REPTILIA: SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE 



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289 



TACHYMENIS 



TACHYMENIS Wiegmann 



1835 Tachymenis Wiegmann. Nova Acta Acad. Caes.-Leop. Carol., 17= 251. Type-species: TachYmen i s 



peruv iana Wiegmann. 



1860 Zacholomorphus Fitzinqer. Sitzb. Math. -Nat. Kl. Akad. Wiss. Wien, 42: iO] . Type-species: None 



des i gna ted. 



Distribution: Pacific Peru and Chile; Amazonian Peru and Bolivia; Surinam. 



Content: Six species. In the most recent revision of genus, Walker, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 96, 

 1545, suggested that peruv iana and its allies may represent a distinct genus or subgenus, and 

 pointed out two species of very uncertain status ( elonqa ta Despax, and sur i namens i s Dunn). 



Key to the species 



1. Caudals fewer than 60; ratio of tail length/ 



total length less than 0.22 2 



Caudals 60 or more; ratio of tail length/total 

 length 0.22 or more 4 



2. Midbody scale rows I9 3 



Midbody scale rows I7 af f i n i s 



3. Dorsal scales with single apical pits, may be 



poorly developed; spotted dorsal ground color; 

 female caudals '^0 or fewer; six to ten solid 



maxillary teeth peruv iana 



Dorsal scales lacking apical pits; dorsum uni- 

 color grayish brown, with no or only slight 

 trace of darker spots; female caudals more 



than 5O; twelve solid maxillary teeth 



tarmens i s 



4. Ventrals more than 185 5 



Ventrals fewer than 160 a ttenua ta 



5. Scales with apical pits; parietal as long as 



frontal; temporals 1-2 elonqa ta 



Scales lack apical pits; parietal shorter than 

 frontal; temporals 1-1 sur i namens i s 



TACHYMENIS AFFINIS Boulenger 



Clave de especies 



1. Caudales menos de 60; relacion largo cola' 



longitud total menos de 0.22 2 



Caudales 60 o mas; relacion largo cola /long i tud 

 total 0.22 mas 4 



2. Con 15 filas al medio del cuerpo 3 



Con 17 filas al medio del cuerpo af f i n i s 



3. Escamas dorsales con un solo hoyuelo apical, 



que puede ser pobremente desarrollado; dorsal- 

 mente manchado; 5^ '^ menos caudales en 

 hembras; seis a diez dientes maxilares sin 



surco peruv iana 



Escamas dorsales sin hoyuelos apicales; dorso 

 unicolor en pardo grisaceo; sin manchas 

 oscuras con muy debiles; mas de 5" caudales 

 en hembras; doce dientes maxilares sin.surco-- 

 tarmens i s 



4. Mas de I85 ventrales 5 



Menos de 160 ventrales attenuata 



5. Escamas con hoyuelos apicales; parietales tan 



largas como frontal; temporales 1-2 elonqata 



Escamas sin hoyuelos apicales; parietales mas 



cortas que frontal; temporales 1-1 



sur i namens i s 



I856 Tachymen i s aff i n is Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus., 3= 115> Pl- 7j ^'3- !• Type-locality: Mufia, 

 Peru; Walker, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 96, IJ^Sj 22, suggests this is on upper Rfo Huallaga, 

 Huanuco, Peru. 



1945 Tachymen i s aff i n is — Walker, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., %: 22, pi. 4, fig. 12. 



Distribution: Highland valleys of Peru. 



TACHYMENIS ATTENUATA Walker 



1945 Tachymen i s attenuata Walker, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 96: 24. Type-locality: Peru; thought tc 

 be Departamento Madre de Dios by Walker, loc. cit. 



Distribution: Eastern Andean slopes of Bolivia and southern Peru. 



Content: Two subspecies. 



