Pliocercus euryzonus

{{Speciesbox

| image = Pliocercus euryzonus.jpg

| image_caption =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Solórzano, A. |author-link=species:Alejandro Solórzano |author2=Nicholson, K. |author2-link=species:Kirsten E. Nicholson |author3=Chaves, G. |author3-link=species:Gerardo Chaves |author4=Porras, L.W. |author4-link=species:Louis W. Porras |date=2016 |title=Pliocercus euryzonus |volume=2016 |page=e.T177444A1486938 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T177444A1486938.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

| genus = Pliocercus

| species = euryzonus

| authority = Cope, 1862

| synonyms = *Pliocercus euryzonus
{{small|Cope, 1862}}

Liophis splendens
{{small|Jan, 1863}}
Elapochrus euryzona
{{small|— Günther, 1893}}
Urotheca euryzona
{{small|— Boulenger, 1894}}

| synonyms_ref =Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Urotheca euryzona, p. 182).

}}

Pliocercus euryzonus, commonly known as Cope's false coral snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to southeastern Central America and northwestern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Geographic range

P. euryzonus is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The Reptile Database also lists Guatemala and Peru.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. euryzonus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to {{convert|1,460|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Reproduction

P. euryzonus is oviparous.

Subspecies

Including the nominotypical subspecies, two subspecies are recognized as being valid.{{NRDB species|genus=Pliocercus|species=euryzonus}}

Pliocercus euryzonus burghardti {{small|H.M. Smith & Chiszar, 1996}}
Pliocercus euryzonus euryzonus {{small|Cope, 1862}}

Etymology

The subspecific name, burghardti, is in honor of herpetologist Gordon M. Burghardt.Smith HM, Chiszar D (2001). "Pliocercus euryzonus Cope, Cope's False Coral Snake". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (740): 1–4.