Amphibians and Reptiles of Santa Marta 



6 1 



specimens. Of the two specimens in the collection from that locality, one 

 is like dkisiis and the other is hifrontata. Since both types of scalation 

 are found at Riohacha, the specimens are provisionally identified as 

 hifrontata. For remarks on the relationship of the two forms see infra. 



Ameiva hifrontata Cope. — Badillo; Fonseca, Arroyo de Arenas; Rio- 

 hacha; Don Diego. Very common about Riohacha and the other localities 

 given. A ground form found both in the woods and on the desert. One 

 individual was seen to run on its hind legs. 



At Riohacha about one-half the specimens taken (21 out of 50) have 

 the first and second supraoculars entirely separated by granules. In 25 the 

 granules between the frontal and supraoculars extend farther forward than 

 the suture between the second and third supraoculars, and in four the 

 granules end at that suture as in dizisiis. (See p. 62.) These differences 

 are not sexual. Whether these specimens should be referred to hifrontata, 

 as is done here, or are to be considered intermediate, can be determined 

 only by the examination of a large amount of Venezuelan material to dis- 

 cover just how variable is hifrontata. From a very small series of the 

 typical form from Venezuela the writer believes that it does not constantly 

 have the first and second supraoculars separated. The status of the material 

 from Don Diego, Arroyo de Arenas, Fonseca, and Badillo is not clear, but 

 since one of two specimens from Don Diego and one of three specimens 

 from Fonseca are typical hifrontata. while the two taken at Arroyo de 

 Arenas, one from Fonseca and one from Badillo, have the inner row of 

 granules continued farther than the suture of the second and third supra- 

 oculars, the logical conclusion is that the lizards in these localities are closer 

 to hifrontata than divisus. 



There can be little doubt that the two forms intergrade in the Santa 

 Marta Mountains region, whether the lizards at the east end of the range 

 are typical hifrontata or intermediate. The distribution of characters is 

 shown in the following table. 



Distrihntion of the characters of Ameiva hifrontata and Anieira hifrontata 

 diznsus in the Santa Marta Mountains region. 



Beyond 



To suture of sutiiA' of Entirely 



Superior granules, sxipraoctdars supraoculars around last s 



continued anteriorly : 2 and $ 2 and s supraocidars Subspecies 



Santa Marta 17 



Fundacion 9 .. .. Ameiva b. divisus 



Valle de Upar .... 6 2 



Badillo I I 



Fonseca i i i 



Arroyo de Arenas ... .. 2 .. Ameiva hifrontata 



Riohacha 4 25 21 



Don Diego .. i i 



Cnemidophorns lemniscatus gciigei Ruthven.^^ — Salamanca Coast, Gaira 

 (observed), and Santa Marta to 2,200 feet; Tucurinca and Aracataca 

 (Rehn and Hebard) ; Fundacion; Las Pavas (observed) ; Valencia; Valle 



33 Occ. Papers, Mus. of Zool., Univ. of Mich., No. 16. 



