Southern Durango spotted garter snake

The Southern Durango spotted garter snake (Thamnophis nigronuchalis) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is endemic to the state of Durango, Mexico.

Southern Durango spotted garter snake

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. nigronuchalis
Binomial name
Thamnophis nigronuchalis
Thompson, 1957

Description

This is a heavy-bodied, medium sized garter snake. It has an oval-shaped head with two supralabial scales, two preocular scales, and a distinct black blotch on the dorsal surface of its neck. It has 149-165 ventral and 63-70 caudal scales. Ventral scales are heavily pigmented, often forming an irregular black stripe. The dorsal pattern consists of rufous-colored spots outlined in black in 5-10 rows, with no dorsal or lateral stripes.[2]

Taxonomy

Classification

While it is now considered a valid species,[3] some authorities have classified this snake as a subspecies of the narrow-headed garter snake under the name Thamnophis rufipunctatus nigronuchalis[4].

Etymology

The specific name nigronuchalis references the Latin word nigro meaning black, and nuchal meaning of the nape, and is derived from the black neck patch characteristic of the species.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This snake is endemic to Durango state in Mexico[5], where it is found in wet meadows and riparian areas at altitudes of 8500-9000 feet.[2] It appears to be restricted to high elevation drainage basins of the Sierra Madre Occidental.[6]

Diet

This species has been documented to eat earthworms and amphibians, including Rana pipiens and Hyla species.[2]

gollark: The only major improvement I can think of would maybe be patternmatching on the weird alternating one, and turning evil at some point in order to exploit angels.
gollark: Against the random one it rapidly decides to not trust it and probably does well for it, against tit for tat it cooperates, against tat for tit it soon apifies it, against devil it also soon apifies it, against angel it's nice to it (suboptimal, can't really fix it easily), against time machine it cooperates, against grudger it cooperates, and that's basically it.
gollark: It probably isn't optimal but you know.
gollark: ```scheme(define forgiving-grudge (lambda (x y) (let* ( (defection-count (length (filter (lambda (m) (= m 1)) x))) (result (if (> defection-count 3) 1 0)) ) result)))```As far as I can tell this consistently wins.
gollark: I fixed it except now my thing plays itself at some point and recurses infinitely.

References
  1. "Thamnophis nigronuchalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007. 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  2. Thompson, Fred G (22 March 1957). "A New Mexican Gartersnake (Genus Thamnophis) With Notes On Related Forms" (PDF). Occaional Papers of the Museum of Zoology (584): 1–10. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Thamnophis nigronuchalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. Tanner, William W (31 July 1990). "Thamnophis rufipunctatus" (PDF). Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. Lemos-Espinal, Julio A.; Smith, Geoffrey R.; Gadsden-Esparza, Hector; Valdez-Lares, Rosaura; Woolrich-Piña, Guillermo A. (4 April 2018). "Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Durango, Mexico, with comparisons with adjoining states". ZooKeys (748): 65–87. doi:10.3897/zookeys.748.22768. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. Rossman, Douglas A; Ford, Neil B; Seigal, Richard A (1996). The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 216–218. ISBN 0806128208.
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