Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake
Adelophis copei
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamnophis_copei
Overview
Thamnophis copei, Cope's mountain meadow snake, is a vulnerable species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species was originally described by Alfredo Dugès in 1897, and is endemic to Mexico. It is the type species of the genus Adelophis Dugès, 1879.
Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake faces significant threats from habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited montane range. The species' restricted distribution in high-elevation meadows and grasslands makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts and human encroachment.
Habitat
This species inhabits high-elevation mountain meadows, grasslands, and pine-oak forest clearings typically between 1,500-3,000 meters elevation in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. It prefers open areas with dense grass cover and scattered shrubs within montane forest ecosystems.
Other threatened species in Colubridae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake live?
What are the main threats to Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake?
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