Cnemidophorus Inornatus, the Valid Name for the Little Striped Whiptail Lizard, with the Description of an Annectant Subspecies

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Cnemidophorus inornatus, the Valid Name for the Little Striped Whiptail Lizard, with the Description of an Annectant Subspecies

Ralph W. Axtell

Copeia, Vol. 1961, No. 2. (Jun. 19, 1961), pp. 148-158.

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http://www.jstor.org Wed Dec 12 18:45:48 2007 148 COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2 is tannish-gray above and white below in American Museum of Natural History diabola. and it is reddish above and below in (AMNH); M. Alvarez del Toro, Museo Zo- rubra. In rubra, the lower postocular is usu- ologic~de Tuxtla Gutierrez (MZTG); R. F. ally white, or white with a black anterior Inger, Chicago Natural History Museum margin, and the fourth upper labial generally (CNHM); H. M. Smith, University of Illinois has a white posterior border; but in diabola hluseum of Natural History (UIMNH); and both postoculars are entirely black and the C. F. Walker, University of Michigan Museum fourth upper labial is black to the posterior of Zoology (UMMZ). W. F. Blair also read the margin. Ventrals and subcaudals are more manuscript. We also wish to thank Mr. and numerous in diabola than in rubra. In rubra Mrs. G. E. Drewry for donation of the novel ventrals number 147 to 167, subcaudals 56-70. specimen. Numbers of ventrals and subcaudals of rubra Specimens examined (T. rubra).-Xuevo are graphically compared with those of dia- Leon: CNHM 30825. Tamaulipas-San Luzs bola in Figure l. Both counts are higher in Potosi: AMNH 66161,79960; UMMZ 107145- diabola than in any rubra. Clinal variation 46, 11 1042, 11 1044, 11 1046-52. Southern seems evident in the rubra populations for Puebla-Xorthern Oaxaca: AMNH 65141; both characters. The ventral count of diabola CNHM 105339, 105341, 105343; UIMNH might be interpreted as part of this cline, but 48562-63. Tehuantepec (Oaxaca) area: no such interpretation is possible with regard AhlNH 62644-45, 62922-25, 65884, 66796, to the subcaudals. The localities where rubra 66959, 68025, 68883; CNHM 82728, 105340, and diabola have been found are shown in 105342, 105344; UIMNH 3773-74, 36815, Figure 2, which indicates the samples grouped 37145-46, 48561; UMMZ 82728. Chiapas: in Figure 1. UIMNH 37991, 38041; UhlMZ 102239; Four other species of this genus are known MZTG 76, 259, 41 1, 425, 434, 435. from Texas. Three of these belong to the In addition, ventral and subcaudal counts nigriceps group and the other to the gracilis were included on the basis of published infor- group of Smith (1942). The latter group is mation for CNHhl 40813 from Nuevo Leon represented by T. gracilis, which has a conical (Smith, 1944). head with no black pigment, no nuchal collar, and six upper labials. The Texas representa- tives of the nigriceps group include nigriceps, which has no nuchal collar; atriceps, which SMITH,H. M. 1942. A resume of Mexican snakes of the genus Tantilla. Zoologica 2733-42. may have a faint nuchal collar but no pos- . 1944. Snakes of the Hooestraal Ex~edi- terior black border; and cucullata, which has tions to northern Mexico. Field Gus.Nat. kist., a black head and neck, but no light collar. Zool. Ser. 29:135-152. Acknowledgments.-We are grateful to the following people and institutions for the use of specimens: W. F. Blair, University of Texas Natural History Collection; C. M. Bogert,

Cnernidophorus inornatus, the Valid Name for the Little Striped Whiptail Lizard, with the Description of an Annectant Subspecies

