Drymobius

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Drymobius
Species: D. chloroticus – D. margaritiferus – D. melanotropis – D. rhombifer
Name

Drymobius Fitzinger, 1843

Type species: Herpetodryas margaritiferus Schlegel, 1837
References

Fitzinger, 1843, Syst. Rept., 26.
Drymobius at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 31 August 2008.

Vernacular names
English: Racers

Drymobius is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as neotropical racers, which are endemic to the Americas. There are four species recognized in the genus.

Geographic range

They are found predominantly in Mexico and Central America, but they range as far north as the southern tip of Texas in the United States, and as far south as Brazil in South America.
Description

Drymobius species grow to .75–1 m (30–39 in) in total length. Their coloration and pattern vary widely among species.
Habitat

They are found in areas of heavy vegetation, almost always near a permanent water source.
Behaviour

Drymobius are diurnal species. They are fast moving, and do not generally hesitate to bite if handled.
Diet

Their primary diet consists of frogs and toads.
Reproduction

Breeding occurs in the spring, and clutches of 6-8 eggs are laid in the early summer. The eggs hatch in approximately two months. Hatchlings are 15–18 cm (6–7 in) in total length.
Species & Subspecies

Drymobius chloroticus (Cope, 1886) - green highland racer - Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Drymobius margaritiferus (Schlegel, 1837) - speckled racer - United States (Texas), Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia.
Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus (Schlegel, 1837) - southern Texas, Mexico
Drymobius margaritiferus fistulosus H.M. Smith, 1942 - Mexico
Drymobius margaritiferus maydis Villa, 1968 - Nicaragua
Drymobius margaritiferus occidentalis Bocourt, 1890 - Guatemala
Drymobius melanotropis (Cope, 1876) - black forest racer - Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Drymobius rhombifer (Günther, 1860) - Esmarald racer - Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil.[2][3]

References

Wright, A.H., & A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca & London. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Drymobius, pp. 206-207.)
The Reptile Database

Wikispecies

Herps of Texas: Drymobius margaritiferus
Genus Drymobius at The Reptile Database