Senticolis triaspis
(Cope, 1866)
sen-ti-KOH-liss — tree-AS-pis
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
Roth-Monzón et al. (2021, Ichthyology & Herpetology 109: 1026–1035), using morphometric and DNA data, detected a deep, north-south split in Senticolis populations along Mexico’s transverse volcanic province. However, they did not recommend taxonomic changes. See also Dahn et al. (2018, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 129: 214–225).
(Boundy, Jeff, Frank T. Burbrink, and Sara Ruane. 2025. Squamata (excluding lizards) – Snakes. Pages 38-54 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2024.02.19.17.36.31)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.2 MB
Taxonomic Etymology:
A slender green snake with three facial stripes.
Senticolis — From Latin sentis, “briar” or “thornbush,” and colis, from colere, “to dwell.” Means “briar dweller,” possibly referencing habitat preference.
triaspis — From Greek treis (τρεῖς), “three,” and aspis (ἀσπίς), “shield” or “scale.” Likely refers to the three distinctive stripes on the head or face.
First instance(s) of published English names:
Mexican Green Snake (Elaphe chlorosoma: Van Denburgh, John. 1922. The Reptiles of Western North America: An Account of the Species Known to Inhabit California and Oregon, Washinton, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, British Columbia, Sonora, and Lower California. Volume I. Lizards. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. 556pp.); Green Rat Snake (Elaphe chlorosoma: Schmidt, Karl Peterson and D. D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. C.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 365pp.); Mexican Rat Snake (Elaphe triaspis: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Green Rat Snake (Elaphe triaspis intermedia: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
The Reptile Database
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
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1866
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Cope, Edward D. Fourth contribution to the herpetology of tropical America. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 18:123–132
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1991
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Price, Robert M. Senticolis, S. triaspis Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (525):1-4
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2018
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Dahn, Hollis A., Jason L. Strickland, Alejandra Osorio, Timothy J. Colston, and Christopher L. Parkinson. Hidden diversity within the depauperate genera of the snake tribe Lampropeltini (Serpentes, Colubridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 129(2018):214-225
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2021
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Roth-Monzon, Andrea J., Thomas J. Devitt, Cesar A. Rıos-Munoz, Gabriela Parra-Olea, Jonathan A. Campbell, and Oscar Flores-Villela Geographic variation in the Green Rat Snake Senticolis triaspis (Squamata: Colubridae): Evidence from mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and niche modeling. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109(4):1026–1035
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2024
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Pillod, David S., Michelle I. Jeffries, Robert S. Arkle, and Deanna H. Olson. Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues Ecology and Evolution 14(10):1-23
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