N 1858, Spencer F. Baird described two of Pesqueria Grande (subsequently changed I lizards, Cnemidophorus inornatus and to Villa de Garcia), in the Mexican state of Cnemidophorus octolineatus, on the same Nuevo Leon. The two cotypes of C. inornatus page of the Proceedings of the Academy of (United States National Museum 3032), al- Natural Science of Philadelphia. Both new though in very poor condition, are rather species were collected by the same man (Lt. dark (deep brown from many years in pre- D. N. Couch) at the same locality-the village servative), completely unstriped lizards having 80 and 85 granular dorsal scale rows (ac- with the little striped whiptail. See both cording to Dr. Doris M. Cochran), while Burger (1950) and hlaslin et al. (1958) for the type of C. octolineatus (USNhl 3009) has comments on this problem. Burger (op. cit.) eight light stripes on a dark background and relegated C. octolineatus to the synonymy only 66 dorsal granules. of C. inornatus, thus being the first to in- brief history reviewing the nomen- dicate that these two lizards might be identi- clatorial association of C. inornatus and C. cal. The implication of the possible synonymy octolineatzts with each other, and with the of these two names has stirred considerable lizard comnlonly called the little striped skepticism among the interested saurologists. whiptail may be enlightening. The descrip- Do two different, closely related species live tions of both species (Baird, 1858:255) are at the original collecting site, or only one repeated below: dimorphic species? "Cnemidophorus inornatus, Baird- At the onset (1958) of preparation for my Scales on the gular fold smaller than those work on Texas lizards many systematic prob- on the breast anteriorly, and scarcely larger lems involving forms occurring within Texas than those on the middle of the chin. Scales have presented themselves. As the taxonomic of back tubercular and elevated. Hind feet status of C. inornatus was one of the most about two-fifths the head and body. Gen- controversial and insecure, I decided to visit eral color light greenish olive, paler be- the type locality of that species to try to neath. No lines on the body. answer the question of dimorphism posed Hab.-New Leon. Lt. Couch. Type No. above, and in doing so resolve our future use 3032. of the names C. inoi-natus and C. octoline- Cnemidopkoi-us octolineatus, Baird-Gu- atzis. On June 9 and 10, 1960, Michael Sabath lar fold as in the last. Hind foot not two- and I collected 14 (6 $ , 8 0 ), Cnemidopkorus fifths the head and body. Scales of back de- inovnntus fronl a group of wind formed, sandy pressed. General color light greenish olive, mounds (about eight feet high) across the Rio paler beneath. Back with eight equidistant Pesqueria from Villa de Garcia. Of these 14 and approximated light lines. specimens, six were completely unicolor Hab.-New Leon. Lt. Couch. Type No. brownish olive above, and eight were dis- 3009." tinctly striped with eight light lines on a Subsequently both names were retained by brownish gray to olive background. We found various authors until about 1906. after which six unicolor and five striped members of both they slipped, for unknown reasons, into the sexes living within a small dune area esti- synonymy of other Cnemidopkorzts. The two mated to be 30 yards wide by 100 yards long. names were consistently synonymized, always Approximately 100 yards southeast of the under different headings. Burt (1931:9) dunes, among several small mounds (not placed C. inornatus under Cnemidopkorus over one foot high), we took three more in- sexlineatus gularis, and C. octolinentus un- dividuals, but all of these were striped. This der Cnemidopkorus sexlineatus perplexzts. suggests that strong selection pressure may be

Schmidt and Smith (19441I lifted octolineatus active outside the restricted dune area, but from synonymy to apply to a lizard occurring more evidence for this is needed. From in the mountainous regions of central Coa- cursory observation the ratio of striped huila, Mexico. Burger (1950) has more to unicolor individuals in the main dunes recentlv referred Schmidt and Smith's octo- population appeared to be one to one, and lineatus to Cnemzdopkovtts snckz semtfasci- the number of specimens collected by Sabath atus. Smith (1946) contributed to the already and myself (both morphotypes were in equal g~owingconfusion by using octolineatus as demand) tends to substantiate this observa- the subspecific name of yet another form of tion. Unicolored individuals were the same C. sackt, which recently has been identified color as, and therefore blended with the and described as a distinct subspecies (C. s. substratum. To my eye, unicolored lizards exsanguis) by Lowe (1956). The name C. were more difficult to trail than were the inornatus was brought out of syrlonylny by striped members. This might explain their Burger (1950) to become a substitute name relatively high survival rate in the main for C. perplexus, after it was discovered that dunes, but not in peripheral non-dune areas. earlier confusion in type designation had The venters of both color forms were similar. irrevocably placed the name C. perplexus Although little time was spent noting be- with a lizard of a different species, and not havioral phenomena at the collection sites, 150 COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2

TABLE1. COMPARISONOF THREECHARACTERS IN BOTH COLOR FORMS OF Cnemidophorus i. inornatus WITH C. i. heptagrammus ssp. nov. MEANSIN PARENTHESES

