The Amphibians and Reptiles of Sinaloa, Mexico - Smithsonian ...

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF SINALOA, MEXICO 177
Remarks.—Ten specimens of Leptodeira punctata, which include
two males, seven females and one specimen of undetermined sex,
have ventrals, 152-159 (156.5); dorsal scale rows, 20-19-14 (1),
19-19-15 (8), 18-19-15 (1); supralabials, 7-7 (10); infralabials, 9-9
(8), 10-10 (1), 10-9 (1); preoculars, 2-2 (9), 2-1 (1); postoculars,
2-2 (10); temporals, 1-2/1-2 (9), 1-1-2/1-1-2 (1); lower preoculars
usually very small. One male has 69 subcaudals and six females
have 51-64 (56.7) subcaudals (excluding KU 73546-47). The dorsal
spots are separate and distinct in seven of the specimens. The
dorsal pairs of spots are fused together over most of the body in
one specimen, over the anterior half of the body in another specimen,
and over the posterior half in the remaining snake. A specimen
collected near Guasave (LACM 6939) exhibits an aberrant color
pattern. The black nuchal blotches and about six anterior dorsal
blotches are all that remain of the normal dorsal pattern, The
remainder of the dorsum is uniform yellow brown.
Although Leptodeira punctata was once considered rare (Taylor,
1938:527), we found it to be the most common snake encountered
during the course of field work. Most specimens were taken at
night on the road, but some were found under rocks, beneath an
oyster shell, and under a stove pipe. The majority were taken from
late June through September but a few were collected in December,
February, and April. A large female caught on July 20 laid six
eggs on July 29. Another female taken on the same night laid seven
eggs on August 7 (Scott, 1962:56).
A more complete treatment of the species, including sexual dimorphism
and color in life, is in a monograph of the genus (Duellman,
1958a: 94-95).
Distribution in Sinaloa.—Throughout the lowlands. See Fig. 71.
Specimens examined.—9.8 mi. NW Acaponeta [Nayarit] (LACM 6942);
Concepci6n; near Conception (JMS osteo. coll); about 10 km. SW Concordia
("KU 73547); Coyotitan (JFC 62:4); N edge Culiacan (CSCLB 1891); 27
km. N Culiacan (* KU 73550); 26.7 mi. N Culiacan (LACM 6936): 85 mi. N
Culiacan (LACM 6935); 40.3 mi. S Culiacan (LACM 6940); 41.4 mi. S
Culiacan (LACM 6941); 74 km. S (on hwy. 15) Culiacan ('KU 73551);
71.3 mi. SE Culiacan (UAZ 16289); 3.6 mi. E ElGuaybo (UAZ 9374); between
Escuinapa and Palmillas, hwy. 15 (LACM 8962-65); 0.5 mi. S Escuinapa
(CSCLB 1905); 18.3 mi. S Escuinapa (CSCLB 1896); 19 mi. S Escuinapa
(CSCLB 1897); 28.4 mi. S Escuinapa (CSCLB 1898); 30.2 mi. S Escuinapa
(CSCLB 1895); 31.3 mi. S Escuinapa (CSCLB 1894); 33.4 mi. S Escuinapa
(CSCLB 1900); 8.6 mi. S Espmal (CSCLB 1903); 2.9 mi. S Cuamuchil
LACM 6945); La Cruz (LACM 6931); 2 mi. NE La Cruz tumoff, hwy. 15
(LACM 6928); 4.7 mi. NE La Cruz tumoff, hwy. 15 (LACM 6929); 5.2 mi.
NE La Cruz tumoff, hwy. 15 (LACM 6926); 8.1 mi. NE La Cruz tumoff, hwy.
15 (LACM 6927); 39 mi. S Los Mocbis tumoff, hwy. 15 (LACM 6939);
Mazatlan ("KU 63424; CAS 89691-93; LACM 6925, 6951-55, 6957); N
Mazadan (CSCLB 1892-93; LACM 6944); 2 mi. N Magadan (UAZ 16290);