''Leptophis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

colubrid Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...

snakes, commonly known as parrot snakes. The species within this genus are widely distributed throughout

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

Description

Snakes of the genus ''Leptophis'' are slender with a long tail. The body is cylindrical or slightly laterally compressed. The head is elongated and distinct from the neck. The eye is large with a round pupil. The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The maxillary teeth, which number 20–32, are in a continuous series without any interspace, and are longest posteriorly. Conversely, the mandibular teeth are longest anteriorly. Boulenger GA (1894). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ''. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I–XX. (''Leptophis'', p. 105-106, Figure 10.

Species and subspecies

The following

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

and

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are currently recognized as being valid: *''

Leptophis ahaetulla ''Leptophis ahaetulla'', commonly known as the lora or parrot snake, is a species of medium-sized slender snake of the family Colubridae. It is endemic to Central America and northern South America. Distribution *Central America: Belize, Costa R ...

'' – giant parrot snake *''

Leptophis bocourti ''Leptophis bocourti'' is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del ...

'' *'' Leptophis bolivianus'' *''

Leptophis coeruleodorsus ''Leptophis coeruleodorsus'', the green-and-yellow parrot snake or Oliver's parrot snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially th ...

'' – Oliver's parrot snake *''

Leptophis cupreus ''Leptophis cupreus'', the copper parrot snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat ...

'' – copper parrot snake *''

Leptophis depressirostris ''Leptophis depressirostris'', commonly known as Cope's parrot snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, i ...

'' – Cope's parrot snake *''

Leptophis dibernardoi ''Leptophis dibernardoi'' is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America ...

'' *''

Leptophis diplotropis ''Leptophis diplotropis'', commonly known as the Pacific Coast parrot snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico. Geographic range The geographic range of ''L. diplotropis'' in Mexico extends from s ...

'' - Pacific Coast parrot snake **''

Leptophis diplotropis diplotropis ''Leptophis diplotropis'', commonly known as the Pacific Coast parrot snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico. Geographic range The geographic range of ''L. diplotropis'' in Mexico extends from s ...

'' **''

Leptophis diplotropis forreri ''Leptophis'' is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as parrot snakes. The species within this genus are widely distributed throughout Mexico, Central and South America. Description Snakes of the genus ''Leptophis'' are slender with a l ...

'' *''

Leptophis liocercus ''Leptophis liocercus'' is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America an ...

'' *''

Leptophis marginatus ''Leptophis marginatus'' is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in t ...

'' *''

Leptophis mexicanus ''Leptophis mexicanus'', commonly known as the Mexican parrot snake, is a species of medium-sized slender snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Americas. Geographic range ''L. mexicanus'' can be found in southern Mexico a ...

'' – Mexican parrot snake **'' Leptophis mexicanus hoeversi'' **'' Leptophis mexicanus mexicanus'' **'' Leptophis mexicanus septentrionalis'' **''

Leptophis mexicanus yucatanensis ''Leptophis'' is a genus of Colubridae, colubrid snakes, commonly known as parrot snakes. The species within this genus are widely distributed throughout Mexico, Central America, Central and South America. Description Snakes of the genus ''Lep ...

'' *'' Leptophis modestus'' – cloud forest parrot snake *'' Leptophis nebulosus'' – Oliver's parrot snake *'' Leptophis nigromarginatus'' - black-skinned parrot snake *'' Leptophis occidentalis'' *'' Leptophis praestans'' *'' Leptophis riveti'' – Despax's parrot snake *''

Leptophis stimsoni ''Leptophis stimsoni'', commonly known as the grey lora or the Trinidad upland parrot snake, is a small species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Geographic range and habitat ' ...

'' – Trinidad upland parrot snake *'' Leptophis urostictus'' ( ''

Nota bene (, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well". It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...

'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Leptophis''.

Description

Species and subspecies

References

Further reading