HERPETOLOGY OF ZUNI MOUNTAINS — GEHLBACH 293 



Of the 90 specimens of C. velox examined during tliis study, none 

 were males. Comparative dissections revealed only famales of C. 

 exsanguis and C. tessellatus, but bisexual samples of C. inornatus and 

 C. tigris were noted. This problem is complicated further by the 

 existence of two kmds of nonspotted whiptails in the Zuni region. 

 One is typical of C. velox as previously characterized and has, in 

 addition, abruptly enlarged scales preceding the gular fold. The 

 other is represented by two males (UCM 6579-80) from 14 miles north 

 of Gallup that resemble C. inornatus in having the bright-blue venter 

 and smaller scales in front of the gular fold. These specimens, with 

 68 and 75 dorsal scales around midbody, could be the males of C. 

 velox, or they might represent C. inornatus in sympatry with C. velox; 

 indeed, when more specimens become available and this perplexing 

 situation is studied further, present species concepts involving C. 

 velox and C. inornatus may be altered radically. 



In the Zunis, Colorado Plateau whiptails were most common in 

 open areas of the Roughlands Life Belt especially where the saltbush- 

 sage association occm-red in isolated patches in the pinyon-juniper 

 savanna. They were associated occasionally with Sceloporus undu- 

 latus in these habitats and with Sceloporus graciosus where scattered 

 spiny saltbush and one-seed junipers dominated a sandy area at the 

 lower edge of the Roughlands near Prewitt. Although seldom found 

 above the Roughlands-Montane continuum, they sometimes occurred 

 in ponderosa pine stands in open, logged-off spots or along dry creek 

 beds to approximately 7800 feet. 



Gravid females with the following snout-vent length, date (1939) 

 of collection, and egg number and size give some estimate of local 

 reproductive capacity hi this whiptail: 77 mm.. May 28, 3 avg. 6.5 x 

 15.2 mm.; 80 mm., June 13, 4 avg. 11.2 x 16.0 mm.; 73 mm., June 22, 

 4 avg. 8.2 X 15.2 mm. A specimen collected June 30, 1956, had an 

 enlarged oviduct but only small eggs measuring 0.5-1.5 mm. in 

 diameter. None of the individuals taken in July held enlarged eggs; 

 hence, C. velox apparently does not oviposit coinciden tally with sum- 

 mer rainfall. A hatchling, 34 mm. snout-vent, was collected August 

 13; another, 37 mm., on August 20, 1957. 



Locality records: 



MCKINLEY CO.: 4 mi. S. Thoreau (CU 5450); 5.5 mi. SE. Thoreau (CU 5614); 

 6 mi. S. Thoreau (CU 5675; UMMZ 120410, 120289); 7 mi. S. Thoreau (CU 

 5626); 4 mi. NNE. Prewitt (UMMZ 120286); between Thoreau and Continental 

 Divide (UMMZ 120309); Ft. Wingate (USNM 16762-63, 80357); 16 mi. S. 

 Gallup (CU 5609); 10 mi. W. Gallup (MVZ 65805); 14 mi. N. Gallup (UCM 

 6578-80); Gallup (UMMZ 120287); Crownpoint (UNMCV 1162); Valencia 

 CO.: 8 mi. SE. Paxton (UMMZ 86619); 1 mi. N. Cebolleta (UMMZ 86620) ; 4 mi. 

 W. McCartey's (UMMZ 86618); 11.5 mi. SSE. Grants (CU 5458). 



