of 21 rows of dorsal scales. Additional material is needed from the
western slopes of Jalisco and the Barrancas in Zacatecas and Durango,
before definite allocation of _affinis_ can be made.
Bogert and Oliver (1945:379) discussed the status of certain named
populations in Baja California and concluded that only one species
occurs there, and that the species probably is conspecific with _H.
torquata_. A careful review of the genus _Hypsiglena_ might show that
there is only one species.
The one specimen from Michoacan (USNM 46513) is from an elevation of
about 2300 meters near the southern edge of the Mexican Plateau.
~Hypsiglena torquata torquata~ (Guenther)
_Leptodeira torquata_ Guenther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 3,
5:170.--Laguna Island, Nicaragua (in error).
_Hypsiglena torquata torquata_, Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci.
Bull., 25:371, July 10, 1939.
Apatzingan; Capirio; Cofradia.
Specimens from the three mentioned localities have the dark nuchal spot
bordered anteriorly by a pale blotch. In life the specimen from Capirio
(UMMZ 114424) had rich reddish brown dorsal spots; the dorsal ground
color was grayish white above and somewhat more gray laterally. The pale
nuchal area was a cream-color, and the iris was grayish red.
All of the specimens were found in the arid scrub forest in the
Tepalcatepec Valley at elevations between 200 and 350 meters.
~Imantodes gemmistratus gracillimus~ (Guenther)
_Dipsas gracillima_ Guenther, Biol. Centrali-Americana,
Rept., p. 177, July, 1895.--southern Mexico. Type locality
restricted to Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, by Smith and
Taylor (1950a:331).
_Imantodes gemmistratus gracillimus_, Zweifel, Amer. Mus.
Novitates, 1961:12, September 16, 1959.
La Orilla.
The specimen from La Orilla was reported by Peters (1954:23) as
_Imantodes gemmistratus oliveri_; Zweifel (1959c) showed that _I. g.
oliveri_ did not range west of Tehuantepec and that the snakes
inhabiting the coastal lowlands of Guerrero, Michoacan, and Colima were
assignable to the subspecies _gracillimus_. It may be assumed that this
subspecies ranges throughout the coastal lowlands and foothills of the
Sierra de Coalcoman.
~Imantodes gemmistratus latistratus~ (Cope)
_Dipsas gemmistrata latistrata_ Cope, Bull. U. S. Natl.
Mus., 32:68, 1887.--Southern Jalisco. Type locality
restricted to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, by Smith and
Taylor (1950a:334).
_Imantodes gemmistratus latistratus_, Zweifel, Amer. Mus.
Novitates, 1961:3, September 16, 1959.
El Sabino.
The one specimen from Michoacan was collected near the upper limits of
the scrub forest on the slopes of the Cordillera Volcanica. Zweifel
(1959c:10) stated that in certain aspects of coloration this specimen
was like _I. gemmistratus gracillimus_, but in scutellation and other
features of coloration it was like _I. g. latistratus_. There are too
few specimens of this species to define the ranges of the various
subspecies with any degree of accuracy, but from the limited number of
specimens available, it seems that _I. gemmistratus gracillimus_ occurs
on the Pacific lowlands from Guerrero northward to Colima. Northward on
the Pacific lowlands from Colima to Sinaloa and in the
Balsas-Tepalcatepec Basin is found _I. gemmistratus latistratus_.
~Lampropeltis doliata~ (Linnaeus)
_Coluber doliatus_ Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 12, 1:379,
1766.--Charleston, South Carolina.
_Lampropeltis doliata_, Klauber, Copeia, No. 1:11, April 15,
1948.
Coalcoman (3); El Sabino; 24 km. W of Morelia; Rio Nexpa;
Uruapan.
The few specimens of this species from Michoacan show a wide range of
variation; furthermore, the present systematic status of the subspecies
of _Lampropeltis doliata_ portrays an incongruous pattern of
distribution. Specimens from the Sierra de Coalcoman have relatively
narrow red bands that are not interrupted dorsally by extensions of the
black rings; the scales in the red bands have black tips. The specimen
from El Sabino (EHT-HMS 5253) and the one from the Rio Nexpa on the
coast (USNM 31491) have broader red bands; the scales in the red bands
do not have black tips. A specimen from 24 kilometers west of Morelia
(UIMNH 17782) and one from Uruapan (UMMZ 121508) have the red bands
interrupted dorsally by extensions from the black rings.
