The Project Gutenberg eBook of Systematic Status of the Colubrid Snake, Leptodeira discolor Günther, by William E. Duellman.

At the time of completing my study of the genus Leptodeira (1958) I had seen no specimens of Leptodeira discolor, a species described by Günther in 1860 and subsequently referred to the genus Hypsiglena by Cope (1887), Boulenger (1894), and Mocquard (1908), and to the genus Pseudoleptodeira by Taylor (1938). Günther's description was based on two syntypes (British Museum of Natural History numbers 1946.1.23.67 and 68) collected in Oaxaca, México, by Auguste Sallé. Information concerning the scutellation and coloration of the syntypes was provided by J. C. Battersby; in my revisionary study (op. cit.) this information was included in a short discussion of the species, which was referred to incerta sedis until specimens could be examined and the relationships of the species determined.

Through the courtesy of John M. Legler of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, I have been able to study a specimen of Leptodeira discolor obtained six miles southeast of Tamazulápam, Oaxaca, México, by J. R. Alcorn on June 22, 1955. Superficial examination of the external characters of this snake shows a striking resemblance to Leptodeira. The specimen has a vertical pupil, divided anal, 21 scale rows, and two apical pits. The enlarged posterior maxillary teeth are without a trace of a groove. Examination of the hemipenis revealed that the organ was bifurcate and had a forked sulcus; these penial characteristics are diagnostic of the subfamily Xenodontinae and not the subfamily Colubrinae that includes the genera Hypsiglena and Leptodeira.

Examination of all available xenodontine genera indicates that this snake belongs to a heretofore unnamed genus. In recognition of the mental torment customarily suffered by workers attempting to ascertain the relationships of the many genera of colubrid snakes, I propose the generic name

Leptodeira (in part), Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 317-318, 1860; Garman, Bull. Essex Inst., vol. 16, p. 23, January 9, 1884; Dunn, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 22, pp. 697-698, December, 1936; Duellman, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 114 (1), pp. 95-96, February 24, 1958.

Hypsiglena (in part), Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., no. 32, p. 78, 1887; Günther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Reptilia, pp. 137-138, pl. 49, fig. A,[Pg 4] October, 1894; Boulenger, Catalogue Snakes British Museum, vol. 2, p. 211, September 23, 1894; Mocquard, in Duméril and Bocourt, Mission Scientifique Mexique l'Amerique Centrale, vol. 3, p. 871, 1908; Amaral, Mem. Inst. Butantan, vol. 4, p. 183, May, 1930.

Pseudoleptodeira (in part) Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., vol. 25, no. 15, p. 343, June 1, 1938.

Type Species.—Leptodeira discolor Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 317-318, 1860.

Diagnosis.—A xenodontine colubrid snake having a bifurcate hemipenis with a forked sulcus spermaticus, many longitudinal folds on basal portion, and small spines and calyces on distal part; 12 or 13 maxillary teeth followed by short diastema and two somewhat enlarged maxillary teeth lacking grooves; small parotid gland; normal colubrid skull; no hypapophyses on posterior vertebrae; elliptical pupils; two apical pits; smooth scales; normal colubrid head shields; divided anal; paired caudals.

The generic name comes from the Greek Τανταλοσ, a mythological character symbolic of eternal torment, and from the Greek οφισ for snake.

The synonymy for the species is indicated in the account of the genus. The description below of the species is based on an adult male from 6 miles southeast of Tamazulápam, Oaxaca, México (University of Kansas Museum of Natural History No. 40143).

Scutellation.—Head shields normal; upper labials 7-7 (third and fourth entering orbit); lower labials 9-9 (1-4 in contact with anterior chin-shield, 4 and 5 in contact with posterior chin-shield); preoculars 1-1 and not in contact with frontal; postoculars 2-2; temporals 1-2-3, 1-2-3; nasals divided by a distinct groove below nostril and faint groove above; portion of rostral visible from above, one-third length of internasals; internasals pentagonal and one-half as long as prefrontals; parietal suture approximately as long as frontal; ventrals 178; anal divided; caudals 80. Scales in 21 rows at midbody and showing the following reduction:

2 + 3 (130)          8 + 9 (162)
             21 ————— 19 ————— 17 (178)
2 + 3 (130)          8 + 9 (152)

Coloration.—Dorsal ground-color light brown and extending onto edges of ventrals; transverse body blotches numbering 50, each 1½ to 3 scales long and separated by light interspaces 1½ to 2 scales long; blotches brownish black and extending onto second scale row; lateral intercalary spots forming dark smudges on rows 1 and 2. Top of head black, flecked with tan; nape cream, followed by dark band six scales long; dark nape stripe from posterior edges of parietals to first dark body band. Venter cream-tan; throat and labials cream; posterior margins of all upper labials and of lower labials 1-3 black-edged (Figure 1).

