RACCOONS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 43 



Ten Thousand Islands and P. I. inesperotiis of Upper Matecumbe Key 

 in larger size, and the more elevated frontal region of skull. 



Color. — i^boiit as in P. I. litoreus. Very similar to P. I. lotor but 

 averaging somewhat paler, the hairs over median dorsal area with 

 shorter black tips and the nape more regularly and deeply suffused 

 with rusty or orange rufous. 



Cranial characters. — Skull similar to that of P. I. litoreus, but frontal 

 region broader, higher arched, or more "humped"; sides of frontals 

 usually less compressed or abruptly indented behind orbits, leaving the 

 brain case tapering more gradually anteriorly, instead of bulging 

 laterally as in litoreus; dentition much lighter, the difference most 

 noticeable in the molariform teeth. Decidedly larger than those of 

 P. I. lotor, P. I. varius, P. I. marinus, or P. I. inesperatus,vr\ih brain case 

 broader, and frontal region more "humped"; postorbital processes of 

 frontals obsolescent or small as in other eastern forms. 



Measurements. — Tj'pe (from original description): Total length, 892 mm.; tail 

 vertebrae, 286; hind foot, 125. An adult male topotype: 800: 244; 120. Average 

 of five adult males from Saw Grass Island, Catfish Creek, Polk County, Fla. : 812 

 (790-850j; 259 (240-280); 126 (125-129); weight (pounds), 11 (10-12). Average 

 of three adult females from same locality: 758 (745-770); 245 (235-255); 121 

 (117-123); weight (pounds), 9 (7.7-10). Skull: Average of five adult males from 

 Saw Grass Island, Catfish Creek, Polk County, Fla.: Greatest length, 119.4 

 (113.7-123); condylobasal length, 114.5 (110.3-117.1); zygomatic breadth, 74.1 

 (72-76.6); interorbital breadth, 23.7 (22.3-24.8); least width of palatal shelf, 16 

 (14.9-17.3): maxillary tooth row (alveoli), 43.2 (41.7-44.6); upper carnassial, 

 crown length, 8.7 (8.4-9.1), crown width, 8.9 (8.8-9.2). Average of three adult 

 females from same locality: Greatest length, 113.6 (112.1-115.2); condylobasal 

 length, 108.8 (106.8-110.4); zygomatic breadth, 68.4 (66.6-70); interorbital 

 breadth, 24 (23.3-24.5); least width of palatal shelf, 16.4 (15.4-17.6); maxillary 

 tooth row, 41.9 (41.3-42.7); upper carnassial, crown length, 8.8 (8.7-9), crown 

 width, 8.8 (8.6-9). 



Remarks. — In P. I. elucus the inflation of the frontal sinuses reaches 

 its extreme development giving the skull a "humped" appearance in 

 outline, a character shared to some extent with other forms including 

 P. I. lotor. Typical examples of elucus are quite dark in color, and the 

 rusty rufous suffusion of the nape, appearing irregularly in mam- 

 subspecies, is more prevalent and of a deeper and richer tone than is 

 usual in the group. Intergradation with litoreus, varius, and marinus 

 is evident, and while not clearly indicated probably occurs with in- 

 esperatus which is known only from the mangrove-fringed islands along 

 the southeast coast of the peninsula of Florida. Specimens from as 

 far south as Naples on the west coast and Cutler, Dade County, are 

 clearly referable to elucus. 



