Geophis blanchardi

Geophis blanchardi
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Geophis
Species:	G. blanchardi
Binomial name
Geophis blanchardi Taylor & H.M. Smith, 1939

Geophis blanchardi, also known commonly as Blanchard's earth snake and la minadora de Blanchard in Mexican Spanish, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, blanchardi, is in honor of American herpetologist Frank N. Blanchard.[3]

Geographic range

G. blanchardi is found in eastern Mexico, in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz.[1][2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. blanchardi is forest, at altitudes of 1,000–2,510 m (3,280–8,230 ft).[1][2]

Description

Dorsally, G. blanchardi is bluish-gray to brownish-black. Ventrally, it is checkered yellowish-orange and black. It has smooth dorsal scales, which are arranged in 17 rows throughout the length of the body, and do not have apical pits. It has seven lower labials, one postocular, and no anterior temporal. It may attain a total length (including tail) of about 40 cm (16 in). The tail length is about 17% of the total length in males, about 13% in females.[4]

Behavior

G. blanchardi is terrestrial.[1]

Reproduction

G. blanchardi is oviparous.[2]

References

1. Lee, J. & Lopez-Luna, M.A. (2007). Geophis blanchardi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007. Version 2022.2.
2. Species Geophis blanchardi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Geophis blanchardi, p. 27).
4. Downs FL (1967). "Intrageneric Relationships Among Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Geophis Wagler". Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (131): i–iv, 1–193. (Geophis blanchardi, pp. 99–101).

Further reading

• Heimes P (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. 572 pp. ISBN 978-3899731002.
• Mata-Silva V, Johnson JD, Wilson LD, García-Padilla E (2015). "The herpetofauna of Oaxaca Mexico: composition, physiographic distribution, and conservation status". Mesoamerican Herpetology 2 (1): 6–62.
• Taylor EH, Smith HM (1939). "Miscellaneous Notes on Mexican Snakes". University of Kansas Science Bulletin 25 (13): 239–258. (Geophis blanchardi, new species, pp. 245–247, Figure 2, A–D).
• Wilson LD, Townsend JH (2007). "A checklist and key to the snakes of the genus Geophis (Squamata: Colubridae: Dipsadinae), with commentary on distribution and conservation". Zootaxa 1395: 1–31. (Geophis blanchardi, p. 6).