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Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Suborder Serpentes
Family Colubridae

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Trimorphodon lambda Cope 1886—Sonoran Lyre SnakeRegional Pleistocene distribution of Trimorphodon lambda.

Synonyms. Trimorphodon biscutatus.

The taxonomy of Trimorphodon has recently been revised, with T. biscutatus being recognized as consisting of several species. The populations in the Sonoran Desert area are now T. lambda. Mead et al. (1984) listed T. biscutatus for Deadman Cave; placement of this identification as T. lambda is solely on the basis of current geographic distribution.

Distribution is primarily within desertscrub habitat (Mead et al. 1984).

Sites.

Late Wisconsin: Brass Cap Point (Van Devender and Mead 1978)

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Deadman Cave (Mead et al. 1984); New Water Mountains (Van Devender and Mead 1978).

Literature. Mead et al. 1984; Van Devender and Mead 1978.

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Trimorphodon lyrophanes (Cope 1860)—California Lyre SnakeRegional Pleistocene distribution of Trimorphodon lyrophanes.

Sites.

?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Literature. Jefferson 1991a>

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Trimorphodon vilkinsonii Cope 1886—Chihuahuan Lyre SnakeRegional Pleistocene distribution of Trimorphodon vilkinsonii.

Synonyms. Trimorphodon biscutatus.

The taxonomy of Trimorphodon has recently been revised, with T. biscutatus being recognized as consisting of several species. The populations in the Chihuahuan Desert region become T. vilkinsonii. Placement is on the basis of current geographic distribution.

This lyre snake occurs from desert into lower woodland habitats (Van Devender and Worthington 1977). The Shelter Cave specimen reported by Harris (1993c) was identified by Van Devender.

Trimorphodon biscutatus, photo by Carls S. LiebFig. 1. Photograph of Trimorphodon vilkinsonii by Carl S. Lieb.

Sites.

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Harris 1993c).

Late Wisconsin: Upper Sloth Cave (Logan and Black 1979).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Van Devender and Worthington 1977).

Literature. Harris 1993c; Logan and Black 1979; Van Devender and Worthington 1977.

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Last Update: 27 Jan 2014