Trimetopon simile DUNN, 1930
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Trimetopon simile?
Trimetopon simile
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| Higher Taxa | Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Dunn's Tropical Ground Snake |
| Synonym | Trimetopon simile DUNN 1930: 331 Trimetopon simile — PETERS & OREJAS-MIRANDA 1970: 309 Trimetopon simile — VILLA et al. 1988 Trimetopon simile — SAVAGE 2002savage 2020 Trimetopon simile — WALLACH et al. 2014: 743 |
| Distribution | Costa Rica Type locality: Reventazon [probably = Siquirres], Costa Rica |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: MCZ 15263 |
| Diagnosis | Description. Scales 15; ventrals 122; anal divided; caudals 69; prefrontals fused; oculars 1-2; temporal 1-1; supralabials 7, infralabials 7; third and fourth supralabials are below the eye; four infralabials are in contact with the anterior chin shields which are longer than those posteriorly; black, white below; head white as far forward as middle of frontal, and including third labial; a black spot on seventh labial; length 155 mm, tail 50 mm (from Dunn 1930: 331). DIAGNOSIS: This relatively rare snake is one of a number of Costa Rican species with a uniform dark brown or black dorsum, an immaculate yellowish venter and a light nuchal collar involving the parietal shields. T. simile differs from other species having these features in the following combination of characteristics: 1 prefrontal, smooth dorsal scales in 15 rows and dark dorsal coloration extending onto tips of ventrals (Savage 2002: 638). DESCRIPTION: A tiny snake (maximum total length 176 mm); tall long (30 to 33% of total length); 1 large pre-frontal; 1 loreal; 1 postocular; supralabials 7, with 2 bordering orbit; infralabials 7; temporals 1 + 1; dorsal scales :n 15 rows; ventrals 118 to 119; subcaudals 72 to 68; maxIllary teeth 10, slightly increasing in size posteriorly. Dorsum umform blackish brown; broad light nuchal collar involving most of the parietal shields and several scale rows on neck, complete or barely interrupted by dark pigment on midline; venter yellowish white. The retracted hemipenitis bilobed, semicapitate, and apparently without calyces (Myers 2002, Savage 2002: 638). Comparisons: (1) Enulius sclateri has two prefrontals, no preocular, and 2 postoculars. (2) Trimetopon pliolepis has the light nuchal collar not or barely involving the parietaIs. (3) Trimetopon gracile has light nuchal spots or a narrow light nuchal bar that barely involves the parietaIs. (4) Enulius flavitorques has the ventral tips and first one to three scale rows on the body light in color. (5) Juvenile Geophis ruthveni have keeled dorsal scales. (6) Ninia celata has keeled dorsal scales in 19 rows (Savage 2002: 639). |
| Comment | SIMILAR SPECIES: Enulius sclateri, Trimetopon pliolepis,Trimetopon gracile, Enulius flavitorques, juvenile Geophis ruthveni, Ninia celata (see comparisons for differences). |
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