CHECKLIST OF THE SNAKES OF MEXICO 93 



3. Upper lateral light stripe involving fifth row of scales 4 



Upper lateral light stripe confined to adjacent edges of third and fourth 



rows, always continuous ! 5 



4. Lateral light stripe broken or partially interrupted anteriorly, not reach- 



ing anal region taeniatus ornatus 



Lateral stripe continuous and uniform in character throughout its length, 

 reaching anal region taeniatus taeniatus 



5. A very distinct, light lateral stripe on adjacent edges of ventrals aud 



first row of dorsals in young ; adults marked like j'oung, with a distinct, 



continuous light line on rows 3 and 4 taeniatus schotti 



No or only faint evidence of a lateral light stripe on adjacent edges of 

 ventrals and first row of dorsals in young; adults with interrupted 

 lateral light stripes, and scales on head not light-edged. 



taeniatus australis 



6. A single labial entering orbit mentovarius mentovarius 



Two labials entering orbit 7 



7. No longitudinal light stripes exclusively on lateral rows anteriorly; if 



present, equally distinct on dorsal as on lateral rows 12 



Lateral light stripes present anteriorly, these more distinct than dorsal 



light stripes (if any) 8 



8. Lips heavily mottled mentovarius mentovarius 



Lips mostly white, bordered above by black 9 



9. Pattern consisting of one or more dark lateral stripes 10 



Pattern consisting of a single lateral light stripe upon a very dark ground 



color 11 



10. Dark stripe on scale rows 2 and 3 interrupted by light cream areas at 



intervals of five to seven scales aurigulus 



Stripes not interrupted, sometimes quite short, at other times extending 

 nearly the length of the body bilineatus 



11. Light stripe on scale rows three and four of uniform width throughout. 



lateralis 

 Light lateral stripe widening at intervals of four to seven scales barbouri 



12. In young, neck bands much darker than succeeding bands, consider- 



ably broader than spaces between them ; in adults, neck bands always 



visible; a longitudinal white stripe through loreal fiagellum piceus 



In young, neck bands not greatly darker than those following; in 

 adults, if bands are visible at all, they are narrower than spaces between 

 them; no distinct white stripe through loreal 13 



13. Irregularly scattered, short, black lines on dorsal surface, none involv- 



ing more than a single scale ; subcaudals 96 to 112 anthonyi 



No such lines, or if present they are regularly distributed on nearly 

 all scales 14 



14. Caudals 109 or more ; a dark spot at base of each scale ; usually no dark 



lines through centers of anterior scales 16 



Caudals usually less ; no dark spots at bases of scales, or if so a dark 

 line through the center of anterior scales 15 



15. In adults, a dark line through center of each scale at least on anterior 



part of body, and at least subcaudal surface salmon-red in preserved 

 specimens (as well as live) ; in young, dark bands broader than light 



interspaces, which are incomplete and irregular fl.agellum lineatulus 



No dark lines through centers of scales ; ventral surfaces not red except in 

 live or very recently preserved specimens ; young with narrow, 



584960 — 45 7 



