Geophis sartorii
Geophis sartorii, also known commonly as Sartorius' snail-sucker and the terrestrial snail sucker, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern North America and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.
Etymology
The specific name, sartorii, is in honor of German-born Mexican naturalist Christian Carl Wilhelm Sartorius.The subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist Thomas Baillie MacDougall.
Geographic range
G. sartorii is found in southeastern Mexico, and in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of G. sartorii is forest, at altitudes from sea level to.Description
G. sartorii may attain a snout-to-vent length of with a tail length of. The body is black, with 16–20 narrow rings, which are yellowish to reddish in color.Diet
G. sartorii preys upon snails.Reproduction
G. sartorii is oviparous.Mimicry
G. sartorii mimicks Micrurus elegans, a species of venomous coral snake with which it is sympatric.Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.- Geophis sartorius macdougalli
- Geophis sartorii sartorii