Western Patch-nosed Snake

diagnosis

Diagnosis Well-developed rostral scale with free lateral edges; normally 9 supralabials, or occasionally 8 or 10; supralabials in contact with the eye, usually only sixth is in contact; 10 – 11 infralabials; preocular divided; loreal scale normally divided; prenasal scale separated from the second supralabial; a second pair of chinshields separated by two rows of scales; ventral scales 180 – 213; subcaudal scales vary from 75 to 103; maxillary teeth 10 – 12 + 3. With the exception of S. hexalepis virgultea, the dark dorsolateral lines are normally separated from the lateral lines at the level of the third and fourth rows of dorsal scales; tail length is 20 to 26 % of the total body length. Salvadora hexalepis differs at the species level from the other species in the grahamiae group by having a divided preocular, fewer than 113 subcaudals, and a tail length less than 29 % of the total length. It differs from S. grahamiae, S. intermedia, S. gymnorhachis and S. bairdi by having 9 to 10 supralabials, the sixth in contact with the eye versus 8 supralabials present in the other species in the grahamiae group. It differs from S. deserticola by having a divided loreal and 75 – 103 subcaud

Phylogenetic relationships based on morphological data and taxonomy of the genus Salvadora Baird & Girard, 1853 (Reptilia, Colubridae)

distribution

Distribution and conservation This species occurs in the southwestern United States from Nevada, southern Utah, southward through California, Arizona, the Baja California Peninsula and Sonora including Tiburón, San José, and Espíritu Santo Islands in the Gulf of California. (Fig. 9). Within its distribution, S. hexalepis has been recorded in several protected natural areas in Mexico and the United States. Mexico and the United States do not extend legal protection to this species. It is listed by the IUCN as a species of Least Concern.

Phylogenetic relationships based on morphological data and taxonomy of the genus Salvadora Baird & Girard, 1853 (Reptilia, Colubridae)

materials_examined

Type material examined UNITED STATES • Arizona, Fort Whipple; USNM 7894.

Phylogenetic relationships based on morphological data and taxonomy of the genus Salvadora Baird & Girard, 1853 (Reptilia, Colubridae)