Specimens from the Sierra de Coalcoman were referred to _L. doliata
blanchardi_ by Peters (1954:24), who noted that in some characters
these snakes were like _L. d. nelsoni_ and in others like _L. d.
polyzona_. The individual from El Sabino was referred to _L. d. nelsoni_
by Taylor (1940c:465); the one from 24 kilometers west of Morelia was
referred to _L. d. arcifera_ by Smith (1942c:198). If these assignments
are correct, three subspecies of _Lampropeltis doliata_ occur in
Michoacan: _blanchardi_ in the Sierra de Coalcoman, _nelsoni_ on the
coast and in the Tepalcatepec Valley, and _arcifera_ on the Mexican
Plateau and in the Cordillera Volcanica. Such a distribution is
plausible, but the few specimens and our general lack of knowledge of
the variation and relationships of the different populations do not
permit a definite assignment at this time.
~Lampropeltis ruthveni~ Blanchard
_Lampropeltis ruthveni_ Blanchard, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool.
Univ. Michigan, 81:8, April 28, 1920.--Patzcuaro, Michoacan,
Mexico.
Morelia; Patzcuaro; Tacicuaro.
At the present time this species is known definitely from only three
localities on the Mexican Plateau in Michoacan. An incomplete skin from
El Sabino (EHT-HMS 5438) was referred to this species by Taylor
(1940c:465); the specimen cannot be found, so verification of the
identification cannot be made at this time.
~Leptodeira latifasciata~ (Guenther)
_Hypsiglena latifasciata_ Guenther, Biologia
Centrali-Americana, Reptilia, p. 138, October,
1894.--Southern Mexico. Type locality restricted to
Huajintlan, Morelos, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor
(1950a:331).
_Leptodeira latifasciata_, Dunn, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.,
22:696, December, 1936.
Apatzingan; El Sabino; La Playa; 32 km. E of Nueva Italia.
This nocturnal snake apparently ranges throughout the arid
Balsas-Tepalcatepec Valley to elevations of about 1050 meters. It has
been collected only in the arid scrub forest. Aside from the specimens
listed by Duellman (1958a:93), there is one (UMMZ 120223) having eight
body blotches, a body length of 510 mm. and a tail length of 103 mm.
~Leptodeira maculata~ (Hallowell)
_Megalops maculatus_ Hallowell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 13:488, March 31, 1862.--"Tahiti." Type
locality restricted to Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, by
Duellman (1958a:54).
_Leptodeira maculata_, Duellman, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist., 114:53, February 24, 1958.
Aguililla (2); Apatzingan (24); Arteaga (2); Capirio (3);
Charapendo (2); Coahuayana (3); Cofradia; Cuatro Caminos; La
Placita (3); Lombardia (69); Nueva Italia (29); Pomaro; Rio
Marquez, 10 km. S of Lombardia (2); Salitre de Estopila;
Tafetan (2); Volcan Jorullo.
This snake is abundant in the arid Tepalcatepec Valley; most of the
specimens have been collected in arid scrub forest at elevations of less
than 500 meters. With the onset of the rains in late June and early
July, large numbers of these snakes can be found around temporary pools,
where they feed on small frogs and toads. In the dry season few
individuals were found, and all of those were beneath cover. Specimens
from the coast have more body-blotches than do those from the
Tepalcatepec Valley (Duellman, 1958a:56); otherwise the snakes show
little variation.
~Leptodeira splendida bressoni~ Taylor
_Leptodeira bressoni_ Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
25:321, July 10, 1939.--Hacienda El Sabino, Michoacan,
Mexico.
_Leptodeira splendida bressoni_, Duellman, Bull. Amer. Mus.
Nat. Hist., 114:84, February 24, 1958.
Coalcoman (3); El Sabino (3); Uruapan (5).
