OXYBELIS WILSONI, A NEW SPECIES OF VINE SNAKE FROM ISLA DE ROATAN, HONDURAS (SERPENTES, COLUBRIDAE)

A new species of Oxybelis is described from Isla de Roatan, Honduras. It differs from all species of Oxybelis in its tan to golden yellow co loration, in having a higher number of subcaudals as well as in other details of color and scutellation. The new species is closely related to O. fulgidus and is thought to be derived from a fulgidus-like ances tor (i.e., is the sister species to fulgidus) that has been isolated i n the area of its present range probably since the very late Pliocene. The presence of a yellow population of Oxybelis on Isla de Roatan, Ho nduras, has long been known (Keiser 1969). The status of this insular population has remained uncertain pending the acquisition of additiona l material (Keiser 1969, Wilson and Meyer 1985). We recently visited I sla de Roatan a number of times and obtained a large series of additio nal specimens. After examining this new material, and the previously k nown specimens from this island, we believe that this population repre sents an undescribed taxon, which should be known as.