''Helicops carinicaudus'' is a species of snake in the family

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. C ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to eastern

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. Specimens from

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

are likely mislabeled, probably representing ''

Helicops danieli ''Helicops danieli'', Daniel's keelback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colom ...

''. There are two

subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

: The former subspecies ''Helicops carinicaudus infrataeniatus'' is now considered a valid species, ''

Helicops infrataeniatus ''Helicops infrataeniatus'' is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to South America, and can be found in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the l ...

''.

References

Helicops Snakes of Brazil Endemic reptiles of Brazil Taxa named by Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied Reptiles described in 1825 {{Dipsadinae-stub