Coahuayana; El Ticuiz; La Placita (3); Punto San Juan de Lima; Punto San Telmo.
The few specimens indicate that in Michoacán, as elsewhere on the Pacific coast of México, this species is restricted to forested regions on the coastal plain. It does not occur in the Tepalcatepec Valley.
The coloration, in life, of a juvenile (UMMZ 114604) is as follows: The dorsum is uniform pale grayish tan on posterior one-third of body and on tail; anteriorly there are pale grayish tan middorsal blotches separated by grayish white interspaces, which are about one-half the length of the blotches. Posteriorly the blotches are less distinct, fading into the uniform grayish tan ground color of the posterior part of the body. The blotches extend laterally onto the fourth and fifth scale rows. Large squarish lateral intercalary blotches of darker brown interconnect with the dorsal blotches. The top of the head is pale olive-brown; a dark brown postorbital stripe extends from the eye to the posterior edge of the last upper labial. The labials, chin, and ventrals 1-30 are creamy white, changing to a dusty cream-color posteriorly; the chin and ventrals 1-30 are heavily spotted with dark brown. The iris is a cream-color above and chocolate brown below; the tongue is blue.
Drymarchon corais rubidus Smith
Drymarchon corais rubidus Smith, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 31:474, November 11, 1941.—Rosario, Sinaloa, México.
Apatzingán (5); Arroyo El Salto; Arteaga; Capirio; El Sabino (7); La Palma; La Placita; Ostula; San Juan de Lima.
Not all of the specimens from Michoacán are typical in color pattern of this subspecies, as defined by Smith (1941a:475). All specimens from the Tepalcatepec Valley are uniformly black above; they have reddish or cream-colored chins and the anterior two-thirds of the belly salmon-pink or reddish buff. Individuals from the Sierra de Coalcomán (Arteaga and Arroyo El Salto) are like those from the Tepalcatepec Valley. Three specimens from the coastal lowlands differ noticeably in color pattern:
UMMZ 104504, adult male (Ostula).—Pale brown above flecked with black anteriorly; at midbody, flecks form narrow transverse bands that become progressively wider posteriorly, until on tail no brown pigment evident, all ventrals reddish buff, except last eight, which are black.
UMMZ 104602, adult female (La Placita).—Black above, reddish cross-bands and flecks on all of body; dorsal and ventral surfaces of tail black; chin cream-color and entire belly reddish buff.
UMMZ 114626, adult male (San Juan de Lima).—Black above; dull rust-colored cross-bands on anterior half of body; chin white; belly rust-colored on anterior two-thirds of body and black posteriorly.