f 



ZAOCYS 137 



2 loreals, the anterior largest and in contact with upper pre- 

 ocular ; 2 preoculars, the upper very large, the lower very small ; 

 2 postoculars ; 2 anterior temporals (the posterior temporals are 

 fused with the lower anterior ; normally 2 + 2) ; 9 upper labials, 

 fifth and sixth entering eye ; 9 lower labials, 5 touching anterior 

 chin shields ; anterior chin shields shorter and narrower than 

 posterior; scales with apical pits (those on body with 2, those 

 on neck with 3 or more pits) ; scales in 16 rows on body, 20 

 rows about neck, the 2 median dorsal rows strongly keeled, com- 

 mencing back some distance on neck and continuing a short 

 distance on tail ; on latter half of body the scale rows bordering 

 the median rows are also keeled, and immediately above anus 

 all the scale rows are strongly keeled ; ventrals, 207 ; anal di- 

 vided; subcaudals, 108 (extreme tip of tail missing) ; eye large, 

 equal to its distance from anterior part of nostril. 



Color in alcohol. — Above dark olive gray anteriorly, netted 

 over with whitish yellow, the network formed by the yellow 

 edges of the two vertical scale rows, and the yellowish skin 

 between them (the yellow color scarcely observable, unless the 

 skin is distended) forming alternating scale rows with black 

 edges and black skin between them ; posteriorly the ground 

 color becomes a lighter olive brown, and the yellowish network 

 more pronounced and denser ; the black color on latter part of 

 body forms irregularly edged longitudinal lines, three on each 

 side ; that on the outer row of scales is most pronounced, its 

 zigzag edges extending to ventrals ; ventral scales on anterior 

 part of body yellowish ; posteriorly also yellowish, with dark 

 spots or dim lines, a pronounced median zigzag line on ventral 

 surface of tail ; tail, above with each scale heavily edged with 

 black, and with a circular, light yellow, central area. 



MeasurementH of Zaocys carutatus Giinther. 



mm- 



Total length 2,340 



Snout to vent 1,782 



Tail 558 



Head length 51 



Head width 28 



Variation. — A second specimen in the Bureau of Science col- 

 lection, also from Palawan, has only the 2 median scale rows 

 keeled ; there are 3 loreals instead of 2, the 2 posterior being 

 superimposed ; the temporals are normal. The recorded range 

 of ventrals for extra-Philippine specimens* is 208 to 215 ; of 



Boulenger, loc. cit. 



