Thamnophis godmani (GÜNTHER, 1894)
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Thamnophis godmani
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Natricinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Godman's Garter Snake G: Godmans Strumpfbandnatter S: Jarretera de Godman |
| Synonym | Tropidonotus godmani GÜNTHER 1894: 133 Eutaenia godmanii — COPE 1900:1232 Thamnophis scalaris godmani — SMITH 1942: 98 Thamnophis scalaris godmani — SMITH & SMITH 1976 Thamnophis godmani — ROSSMAN in VARKEY 1979:2 Thamnophis godmani — LINER 1994 Thamnophis godmani — ROSSMAN & BURBRINK 2005 Thamnophis godmani — WALLACH et al. 2014: 722 Thamnophis godmani — MATA-SILVA et al. 2015 |
| Distribution | Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz) Type locality: Mexico, Guerrero, Omilteme and Amula |
| Reproduction | ovoviviparous |
| Types | Lectotype: BMNH 1946.1.21.81 (designated by ROSSMAN & BURBRINK 2005) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis. “Supralabials usually seven; eye relatively small; scale rows usually not over 17, usually 15 or less in front of anus: ventrals 134 to 158; caudals 61 to 88 in males, 60 to 73 in females; head dark above, the color extending posteriorly to a transverse black line across nape, and postero-laterally to level of angle of mouth.” (Smith 1942: 101) Diagnosis. Thamnophis godmani can be distinguished from all other Mexican species of the genus by the following combination of characteristics: (1) maximum DSR 17; (2) maxillary teeth 17-21; (3) top of the head unpatterned; (4) two rows of relatively small black spots between light vertebral and lateral stripes; (5) nuchal blotches usually predominantly black; (6) prominence of black bar along posterior suture of SL 5 equal to, or greater than, bar along SL 6 and 7 suture; (7) V averaging 144 in males, 138 in females; (8) SC averaging 79 in males, 71 in females; (9) tail relatively long (mean T/TL 27% in males, 26% in females); (10) prefrontal suture usually slightly shorter than internasal suture (mean PFL/INL 94%); (11) muzzle tip usually very broad (mean INR/NR 134%); (12) anterior and posterior nasals usually subequal in length; (13) parietals shortest of all Thamnophis species (mean FL/PL 88%); and (14) frontal usually relatively narrow posteriorly (mean FWP/FWA 72%). |
| Comment | Habitat: Thamnophis godmani appears to be confined to pine-oak forest and cloud forest in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero. Recorded elevations that are probably valid range from 1768-2438 m. A record from Acahuizotla at 853 m (TCWC 9533) is suspect (fide ROSSMAN & BURBRINK 2005). Tropidonotus godmani (Günther, 1894) was soon synonymized with Thamnophis cyrtopsis in Ruthven’s (1908) classic monograph on the genus Thamnophis. |
| Etymology | Named after F. D. Godman, who obtained the type series for the British Museum (Natural History). |
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