On the taxonomy of snakes in the genus Leptodeira, with an emphasis on Costa Rican species

Abstract

Considerable confusion surrounds the taxonomy of snakes in the genus Leptodeira, which contains 12 currently recognized species. Herein I review the genus and recognize 15 species based on previously published morphological and genetic data. Easily recognized traits can be used to identify Costa Rican species of Leptodeira, and taxonomic insights into all species in the L. annulata-septentrionalis complex are discussed. Photographs of all currently recognized species and subspecies are included.