Size and Proportions.—Head and body 312 mm. long; tail 118 mm., amounting to 37.8 per cent of length of head and body.

[Pg 5]

Fig. 1. Dorsal and lateral views of the head of Tantalophis discolor (Günther). (KU No. 40143). × 7.

Variation.—Data on the syntypes of Leptodeira discolor furnished by J. C. Battersby give some indication of the variation in the species. Both are males, and they have 175 and 180 ventrals, 88 and 89 caudals, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, 1-2-3 temporals, 7 and 8 upper labials, 9 lower labials. They have[Pg 6] body lengths of 365 and 402 mm., total lengths of 509 and 555 mm., tail/body ratios of 38.0 and 39.4. They have 51 and 54 dark blotches on the body.

Skull.—The skull is typically colubrid and shows no modifications. The quadrate has both a median and a lateral depression, forming a strong lateral flange on the anterior edge; the columellar process is elliptical, and the supracolumellar crest is robust. The posteroinferior vomerine process extends directly posteriorly and then angles sharply posterodorsally, enclosing an elliptical vomerine fenestra. The lateral processes of the premaxillary are slightly pointed; the median spine is relatively thin and high. The pterygoids bear 23 and 21 teeth that decrease in size posteriorly; the transpalatine articulating process of the pterygoid is rounded, not robust; the lateral crest is high and moderately robust; the depression in the ventral surface of the pterygoid is moderate. There are 12 and 13 maxillary teeth that increase in size posteriorly; these are followed by a short diastema and two larger, solid teeth. The prediastemal teeth are slightly curved and slender. The maxillary is laterally compressed; the posterior knob is not robust; there is one foramen in the lateral face of the bone (Figure 2). The 10 palatine teeth are almost uniform in size; the dentary bears 19 teeth that decrease in size posteriorly.

Fig. 2. Lateral view of the left maxillary of Tantalophis discolor (Günther). (KU No. 40143). × 17.

A thin and otherwise small parotid gland or "venom sac" extends posteriorly from beneath the eye to about the angle of the jaw; a minute duct connects with the anteromedian surface and extends to the fleshy part of the mouth at the posterior end of the maxillary (Figure 3).

Fig. 3. Lateral view of the head of Tantalophis discolor (Günther), showing the position and relative size of the parotid gland. (KU No. 40143). × 17.

Hemipenis.—In situ the hemipenis extends to the posterior edge of the thirteenth caudal. The unforked part of the organ is bedecked with numerous heavy longitudinal folds alternating with thinner folds. The basal parts of the two heads are covered with moderate sized spines, those closest to the base and the sulcus being the smallest. The distal parts of the heads are covered[Pg 7] with calyces. The sulcus bifurcates on the unforked part of the organ at a point about two-thirds of the distance from the base to the division of the organ. The sulcus is a deep groove between heavy folds proximally and is a shallower furrow distally (Figure 4).

Relationships.—Using Dunn's (1928) arrangement of the American colubrid snakes as a guide permits the taxonomist to group Tantalophis with several genera, some of which occur in South America and others in the West Indies. Although the significance of such generic characters as scale pits and nature of the hemipenis is not clear, these characters must, of necessity, be utilized in attempting to ascertain the relationships of Tantalophis to other colubrid snakes. Assuming that the primary divisions of the American colubrids into subfamilies based on the nature of the sulcus spermaticus and the presence or absence of hypapophyses on the posterior vertebrae have some reality, Tantalophis must be placed in the subfamily Xenodontinae comprising genera chiefly South American in their distribution, but with several genera in Middle America and a few in North America and the West Indies.[Pg 8] In order to limit the number of genera to be compared with Tantalophis, only those xenodontines having apical pits and bifurcate hemipenis are considered. These include Cyclagras, Drepanoides, Hypsirhynchus, Ialtris, Leimadophis, Pseudablabes, Siphlophis, Tachymenis, Tomodon, and Trypanurgos. Aside from differences in scutellation, Leimadophis, Siphlophis, and Trypanurgos have the heads of the hemipenes terminating in a disc, and Ialtris has a plicate hemipenis. Tomodon has basal spines on the hemipenis. The hemipenes of the other genera have proximal folds, distal spines, and distal calyces, not greatly unlike the condition found in Tantalophis. Of these, Cyclagras, Hypsirhynchus, and Pseudablabes have round pupils and certain differences in scutellation. Drepanoides and Tachymenis have elliptical pupils like those of Tantalophis, but Tachymenis has only one apical pit, and Drepanoides has one apical pit or none. In the above characters no especially close relationship between Tantalophis and any one of these genera is apparent.

