Pliocercus euryzonus

Pliocercus euryzonus, commonly known as Cope's false coral snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to southeastern Central America and northwestern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Pliocercus euryzonus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Pliocercus
Species:	P. euryzonus
Binomial name
Pliocercus euryzonus Cope, 1862
Synonyms[2]
Pliocercus euryzonus Cope, 1862 Liophis splendens Jan, 1863 Elapochrus euryzona — Günther, 1893 Urotheca euryzona — Boulenger, 1894

Geographic range

P. euryzonus is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.^[1] The Reptile Database also lists Guatemala and Peru.^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. euryzonus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,460 m (4,790 ft).^[1]

Reproduction

P. euryzonus is oviparous.^[3]

Subspecies

Including the nominotypical subspecies, two subspecies are recognized as being valid.^[3]

• Pliocercus euryzonus burghardti H.M. Smith & Chiszar, 1996
• Pliocercus euryzonus euryzonus Cope, 1862

Etymology

The subspecific name, burghardti, is in honor of herpetologist Gordon M. Burghardt.^[4]