A key and checklist to the neotropical snake genus liophis

A KEY AND CHECKLIST

TO THE

NEOTROPICAL SNAKE GENUS LIOPHIS
WITH COUNTRY LISTS AND

mPS

JAMES R. DIXON

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sci>e^^^l^ Texas A&M University iW^X \
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SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE
NO.

79

1989

SMITHSONIAN HERPETOLOGICAL INFORMATION SERVICE

The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in biology the of amphibians and reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. Single copies are distributed free to interested individuals. Libraries, herpetological associations, and research laboratories are invited to exchange their publications with us.

We wish to encourage individuals to share their bibliographies, with other translations, etc. herpetologists through the SHIS series. If you have such items please contact George Zug for instructions. Contributors receive 50 free copies.
Please address and all requests for copies inquiries to George Zug, Division of Amphibians and History, Reptiles, National Museum of Natural Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. Please include a self-addressed mailing label with requests.

INTRODUCTION
The genus Liophis currently contains 35 species and 62 recognized subspecies. About 137 names have been proposed, attesting to extensive qualitative and quantitative variation between and among the species of Liophis The purpose of the checklist, keys, and country lists is to offer museum curators and herpetologists a means to identify the species and subspecies of one of the most commonly encountered xenodontine snake genera of the Neotropics. Species lists are constructed from specimens personally examined and verified by me. The keys resulted from an analysis of variation of 5,198 specimens of all recognized populations.
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Some species have been recognized since 1758 and Some species are represented in