systematics of snakes of the dipsas oreas complex - BioOne

Dipsas oreas Complex in Ecuador and Peru • Cadle 103
Figure 16. Dipsas oreas (Cope) in life from northern Piura department, Peru (MUSM 16750). An adult female with a highly
contrasting anterior pattern, a much less distinct posterior pattern, and irregular cephalic blotches. The bands in this specimen
are more irregular than most specimens from northern Peru.
31777 described above but the pattern is much
more distinct. Interspaces between the dorsal
bands are grayish brown, finely speckled with dark
brown. Interspaces are much lighter than the center
of the bands (compare ANSP 31777). Bands
continue onto the tail, where about six can be distinguished.
The bands tend to fade posteriorly, but
they remain much more distinct than in ANSP
31777.
ANSP 31778 (Figs. 15, 18, 20; Río Zaña Study
Site. Adult Male, 424 mm SVL). This individual is
patterned much more boldly than other adults, and
more similar to juveniles in the distinctness of the
pattern. Interspaces light grayish brown. A series
of black bands begins on the nape. The bands tend
to have lighter (brown) centers, but this is not distinct
except posteriorly. Bands extend onto outer
third of ventral plates. Interspaces on the posterior
half of the body are hatched with black, tending to
form broken vertical bars. The top of the head is
grayish brown with heavy black marking on most
scales. Large black ovals cover the parietals and
small posterior head scales. Iris grayish brown. Upper
and lower labials grayish white, flecked with
black. Belly whitish, stippled with dark brown, the
stippling becoming heavier posteriorly. Underside
of tail white but heavily stippled with dark brown.
MUSM 16750 (Fig. 16; Piura Department, Peru.
Adult Female; 326 mm SVL). The dorsal ground
color is medium brown with darker brown bands.
The contrast between the ground color and band
color is strongest anteriorly and weak posteriorly,
where the bands are indistinct because their color
nearly matches the ground colors. The anterior
bands are much broader than posterior ones and
are irregularly bordered by dark brown; posterior
bands are narrow (2–3 scale rows) and not bordered
by darker pigment except as isolated flecks.
The five anterior bands are complete across the
vertebral region; the remainder occur as a series of
lateral blotches. Twenty-three bands on left side,
25 on right, between head and vent. The top of
head is brown with dark brown irregular flecks. A
pair of broad dark brown (partially bordered with
black) arcs on parietals. Iris brown. Upper labials
whitish, suffused with brown dorsally and with
some dark pigment along sutures. Lower labials,
throat, and anterior belly whitish. Brown pigment