Sierra de Laurel

The Sierra de Laurel is a southwest-to-northeast trending range that occupies parts of Zacatecas, Jalisco, and Aguascalientes. Herpetologically, it seems very poorly explored. Upper elevations offer a diversity of montane, forested habitats, while the mid-range northern slopes contain lush vegetation that seems unsuitable for Mexicana kings. This area receives abundant summer rainfall.  Snakes provisionally assigned to Lampropeltis greeri have been found under rocks or in crevices associated with large outcroppings in otherwise forested areas at the highest elevations where there are large breaks in the forest canopy. Oaks are the dominant trees in this landscape, but an occasional pine is present. Other snakes observed here include: Mexican Black-tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus molossus nigrescens), Mexican Lyre Snakes (Trimorphodon tau tau), Mexican Whipsnakes (Masticophis mentovarius striolatus), Bocourt’s Black-headed Snakes (Tantilla bocourti), Mexican Plateau Earth Snakes (Conopsis nasus), and Baird’s Patch-nosed Snakes (Salvadora bairdi). Elevations here are 7990–8010 ft/2435–2440 m. (July 2006).