MEXICAN CONIOPHANES FISSIDENS — SMITH 105 



CONIOPHANES FISSIDENS PROTEROPS Cope 



Coniophanes proterops Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18(50, p. 249 

 (Orizaba, Veracruz). 



Diagnosis. — Scales usually in 19 rows, sometimes 21; males with 

 supraanal ridges; supralabials usually 7, sometimes 8; ventrals 129 

 to 138 in females, 126 to 133 in males ; caudals 59 to 74 in females, 66 

 to 76 in males ; ventrals minus caudals 55 to 79 in females, 51 to 65 in 

 males ; spots on belly very small, scattered ; belly sometimes unspotted 

 (except ends of ventrals, dark as sides of body) ; median border of 

 dorsolateral light stripe usually very poorly defined on tail, or whole 

 dorsal surface light ; dorsolateral light stripe disappearing on anterior 

 part of neck; median dark stripe, one scale wide, distinct in young 

 and subadults, which are somewhat orange colored ; no spots or irregu- 

 larities of pattern in dorsal area between lateral stripes. 



Discussion. — The form seems well differentiated from /. -ftssidens. 

 The scale rows are usually 19 (69 percent, 24 in 36), 21 in fissidens 

 (two exceptions in 132) ; and the supralabials are usually 7 on one or 

 both sides (58 percent, 20 in 36) , rarely in fissidens (one in 132) . There 

 are conspicuous differences in ventral and ventral minus caudal counts, 

 as shown in the accompanying table. 



The most conspicuous pattern difference between proterops and 

 fissidens is in the disposition of the ventral spots. In the latter there 

 IS a row of relatively large spots on each side of the abdomen, one spot 

 near the end of each ventral. These spots occur in addition to numer- 

 ous other, small flecks. In proterops the ventral surface is marked 

 with numerous tiny black flecks, but there is no regular series of 

 relatively large spots forming a row on either side of the belly. In 

 some proterops there are no ventral markings whatever, except on 

 the ends of the ventrals where the lateral coloration encroaches upon 

 the ventral surface. 



The dorsal pattern as a rule is more subdued in proterops. The 

 lateral stripes are sometimes scarcely distinguishable, and the dorso- 

 lateral light stripes are very short or not visible at all. The dorsal 

 surface of the tail, which in fissidens bears two dorsolateral light stripes 

 separated by a very well defined median stripe, is nearly uniform light 

 in proterops as a rule. Some proterops^ however, do show the median 

 dark stripe. 



The young of proterops are light orange, and the median dark stripe 

 is very well defined. Larger specimens show but little trace of the 

 orange coloration, the middorsal stripe is diffused, and the general 

 coloration much darker and more like that of typical fissidens. 



Specimens examined. — Thirty-six, all from the State of Veraci*uz. 

 The following localities are represented : Cuautlapan (U.S.N.M. Nos. 

 109764-109766; EHT-HMS Nos. 5199, 23537-23545); Jalapa 