I Unicolor form Striped form Villa de Garc~a hefitagrammus Character V~llade Garc~a,Coahu~la I and other loc. Trans-Pecos Texas Scales around mid- I 1 body I 3 N=l 74 ' N = 8 64-78 (71.1) 0 1 5 69-80 (75.4) ' 9 66-76 (69 5) I Sum of femoral I pores 3 1 36 8 32-37 (33.9) 1 37 25-35 (30.9) 0 5 3&35 (328) 9 29-37 (34.3) 22 28-36 (30.8) 1 Lamellae of fourth 1 toe I 3 1 31 1 8 27-34 (30.8) ' 37 25-32 (27.5) 0 5 30-32 (31 .O) 9 27-33 (30.9) 22 24-32 (27.3) I on one occasion a striped male was observed in Mexico from central San Luis Potosi pursuing a unicolor female. Both individuals northward through Coahuila, extreme south- were collected to check their sex. eastern Nuevo Leon, eastern Zacatecas and Although the sample is small there seems Durango, Chihuahua, and northeastern So- to be some correlation between a non-striped nora. In the United States it occurs from the pattern and more numerous granular scale Devil's River of Texas, westward through rows (Table 1). The significance of this is southern New Mexico and extreme southeast- unexplainable at the present time and with ern Arizona. Vertical distribution from about the present material. The types of C. inor- 1,000 to 6,500 feet, but infrequent above 5,500 natus and C. octolineatus (supra) have such feet. a large hiatus between granular rnidbody l>iagnos~s.-A member of the sexlineatu~ counts that sonie workers have regarded this group of the genus Cnemzdophorus with character and the absence of stripes as being slightl) enlarged postantibrachials (two to important enough to warrant distinction of four times size of adjacent lateral scales); the two forms a;full species. On the grounds usually no more thai two or three trans- of what I have observed in the field and verse series of slightl) enlarged mesoptychials noted in the laboratory (twenty different ob- (five to ten times size of granules in gular servations per specimen), I cannot agree that fold); eight rows of enlarged plate-like ven- they are different species. Pattern dimorphism tral scutes; supraorbital semicircle scales sel- in reptiles has caused considerable taxonomic dom extending anteriorly belond the pos- confusion before (see Mecham, 1957, Klauber, terior edge of frontal; dorsal granules at 1936, 1939, 1944 and Smith, 1943), but now7 midbody g-ener'illy fewer than any other that we are aware that such genetic phe- member of group, 35 to 85, averaging 63.92; nomena occur in natural populations, our sum of femoral pores 23 to 42, alreraging ideas should be benefited by them. 30.72; preanal scales 2 to 8, areraging 3.47; If we are to abide strictly by the Rules of dorsal markings, a series of light stripes Zoological Nomenclature, Cnemidophorus (variable in number) on an unmarked, dark inornatus is the correct name (based on line background (dark color usually becomes priority) for the little striped whiptail. '4s lighter with age); rentral surface without C. ino~nattishas never been properly char- dark markings, but usually bluish white; acterized, a redescription follou~s: chin, belly of adult males and tail of both sexes usually more riricl blue or blue-violet. Cnernidopkorzts inornatus Baird Geographic Variation.-The number of Distribzttion.-Principally an elevated dorsal~st~ipesin C. inornatzts is known to plains or alluvial flatlands whiptail occurring vary geographically. Burger (1950:3) obserred variation in dorsal striping, but presumably (by present designation)' collected by Lt. regarded it as broadly clinal over the entire D. h'. Couch in 1853. range of the species (decrease in striping from Type Locality.-25" 49' N-100" 33' It', southeast to northwest), and therefore not Pesqueria Grande (1Villa de Garcia), Nuevo usable for defining discreet subpopulations. Leon, XIexico. Elevation, 2,500 It feet. Fugler and Webb (1936) presented additional Diagnosis.-,-\ subspecies of Cnernidopho- evidence of variation, but confined their dis- rzts ino~nntuswith a dorsal pattern of eight cussion to the lizards from a single collection light stripes on a gray to brownish green site. With regard to dorsal striping, the popu- ground color, or a brownish green dorsu~n lations of C. inornatus that I have observed without markings; dorsal granular scales at segregate into four fairly homogeneous geo- midbody usually 69 or more in both sexes graphic populations: 1) eight-striped popu- (73% of sample); lamellae on longest toe of lations on the high plateau of Mexico, in the hindleg usually 30 or more in both sexes states of San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas, 2) of (79% of sample); and pararertebral light

