. The corrected list of Garter Snakes contains 

 four species — E. sirtalis, E. radix, E. proxivta and E. elegans. 

 Mozley's Heterodon cognatus and Heterodon alinodes are now in- 

 cluded under Heterodon. platyrhinus. Mozley's Ophibolvs exim^is, 

 Ophibolus (jentilis and two unidentified species belong to one 

 species, Ophibolus doliatus . Basrariion Jiaviventris, Bascanion foxi 

 and B. constrictor are sj'nonymous, and are now called Zamenis 

 constrictor. Heterodon siinus, listed by Mozley, proved to be H. 



nasicus. 



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