Conophis

Not to be confused with Coniophis.

Conophis
Conophis lineatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Dipsadinae
Genus:	Conophis W. Peters, 1860

Conophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is native to Mexico and Central America.

Species, geographic ranges and common names

The genus Conophis contains the following three species which are recognized as being valid.

• Conophis lineatus (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua – road guarder, guarda caminos centroamericana
• Conophis morai Pérez-Higareda, López-Luna & H.M. Smith, 2002 – Mexico – Mora's road guarder, Tuxtlan road guarder, guarda caminos de Mora
• Conophis vittatus W. Peters, 1860 – Guatemala, Mexico – striped road guarder, guarda caminos listada

Nota bene: Binomial authorities in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Conophis.

Behavior and Ecology

Conophis species are primarily diurnal (active during the day) and terrestrial (ground-dwelling). Their diet consists mainly of:

• Lizards
• Small mammals
• Other snakes
• Frogs and toads.

They are oviparous, laying eggs to reproduce.

Further reading

• Heimes, Peter (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 572 pp. .
• Peters W (1860). "Drei neue Schlangen des k. zoologischen Museums aus America vor und fügte hieran Bemerkungen über die generelle Unterscheidung von anderen bereits bekannten Arten ". Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1860: 517–521 + one plate. (Conophis, new genus, p. 519; C. vittatus, new species, pp. 519–520 + plate figures 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d). (in German).