The range of _Leptodeira splendida bressoni_ apparently does not overlap
that of _Leptodeira maculata_; the latter is restricted to the lower
reaches of the arid scrub forest, whereas _L. s. bressoni_ inhabits the
upper limits of the arid scrub forest and the lower part of the pine-oak
forest. Specimens have been collected between 950 and 1630 meters on the
slopes of the Cordillera Volcanica and at 950 meters in the Sierra de
Coalcoman. At Uruapan individuals were found beneath rocks along a
stream and in a stone fence. _Leptodeira duellmani_, which was described
from Coalcoman by Peters (1954:25), is an aberrant individual of _L. s.
bressoni_ (Duellman, 1958a:56).
~Leptophis diplotropis~ (Guenther)
_Ahaetulla diplotropis_ Guenther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser.
4, 9:25, 1872.--Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.
_Leptophis diplotropis_, Bocourt, Mission scientifique au
Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, Reptiles, livr. 15:835,
1897.
Between Aguililla and Dos Aguas; Arteaga; Coalcoman; El
Diezmo; El Sabino (5); La Playa; Ocorla.
Most specimens of this species have been collected in tropical
semi-deciduous forest at elevations of less than 1000 meters. In the
Sierra de Coalcoman one was taken in pine-oak forest at an elevation of
1700 meters near Ocorla; another was found in broad-leafed forest
between Aguililla and Dos Aguas at an elevation of 1600 meters. Most
individuals have been seen in trees or bushes. The absence of
broad-leafed forest in the Tepalcatepec Valley probably accounts for the
absence of this snake in that area.
~Manolepis putnami~ (Jan)
_Dromicus putnami_ Jan, Elenco sistematico degli Ofidi, p.
67, 1863.--San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico.
_Manolepsis putnami_, Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl.
Mus., 187:92, October 5, 1945.
La Placita (3); Maquili; Ostula.
In Michoacan the species has been found only in tropical semi-deciduous
forest on the lower slopes of the Sierra de Coalcoman. From the
observations made by Peters (1954:28), this snake is diurnal and feeds
on teiid lizards.
~Masticophis striolatus striolatus~ Mertens
_Coluber striolatus_ Mertens, Zoologica (Stuttgart), 32:190,
1934.--Substitute name for _Coluber lineatus_ Bocourt, a
secondary homonym of _Coluber lineatus_ Linnaeus = _Lygophis
lineatus_. Type locality restricted to Presidio de Mazatlan,
Sinaloa, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor (1950a:343).
_Masticophis striolatus striolatus_, Zweifel and Norris,
Amer. Midl. Nat., 54:242, July, 1955.
Apatzingan (4); Arteaga; Coalcoman (3); El Sabino;
Jiquilpan; La Palma; La Playa (3); Lombardia; Nueva Italia;
Rio Cachan; Santa Ana; Uruapan (2); Volcan Jorullo;
Ziracuaretiro.
This large diurnal species inhabits open scrub forest and cultivated
terrain from sea level to about 1650 meters. On the Mexican Plateau it
is known from the area around Lago de Chapala, to which it possibly
gained access through the valleys in the headwaters of the Tepalcatepec
drainage. Specimens from southern Michoacan have been reported
previously by Peters (1954:28) and Duellman (1954b:16) as _Masticophis
flagellum lineatus_.
~Masticophis taeniatus australis~ Smith
_Masticophis taeniatus australis_ Smith, Jour. Washington
Acad. Sci., 31:390, September 11, 1941.--Guanajuato,
Guanajuato, Mexico.
Tacicuaro (2); Zamora.
This species reaches the southern limit of its distribution in the state
of Michoacan. The limited ecological data available suggest that the
species inhabits the open mesquite grassland of the Mexican Plateau.
~Oxybelis aeneus auratus~ (Bell)
_Dryinus auratus_ Bell, Zool. Jour., 2:324, 1825.--Mexico.
Type locality restricted to Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, by
Smith and Taylor (1950a:340).
_Oxybelis aeneus auratus_, Bogert and Oliver, Bull. Amer.
Mus. Nat. Hist., 83:381, March 30, 1945.
Coahuayana; El Sabino (4); between Las Tecatas and Las
Higuertas; between Los Pozos and La Cienega; Playa Azul;
Pomaro (2); between Pomaro and Maruata (2); Punto San Telmo;
Rio Tizupan.
