Lampropeltis webbi

Lampropeltis webbi is a species of king snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico. Currently, there are only five known specimens, with one being a live snake.^[2]

Lampropeltis webbi
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Lampropeltis
Species:	L. webbi
Binomial name
Lampropeltis webbi Bryson, Dixon & Lazcano, 2005

Etymology

The specific name, webbi, is in honor of American herpetologist Robert G. Webb.^[3][4]

Description

Due to the few number of specimens, there is limited knowledge of the range of L. webbi appearances. Known specimens have a pattern of grey with broad red saddles bordered by black striping. The largest specimen has a length of 75 cm, with specimens having a ventral scale count ranging 216–221 ventral scales. The head is slightly distinct from the neck, with brown eyes slightly protruding from the head.^[2]

Habitat and geographic range

Lampropeltis webbi has been found in rugged montane pine–oak forest in the Sierra Madre Occidental, near the border between the Mexican states of Durango and Sinaloa.^[1] It has been found only on a small stretch of a single highway in this region, with most of the specimens being found dead on the road.^[2]

Reproduction

L. webbi is oviparous.^[3]

References

1. Flores-Villela, O. (2007). "Lampropeltis webbi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63833A12720480. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63833A12720480.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
2. Hanson, Robert; Salmon, Gerard (30 December 2017). "Distribution analysis, taxonomic updates, and conservation status of the Lampropeltis mexicana group". Mesoamerican Herpetology. 4 (4): 700–758.
3. Lampropeltis webbi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 August 2015.
4. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lampropeltis webbi, p. 280).

Further reading

• Bryson RW, Dixon JR, Lazcano D (2005). "New Species of Lampropeltis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Sierra Madre Occidental, México". Journal of Herpetology 39 (2): 207–214. (Lampropeltis webbi, new species).
• Hansen RW, Salmon GT (2017). "Distribution analysis, taxonomic updates, and conservation status for the Lampropeltis mexicana group (Serpentes: Colubridae)". Mesoamerican Herpetology 4 (4): 700–758. (Lampropeltis webbi, pp. 720–721, 741–742 + Figures 15–18, 30).