eight-striped populations (a split vertebral strinesI \(first lateral from swlit vertebral stripe) in arid west central Nuevo Leon and stripes) reaching anteriorly to enlarged oc- southeastern Coahuila, 3) seven-striped popu- cipital scales, absent or not clearly defined on lations (a single rertebral stripe) in northern parietals or supraoculars. Coahuila (a broad hiatus or relictual popu- Desc.~iption.-This description is based lations may occur in central Coahuila), east- on 24 specimens (9 $ , 139). All measure- ern Chihuahua, Trans-Pecos Texas and up ments are in millimeters. the Pecos Rirer Valley to central New Xlex- I?laximum snout-vent length of male 60.7, ico, and 4) six-striped populations (no verte- of female 63.2; average length of adults (those bral stripe) in western New XIexico, south- orer 50.0) 57.6; total length of largest speci- eastern Arizona, northeastern Sonora, and men examined 203.6 ( $ ); forelimbs averag- western Chihuahua. XIaterial for the above ing 31 per cent of snout-rent in males, 30 obserrations has come from both cursory and per cent in females; hindlimbs averaging 66 concentrated field work on this problem since per cent of snout-rent in males, 63 per cent 1935. As Mr. Kenneth Williams of the lJni- in females; length from axilla to groin 48 per rersity of Illinois has been working on west- cent of snout-vent in males, 31 per cent in ern members of the species for sereral years, females. I have conceded treatment of these forms to Number of dorsal granules at midbody 63 him, and will concentrate solely on eastern to 80 (71.6 & 0.96); sum of femoral pores 29 representatires of C. znornatzts for the re- to 37 (33.9 2 0.45); transrerse lamellae on mainder of this paper. longest phalange of hindfoot 27 to 34 (30.9 There is a consistent difference in the & 0.41); usually three or more supraorbital dorsal striping of C. inornatzts populations semicircle scales contacting lateral edge of from two definable ecological and physio- frontoparietal; number of enlarged preanals graphic regions in northeastern Rfexico. As rariable, from 3 to 7 (4.14); ventrals from additional characteristics add weight to the gular fold through preanals 33 to 41 (38.0). striping difference, I believe these two popu- There appears to be little variation within lations should receive subspecific recognition. the relatively small geographic range of this form. Cnen?idophorzt~~nornatus rno~nalus Baird Two strikingly different color phases exist Eight Striped Whiptail (Fig. 1, A & B), one phase with eight light Fig. 1, A Pc B stripes, and another without stripes. In both phases the ground color is brownish gray, Cner~zidophoru.~inornntus Baird, 1858: 255; usually with a greenish iridescent tint. The Boulenger, 1885: 360, Cope, 1900: 590; dorsal head coloration is similar to that of Gadow, 1906: 373: Burger, (part); the body, In the striperi phase, the para- Smith and Taylor, 1930: 184 (part). rertebral light lines do not continue an- Cnemidophorzc.~ octolineatus Baird, 1858: teriorly across occipitals onto the pari- 235: Cope, 1900: 389: Gadow, 1906: 373. ,tals or supraoculars. Ventrally the head, Cner~zidophorus sexlineatzts gulnris, Burt, bodv anri tail, and the sides of the head are 1931: 98. blukh in most individuals. Distally the tail Cner~zidophorussexlineatus perplexu.~,Burt, 1 Rurger (1950) designated USNM 3022n as the iectoty e 1931: 122. for C. inornatui. As this number is incorrect, and as no ~dentift- ing marks were placed on the selected speclmen or tag, I have Lectofype.--Adult female, USNM 3032 A marked and redesignated n lectotype COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2 \