On the basis of the number of specimens seen and collected on the
seaward slopes of the Sierra de Coalcoman, this is a common snake
there. Most specimens were collected in tropical semi-deciduous forest;
others were collected in oak forest to an elevation of 1700 meters.
Apparently _Oxybelis_ does not inhabit the lower parts of the
Tepalcatepec Valley; the only specimens from the inland area are four
from El Sabino, which is situated at about 900 meters on the slopes of
the Cordillera Volcanica. One individual was seen in gallery forest near
Limoncito at an elevation of 730 meters on the northern slopes of the
Sierra de Coalcoman.
~Pituophis deppei deppei~ (Dumeril)
_Elaphis deppei_ Dumeril, Mem. Acad. Inst. France, 23:453,
1835.--Mexico. Type locality restricted to San Juan
Teotihuacan, Mexico, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor
(1950a:334).
_Pituophis deppei deppei_, Stull, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ.
Michigan, 250:1, October 12, 1932.
Carapan (2); Morelia; Tacambaro; Tacicuaro; Zacapu.
Duellman (1960b) showed that the widespread species _Pituophis deppei_
was composite and that the "lined subspecies" actually represented
another species, _Pituophis lineaticollis_. _Pituophis deppei_ occurs
only on the Mexican Plateau; in Michoacan it inhabits mesquite grassland
and oak-bunch grass associations between 1900 and 2200 meters.
~Pituophis lineaticollis lineaticollis~ (Cope)
_Arizona lineaticollis_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 13:300, December 28, 1861.--Southern Mexican
Plateau. Type locality restricted to 24 kilometers northwest
of Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico, by Duellman (1960b:607).
_Pituophis lineaticollis lineaticollis_, Duellman, Univ.
Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 10:607, May 2, 1960.
Acuaro de las Lleguas; Dos Aguas (3); Morelia; Tancitaro
(5).
This species reaches the northern limits of its range in the Sierra de
Coalcoman and on the Mexican Plateau in Michoacan. On the plateau it has
been collected in mesquite grassland at elevations between 1500 and 2000
meters. In the Sierra de Coalcoman individuals were found in open
pine-oak forest at 2100 meters elevation and in a meadow surrounded by
pine-oak forest at 2300 meters.
~Pseudoficimia frontalis~ (Cope)
_Toluca frontalis_ Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
16:167, September 30, 1864.--Colima, Colima, Mexico.
_Pseudoficimia frontalis_, Guenther, Biologia
Centrali-Americana, Reptilia, p. 96, May, 1893.
Apatzingan; Coalcoman (6); El Sabino (2).
Most specimens were found beneath rocks in grassy areas near the upper
limits of the arid scrub forest, both in the Sierra de Coalcoman and on
the southern slopes of the Cordillera Volcanica; all are from elevations
of less than 1100 meters. One specimen was found on a road at night near
Apatzingan. This species has been found in similar habitats near
Huajintlan, Guerrero, and in arid scrub forest at lower elevations in
Colima. It is unknown from the coast of Michoacan.
~Pseudoficimia pulcherrima~ Taylor and Smith
_Pseudoficimia pulcherrima_ Taylor and Smith, Univ. Kansas
Sci. Bull., 28:246, May 15, 1942.--Huajintlan, Guerrero,
Mexico.
Apatzingan.
This specimen (CNHM 39208) was reported by Schmidt and Shannon
(1947:81); they stated that it was a paratype of _P. pulcherrima_.
However, Taylor and Smith (1942a:246) did not mention the specimen;
aside from the type (EHT-HMS 5497), the only other specimen they
designated as belonging to the type series was UMMZ 85711 from
Chilpancingo, Guerrero.
The taxonomic validity of _Pseudoficimia pulcherrima_ remains doubtful,
for only minor characters distinguish it from _P. frontalis_.
Furthermore, all known specimens of _P. pulcherrima_ are from within the
geographic range of _P. frontalis_.
~Rhadinaea hesperia hesperia~ Bailey
_Rhadinaea hesperia_ Bailey, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ.
Michigan, 412:8, May 6, 1940.--Omilteme and Sierra de Burro,
Guerrero. Type locality restricted to Omilteme, Guerrero,
Mexico, by Smith and Taylor (1950a:332).
