100 



THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Ventrals in males 160 to 173, average 167; in females 157 to 171, average 

 164.5. Subcaudals in males 109 to 125, average 115; in females 95 to 119, 

 average 107. Anal plate single. 



A pattern of a median and two lateral bright yellow stripes on a darker 

 ground. Color above, including the head and the areas between and below the 

 stripes, usually a uniform shade of brown — chocolate in some specimens to 

 sepia, or even black, in others. Ground color below the lateral stripes, usually 

 paler than above them, and extending upon the ends of the ventrals. Mid- 

 dorsal stripe on the median and halves of the adjacent rows of scales; lateral 

 ones on the third and fourth rows. Stripes yellow, the dorsal occasionally 

 with an orange tinge. A double row of dark spots, incompletely edged with 

 yellow, between the dorsal and lateral stripes in some specimens. These 

 usually most evident when the skin is stretched. 



Labials, chin and lower postocular usually whitish and unmarked. A 

 yellowish spot on the preoculars. Belly pale greenish and generally lacking 

 the ventral spots found in the other Ohio species of Thamnophis. Young 

 very slender and with the yellow stripes like fine golden lines. 



Map 24. Ohio locality records and general 

 range of the Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis 

 saurilus sauriius. 