Fig. 1. (A and B) Cnemidophorus inornatus inornatuc, both from Villa de Garcia, Nuevo Ldn, Mexico. (A) RWA 2784 9, total length 172.1 mm.; (B) RWA 2793 0,total length 194.3 mm. (C) C. i. heptagrammus ssp. nov., 4 mi. W. Terlingua, Brewster Co., Texas (RWA skel. $ ). is usually purplish blue. Sexual dichromatism may be present between the vertebral stripes. is evident with ventral coloration in adult The vertebral dark field is lighter than the males being vivid blue-gray and in females lateral dark fields, and in several specimens gray with only a slight tint of blue. Juvenile there is a faint indication of two additional coloration is unknown. Two to eight scales (9th and 10th) light lines in this area. The eight striped pattern is consistent (100% than its northern relative. The period of of 17 specimens). Whether this consistency greatest diurnal activity during June appears will be maintained throughout the entire to be the morning hours (from 8:00 to 11:30 range of the subspecies has yet to be de- AM), with very little to no activity in the termined. afternoon. The few observations indicate that Cornparzsons.-Cnemidophorus inornatus females make up the niajority of active in- inornatus differs from the more northerly dividuals after about 11 :00 .U1. Individuals distributed seven-lined form in possessing seem to prefer rather flat, grassy alluvial de- 1) eight dorral light lines, or none at all; 2) posit areas or gentle slopes where there are a lighter brownish green or brownish gray intermittent open areas. They forage for food dorsal ground color (not dark gray to black); along the edges of grassy patches where they 3) a ventral coloration of blue-gray ($) or can remain close to protective cover and gray ( Q ), as compared to much brighter sky shade. The I~ouulation A at Villa de Garcia oc- blue ( $) or bluish white ( 9 ) in the seven- curs in an area of small sandy hillocks lined form; 4) dorsal granules usually 69 or covered by thorny vegetation, with areas of more; 5) usually 30 or more lamellae under grass and weeds on the fiats between. Farther longest toe of hindfoot; 6) usually three or westward, specimens were found on the more more small posterior semicircular scales con- xeric, sparsely vegetated Plan de Guadalupe, tacting the frontoparietals; and 7) para- a flat bolson, adobe-fill area broken by many vertebral dorsal light stripes fading abruptly crescentric Upper Cretaceous sandstone cues- on the occipital region of the head, and not tas. continuing as a well defined line onto parie- Distribution.-(Fig. 2). This lizard is re- tals, supraorbital semicircles or supraoculars. stricted so far as is known to the intermon- As only the seven and eight-lined popula- tane valleys and bolson basins drained by tions are to be discussed formally here, I will the Rio Pesqueria, Rio Salinas, Rio Tortuga, not attempt to compare either of these popu- Arroyo San Diego and Arroyo Huisache. It lations with the more westerly distributed has been found as far north as Gloria in the populations. At least some of the differences upper Rio Sabinas drainage, but apparently between the several forms of the species are does not occur north of hfonclova, Coahuila. incorporated in the diagnoses of the two pop- Locality records follow: hIEXIC0.-Coa- ulations considered here. huzla: 26" 42' N-101" 23' W, at Gloria (R. In tergradation .-The sample material used W. Axtell collection 1376); 26" 40' N-101" in the above descri~tionshows no definite 23' W, WSW. Gloria (RWA 1371-2); 26" tendency toward integradation with any 38' N-101" 23' W, S. Gloria (RTYA 2773); other subspecies. Fugler and Webb (1956) re- 26" 13' N-101" 18' W, N. Guadalupe (RWA ported a population of C. inornatus near 2778); 26" 03' N-101" 21' W, S. Guadalupe Parras, Coahuila, from which they collected (RWA 2770-1); 26" 05' N-101" 21' W, S. individuals having seven striped (eight) and Guadalupe (RWA 2772); 26" 08' N-101" 03' eight striped (six) patterns. The Parras area W, E. Reata (RWA 2794). Nuevo Ledn: 25" might be a location favorable for the meeting 48' N-100" 35' W, S. Villa de Garcia (RWA and admixture of populations from the high- 2779-93). lands of southern Coahuila and the Coahuilan Restriction of the name C. i. znornatus to lowlands to the northeast (see fig. 2). The striped whiptail populations occurring in populations occurring within that area might southeastern Coahuila and west-central just as easily be recognized as a northern Nuel o Le6n, leaves the C. I nornatus popula- segment of the highland Coahuila-Zacatecas tions of northern Coahuila, northeasteYnAChi- populations which are showing clinal loss of huahua, western Texas and southeastern New an eight striped condition toward the west, Mexico nameless. I therefore propose: for it is known that specimens from northeastern Zacatecas are mostly eight-striped Cnemidophorus inornatus heptagrammus while those from lower elevations in north- ssp. n. eastern Durango are seven-striped. Of course Seven Striped Whiptail there may be three-way contact of popula- Fig. 1, C tions in the Parras area. Aluch additional Cnemidophorus perplexus Baird and Girard, material will have to be examined before 1852: 128 (part); Strecker, 1909: 14; Van this problem can be resolved. Denburgh, 1922: 495 (part); Schmidt and Habits and Habitat.-This is a shy whip- Smith, 1944: 86; Smith, 1946: 412 (part); tail, more difficult to approach and' collect Jameson and Flury, 1949: 64; Brown, 1950: 154 COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2