_Rhadinaea hesperia hesperia_, Smith, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 55:185, December 31, 1942.
Arteaga (3); Coalcoman; El Sabino (2); Uruapan; Volcan
Jorullo (2).
One specimen from Volcan Jorullo (UMMZ 104494), three from Arteaga (UMMZ
119281), and one from Uruapan (UMMZ 92342) are typical of the subspecies
_R. h. hesperia_ in possessing a lateral cream-colored line on the sixth
and parts of the fifth and seventh dorsal scale rows and in lacking a
dark line on the second scale row. The specimens from El Sabino (EHT-HMS
5441 and UIMNH 18933) and one from Coalcoman (UMMZ 104502) have the
cream-colored line on the sixth and adjacent parts of the fifth and
seventh scale rows and have a dark line on the second scale row. Another
individual from Volcan Jorullo (UMMZ 104682) has cream-colored lines
like the others, but it possesses two lateral dark lines, one on the
second scale row, and one on the third.
Smith (1942d:186) diagnosed _Rhadinaea hesperia hesperioides_ as
differing from the nominal subspecies in having the cream-colored line
on the fourth and fifth scale rows and in possessing a dark line on the
second scale row. The specimens seen all have the lateral cream-colored
line centered on the sixth scale row, as is characteristic of _R. h.
hesperia_. Although many of the specimens also possess a dark line on
the second scale row, these specimens are here assigned to _R. h.
hesperia_. Additional specimens are necessary to define accurately the
subspecies and their ranges. Peters (1954:29) assigned the specimens
from Coalcoman to _R. h. hesperioides_.
In life the specimens from Arteaga had bright cream-colored temporal
stripes and dorsolateral stripes on the anterior part of the body. The
chin and anterior one-sixth of the belly was white; posteriorly the
venter was bright orange-red.
In Michoacan this snake has been found in tropical semi-deciduous
forest, arid scrub forest, and pine-oak forest at elevations from 850 to
1500 meters.
~Rhadinaea laureata~ (Guenther)
_Dromicus laureatus_ Guenther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4,
1:419, 1868.--Mexico City.
_Rhadinaea laureata_, Boulenger, Catalogue Snakes... British
Museum, 2, p. 179, September 23, 1894.
Capacuaro; Carapan (8); Cheran (3); Paracho (2); Patzcuaro;
Tancitaro (10).
This snake is abundant in the Cordillera Volcanica, but it is unknown in
the mountains to the northeast of Morelia or in the Sierra de Coalcoman.
Most specimens were found beneath volcanic rocks imbedded in the ashy
soil in pine forest between 1800 and 2300 meters.
~Rhadinaea taeniata~ (Peters)
_Dromicus taeniatus_ Peters, Monats. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p.
275, 1863.--Mexico.
_Rhadinaea taeniata_, Bailey, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ.
Michigan, 412:14, May 6, 1940.
Tancitaro (2).
This species, which is known only from a small region in the mountains
of Jalisco and central Michoacan, is represented by two specimens (CNHM
37130 and 39030) collected at Tancitaro (see Schmidt and Shannon,
1947:80).
~Salvadora bairdi~ Jan
_Salvadora Bairdii_ Jan. Icon. gener. ophid., livr. 2, pl.
3, fig. 2, 1860.--Mexico. Type locality restricted to
Acambaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor
(1950a:330).
Barranca Seca; Carapan; Cerro San Andres; Cojumatlan (2);
Jiquilpan; Morelia; Patzcuaro (4); Quiroga; Sahuayo (2);
Tacicuaro (12); Tancitaro (56); Uruapan (2); Zacapu (2);
between Zitacuaro and Tuxpan (3).
This species is abundant on the Mexican plateau, where it inhabits the
more grassy areas in the mesquite grassland and cutover land in the pine
forests from 1550 to 2500 meters. Davis and Dixon (1957:21) described a
specimen from Zacapu as having two dark paravertebral stripes diverging
on the temporals and extending through the eye onto the loreal, a
characteristic of _Salvadora lineata_. On the basis of this specimen,
Davis and Dixon suggested that _Salvadora bairdi_ and _S. lineata_ were
subspecifically related. The examination of the large number of
specimens from Michoacan has revealed this kind of coloration in only
one other specimen, an individual from Tacicuaro, in which the stripes
diverge, but do not extend through the eye onto the loreal. Data on
scutellation for the large series from Tancitaro were given by Schmidt
and Shannon (1947:78), and for the series from Tacicuaro by Smith
(1943:466).
