University of Kansas Publications

Museum of Natural History

Vol. 10, No. 10, pp. 599-610, 1 pl., 1 fig.
May 2, 1960

A Taxonomic Study
of the Middle American Snake,
Pituophis deppei

BY

WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN

University of Kansas
Lawrence
1960

University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History

Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,Robert W. Wilson

Volume 10, No. 10, pp. 599-610, 1 pl., 1 fig.Published May 2, 1960

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

PRINTED IN
THE STATE PRINTING PLANT
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1960

28-2493

PLATE 45

Fig. 1. Pituophis deppei deppei from Cumbres de Acultzingo, Veracruz,UMMZ 114596. Approx. 1/2 natural size.

Fig. 2. Pituophis lineaticollis lineaticollis from Dos Aguas, Michoacán,UMMZ 119567. Approx. 1/3 natural size.

A Taxonomic Studyof the Middle American Snake,Pituophis deppei

BY

WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN

INTRODUCTION

As a part of a study of the herpetofauna of the Mexican state ofMichoacán an attempt was made to ascertain the interspecific andintraspecific relationships of the various populations of Pituophisthere. Field work in Michoacán revealed that two supposed subspeciesof Pituophis deppei were sympatric. This discovery led tothe examination of all available (124) museum specimens of thesesnakes.

I am grateful to the following persons who permitted me toexamine specimens in their care: Charles M. Bogert, AmericanMuseum of Natural History (AMNH); Doris M. Cochran, UnitedStates National Museum (USNM); Norman Hartweg, Universityof Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ); Robert F. Inger, ChicagoNatural History Museum (CNHM); Arthur Loveridge, Museumof Comparative Zoology (MCZ); Hobart M. Smith, Universityof Illinois Museum of Natural History (UIMNH); andEdward H. Taylor, E. H. Taylor—H. M. Smith collection (EHT-HMS).Specimens in the accounts of the species are listed afterthe abbreviations of the institutions given in parentheses above.

HISTORICAL REVIEW

Duméril (1853: 453) described Elaphis deppei from a specimenin the Leiden Museum from "Mexico." This specimen, accordingto the type description, has 233 ventrals and 67 caudals. In 1863Jan described Pit