| 241-246 | 243.7 | 57-63 | 59.0
------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------

_Coloration._--The dorsal ground color is tan or straw; the dorsal
pattern consists basically of dark middorsal blotches and dark lateral
intercalary spots. Number of blotches, color of blotches posteriorly,
width of pale interspaces between anterior blotches, and color of
lateral intercalary spots vary considerably geographically. In some
populations (_lineaticollis_ and _gibsoni_) the anterior blotches are
divided medially forming either a pair of dark stripes on the anterior
part of the body or a series of paired spots. Details of coloration are
described in the following accounts.

ACCOUNTS OF THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES

[Illustration: FIG. 1. M['e]xico and Guatemala showing the distribution
of the subspecies of _Pituophis deppei_ and _P. lineaticollis_.]

Study of _Pituophis deppei_ (_auctorum_) revealed the presence of
sympatric populations of two distinct species of _Pituophis_ differing
from each other in scutellation and coloration. The nomenclature
resulting from the required rearrangement necessitates the recognition
of 1) _deppei_ as a species, 2) _jani_ as a subspecies of _deppei_, 3)
_lineaticollis_ (with _brevilineata_ as a synonym) as a species distinct
from _deppei_, and 4) _gibsoni_ as a subspecies of _lineaticollis_.
Known geographic distributions of these named taxa are shown in Figure
1.

=Pituophis deppei deppei= Dum['e]ril

_Elaphis deppei_ Dum['e]ril, Mem. Acad. Inst. France, vol. 23, p.
453, 1853; Dum['e]ril and Bibron, Erp['e]tologie g['e]n['e]rale,
vol. 7, p. 268, February 25, 1854.

_Pituophis deppei_, Jan, Elenco sistematico degli ofidi, p. 59,
1863; G[:u]nther, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Reptilia, p. 124,
February, 1894.

_Elaphis pleurostictus_ Dum['e]ril, Mem. Acad. Inst. France, vol.
23, p. 453, 1853 [Type.--Museum d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, No.
6616; type locality--"Monte Video" (restricted to San Juan
Teotihuac['a]n, M['e]xico, by Smith and Taylor, 1950: 334)].

_Pituophis pleurostictus_, Jan, Elenco sistematico degli ofidi, p.
59, 1863.

_Pituophis deppei_, var. _pholidostictus_ Jan, Elenco sistematico
degli ofidi, p. 59, 1863 [Type.--Zoologisches Museum Berlin, No.
1738; type locality.--"Mexico" (restricted to San Juan
Teotihuac['a]n, M['e]xico, by Smith and Taylor, 1950: 334)].