~Salvadora mexicana~ (Dumeril, Bibron, and Dumeril)
_Zamenis mexicanus_ Dumeril, Bibron, and Dumeril,
Erpetologie generale, 7 (pt. 1), p. 695, 1854.--Cape
Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico.
_Salvadora mexicana_ Guenther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 3,
12:349, 1863.
Apatzingan (12); Capirio (2); El Sabino (5); Huetamo; La
Placita; La Playa (4); Lombardia; Nueva Italia; Ojos de Agua
de San Telmo; Oropeo; Rio Cancita, 14 km. E of Apatzingan;
Santa Ana.
This is one of the most abundant snakes in the arid lowlands of the
Tepalcatepec Valley; observations indicate that it probably is equally
abundant on the coastal lowlands. Near Apatzingan as many as five of
these snakes have been seen in one-half hour. The snakes seem to be
equally abundant and active in the dry season and in the rainy season.
Most individuals were seen on the ground, but two were found in low
trees. On several occasions _Salvadora mexicana_ was observed in pursuit
of lizards on the ground. Captured individuals regurgitated
_Cnemidophorus costatus zweifeli_, _Cnemidophorus deppei infernalis_,
_Sceloporus horridus oligoporus_, _Sceloporus pyrocephalus_, and
_Urosaurus gadowi_.
_Salvadora mexicana_ inhabits only the arid scrub forest at elevations
from sea level to about 1000 meters.
~Sibon nebulatus~ (Linnaeus)
_Coluber nebulatus_ Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, 1, p.
222, 1758.--Africa (in error). Type locality restricted to
Jicaltepec, Veracruz, Mexico, by Smith and Taylor
(1950a:349).
_Sibon nebulatus_, Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 26:473,
November 27, 1940.
Aquila.
The one specimen from Michoacan was collected by Peters (1954:30) in
tropical semi-deciduous forest on the coastal foothills of the Sierra de
Coalcoman. As presently known, the range of this species in western
Mexico extends from Chiapas to Nayarit. Throughout this region the
species avoids scrub forest; this may explain its absence in the
Balsas-Tepalcatepec Valley.
~Sonora michoacanensis michoacanensis~ (Duges)
_Contia michoacanensis_ Duges, _in_ Cope, Proc. Amer.
Philos. Soc., 22:178, 1885.--Michoacan. Type locality
restricted to Apatzingan, Michoacan, Mexico, by Smith and
Taylor (1950a:335).
_Sonora michoacanensis michoacanensis_, Stickel, Proc. Biol.
Soc. Washington, 56:116, October 19, 1943.
Apatzingan (3); Coalcoman (3); 12 km. S of Tzitzio.
These specimens, together with all known specimens from the Sierra del
Sur in Guerrero (KU 23790-1, MVZ 45123) and the upper Balsas Basin in
Puebla (UIMNH 41688), are referable to _S. m. michoacanensis_. The
dorsal pattern consists of a highly variable number of cross-bands of
red, white, and black. In the specimens from Michoacan there are as many
as 17 red cross-bands on the body. One specimen from Apatzingan (CNHM
37141) has just behind the head a white band, bordered on either side by
a narrow black band; posteriorly the body is uniform red. Two specimens
from Coalcoman (UMMZ 109905-6) have respectively 11 and 13 red
cross-bands and 20 and 17 white cross-bands, and the posterior part of
the body is devoid of red color. Other specimens from these localities
have red, black, and white cross-bands throughout the length of the
body.
_Sonora michoacanensis michoacanensis_ is distinguished from _S.
michoacanensis mutabilis_ by the presence of cross-bands on the tail in
the latter (Stickel, 1943:116). One specimen from Coalcoman (UMMZ
109904) has one narrow band on the tail; all others from Michoacan have
uniformly red tails.