If the characteristics usually employed in distinguishing and relating genera are ignored and other more subjective criteria are used, the relationships of Tantalophis still remain obscure. Of the xenodontine genera Tantalophis approaches Leimadophis in general physiognomy; perhaps it represents an early divergent stock of Leimadophis that has undergone radical changes in the hemipenis and other characters. On the other hand, if the nature of the hemipenis is of no importance in defining supergeneric groups of colubrid snakes, Tantalophis may have its relationships with Leptodeira and Hypsiglena. Although herpetologists have been working intensively on American colubrids for many decades, the relationships of the majority of the groups are not well understood. Until the hemipenes and skulls of all of the forms have been studied and compared, and the evolutionary significance has been determined for the characters of the hemipenes, dentition, and apical pits, our knowledge of the relationships of these snakes will be incomplete.

Remarks.—The individual on which this paper is based is the only specimen of the species with definite locality data. It is from a locality six miles southeast of Tamazulápam in northwestern Oaxaca. This town lies at an elevation of about 6500 feet in the upper reaches of the Balsas Basin, an arid interior valley that expands in its upper end to form a broad basin of rolling and dissected terrain ranging from about 4000 to 6800 feet in elevation. The countryside around Tamazulápam is arid and supports plants of the genera Prosopis, Acacia, Ipomoea, and Cassia, and also columnar cacti. Oaks and pines grow on the limestone hills rising above the[Pg 9] rolling valley. Tantalophis may be endemic to the Balsas Basin, as are many other species of reptiles. However, if the snake has its relatives to the south in lower Central America and South America, such a distribution seems unlikely, even for an apparent relict.

Acknowledgments.—For permission to study and report on this specimen I am indebted to Dr. E. Raymond Hall and Mr. John M. Legler. I am grateful to Dr. Laurence C. Stuart for many helpful suggestions and to Dr. Norman E. Hartweg for placing at my disposal the facilities of the Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan.

LITERATURE CITED

1930 Estudos sobre ophidios neotropicos XVIII—Lista remissiva dos ophidios da região neotropica. Mem. Inst. Butantan, 4:129-275.

1894 Catalogue of the snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). London, 2:xi + 382, pls. 1-20, figs. 1-25.

1887 Catalogue of the batrachians and reptiles of Central America and Mexico. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 32:1-98.

1958 A monographic study of the colubrid snake genus Leptodeira. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 114:1-152, pls. 1-31, figs. 1-25, maps 1-25.

1870-1909 Études sur les reptiles. Mission scientifique au Mexique et dans l'Amerique Centrale, Recherches zoologiques. Paris, Pt. 3, 1:xiv + 1012, pls. 1-77.

1928 A tentative key and arrangement of the American genera of Colubridae. Bull. Antivenin Inst. Amer., 2 (1):18-24.

1936 Notes on North American Leptodeira. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 22 (12):689-698.

1884 The North American reptiles and batrachians. Bull. Essex Inst., 16:1-46, 3 figs.

1860 On new reptiles and fishes from Mexico. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pp. 316-319.

1885-1902 Biologia Centrali-Americana. Reptilia and Batrachia. London, pp. xx + 1-326, pls. 1-76.

1938 Notes on Mexican snakes of the genus Leptodeira, with a proposal of a new snake genus, Pseudoleptodeira. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 25:315-355, pls. 30-34, figs. 1-7.

Transmitted March 11, 1958. Contribution No. 11 from the Department of Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit 2, Michigan.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SYSTEMATIC STATUS OF THE COLUBRID SNAKE, LEPTODEIRA DISCOLOR GÜNTHER ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”
• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.
• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.
• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Systematic Status of the Colubrid Snake, Leptodeira discolor Günther

Systematic Status of the Colubrid Snake, Leptodeira discolor Günther

LITERATURE CITED

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

Systematic Status of the Colubrid Snake,
Leptodeira discolor Günther