Geophis rhodogaster (Cope)

Wilson, Larry David & Townsend, Josiah H., 2007, A checklist and key to the snakes of the genus Geophis (Squamata: Colubridae: Dipsadinae), with commentary on distribution and conservation, Zootaxa 1395, pp. 1-31 : 16-17

37. Geophis rhodogaster (Cope)

Colophrys rhodogaster Cope 1868: 130 .

Geophis rhodogaster: Bocourt 1883: 531 .

Geophis chalybaea: Günther 1893: 87 .

Catastoma rhodogaster: Amaral 1929: 192 . Geophis fulvoguttatus: Köhler 1996: 36 (in error).

Syntypes. Three: Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) 3316­17 and National Museum of Natural History (USNM) 12425, collected by Van Patten. Downs (1967: 92) designated ANSP 3317, an adult female, the lectotype.

Type­locality. “…elevated country in the neighborhood of the city of Guatemala.” Distribution. The mountains of southwestern Chiapas, Mexico, east through southern Guatemala to the Cordillera Metapán, Santa Ana, El Salvador, 1500­2744 m elevation.

Species group. dubius ( Downs 1967) .

Systematic references. Cope (1868), Downs (1967), Smith (1995), Townsend (2006). Remarks. Günther (1893) reported G. rhodogaster from Costa Rica. Boulenger (1894) apparently followed Günther (1893) and included Costa Rica in the range of G. rhodogaster . Taylor (1951) also included G. rhodogaster in his review of Costa Rica snakes, but noted “I regard this record as somewhat doubtful.” Köhler (1996) gave measurements and scutellation data for a specimen of G. rhodogaster (SMF 77413) under the name G. fulvoguttatus .