4. a) Body small and worm-like, encased in smooth, shiny, 



uniform scales, no enlarged ventral scales; no 

 distinction between head and neck; small, black-pigmented 

 spot (eye) without distinct pupil visible under head 

 scales; tail very short Ramphotyphlops braminus 



b) Body not worm-like, enlarged ventral scales (plates) 

 present; round eyes with distinct pupil present and not 

 covered by head scales 5 



5. a) Body distinctly marked with crossbands or with a neck 



collar that may or may not completely encircle the body 

 6 



b) Body without crossbands, may have stripes, blotches, or 

 spots, or be uniform in coloration, or have an irregular 

 pattern 16 



6. a) Scales strongly keeled, rough in appearance; eyes located 



high up on sides of head directed upwards; snout broad 

 and rounded; posterior teeth enlarged; six chin shields 

 Homalopsis bUCgQ ta 



b) Scales smooth or with relatively weak keels; eyes not 

 located near top of head but more lateral in position; 

 snout not broad; fewer than 6 chin shields 7 



7. a) Black collar on neck bordered by yellow behind on a brown 



body; two thin black bars on head; small black spots 

 along midline of back and on head; yellow venter with a 

 small black mark on the outer edge of each scale 

 Sibynophis gpllaris 



b) Series of crossbars along the body which may completely 

 encircle the body, extend over the midback, or occur 

 irregularly along the body; lacks small black spots along 



