Studies on Neotropical Colubrinae III. The Taxonomic Status of Certain Neotropical Racers

Abstract

By L. C. STUART N the course of completing a taxonomic revision of certain neotropical genera allied to Drymobius I have found it necessary to synonymize certain forms of doubtful validity and, conversely, to recognize as valid other species which had been relegated to synonymy. The following embodies my conclusions with respect to these forms. Drymobius rubriceps Amaral.-Although the type of this species has not been available, Amaral's description (1) is so complete that nothing is left to the imagination. Whereas Amaral (2) suggests that this form may be synonymous with Eudryas b. boddaertii (Sentzen), I believe that it represents a slightly aberrant specimen of Drymoluber brazili (Gomez). This conclusion is based on the following facts. 1.-The type locality, Pennapolis, Brazil, is located well beyond the southern-most record of E. b. boddaertii, but lies within the known range of D. brazili. 2.-The type has 117 pairs of subcaudals. This is far too many for E. b. boddaertii in Brazil but within the subcaudal range of D. brazili. 3.-The anal plate of the type is single, an almost constant condition in D. brazili but only occasionally found in E. b. boddaertii. 4.-The supralabials in the type are 7 in number. This is a likely condition in D. brazili which normally has 8, but less so' in E. b. boddaertii which normally has 9. Dendrophidion paucicarinatus (Cope).-This species, originally described from La Candelaria, Costa Rica, by Cope (3), has apparently been forgotten since its description. Three specimens in the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, have been compared with the type, American Museum of Natural History, No. 17269, and have been found to coincide in all particulars. I have also seen a specimen in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. This species is readily distinguishable from D. dendrophis (Schlegel) both by its coloration and greater number of ventral scutes, which are less than 175 in D. dendrophis and more than 180 in D. paucicarinatus. All specimens which I have examined are from Chiriqui Province, Panama, at elevations over 4,000 feet. Material from lower elevations proves to be D. dendrophis. This rare species appears to be confined to the high mountains of western Panama and southern Costa Rica.