TEXAS a

Fig. 2. Map of a part of the hypothetical range of Cnernidophor~~sinornutus, with black dots representing locality and reliable literature records. The distributions of C. i. irzornutz~s(A), and C. i. keptugr.nmrnus (R),and extralimital forms are shown. White areas surrounded by stipple are not considered to be habitable by C. inornutus. Supposed areas of intergradation are marked by overlapping stipple, and areas of questionable range are marked by question marks (?). AXTELL-CNEMIDOPHORUS 155

127; hlilstead, Mecham and ILIcClintock, oculars; 3-3 suboculars; 3-3 postoculars; 9- 1950: 553; Schmidt, 1953: 146 (part); Mil- 8 superciliaries; 6-6 chinshields; sublabials stead, 1957: 228; Minton, 1958 (1959): 45. reaching anteriorly to third infralabials. Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, Gadow, 1906: Color fittern (in alcohol), seven cream-white 302 (part). stripes extending from enlarged head scales Cnemidophorus sexlineatus perplexus, Burt, to base of tail or hindleg; vertebral stripe 1931: 122 (part). stops at enlarged occipitals; paravertebral Cnemidophorus inornntus, Burger, 1950: 2 stripes continue anteriorly to second and (part); Smith and Taylor, 1950: 184 (part); third supraoculars on both sides; dorsolateral hlilstead, 1953: 41 1; Schmidt, 1953: 146 stripes continue anteriorly along supercili- (part); Stebbins, 1954: 288 (part); Axtell, aries to loreals; lateral stripes begin ante- 1959: 100. riorly at lower edge of eye, continue to groin, Ho1otype.-Adult male, RWA 1758, col- and extend along anterior edge of femora; lected by Ralph W. Axtell, hlay 16, 1959. lateral stripes begin anew behind femora and Tjlpe Locality.-30" 11' 30" hT-103" 09' continue until they fade out on proximal W, 5 mi. ESE. Marathon, Brewster County, fifth of tail; short light stripes extend from Texas. Elevation 4,150 feet. posterior edge of tympanic opening to merge

Dinunosis.-.4U race of Cnenzidobhorus in- with light ventral coloration above insertion ornatus with a dorsal pattern of seven light of forelegs; dark gray ground color between stripes on a dark gray to black ground color; light stripes becomes lighter below lateral dorsal granular scales at midbody usually stripes; light, lineate markings on dark back- less than 69 (89%) in both sexes; lamellae on ground on dorsal parts of both fore and hind- longest toe of hindfoot usually less than 30 limbs; tail grayish proximally changing to (84%) in both sexes; and paravertebral light bluish gray distally; keel tips of proximal stripes reaching anteriorly to parietals, supra- caudal scales blackish; bluish white ventral orbital semicircles or supraoculars. coloration extending dorsally to midpart of Description of Ho1otype.-.in adult male, loreal and subocular region on head, to en- snout-vent length 58.4; tail length 130.0 (com- larged scales on anterio; faces of both limbs, plete); foreleg 18.0 (ratio foreleg to snout- to several granules above enlarged ventral vent 0.308); hindleg 38.8 (ratio hindleg to scales on body, and to lateral scales of tail; snout-vent 0.664); head length 13.6, width granular scales under foreleg, granules on 9.0; snout to posterior edge of interparietal postfemoral region, enlarged scales of tibia, 13.0; axilla-groin length 29.0 (ratio axilla- preanal region, and median ventral part of groin to snout-vent 0.497); circurnferential tail cream-white, not tinted with blue. dorsal granular scales at midbody 59; lamellar Variatzon.-Based on 63 specimens (39 8, count for manus 9-12-15-15-1 1 (R), 10-13- 24 0) from Trans-Pecos Texas and extreme 14-14-11 (L), for pes 17-27-20-15-10 (R), northwestern Coahuila, hlexico. All measure- 15-28-20-14-10 (L); 161 dorsal scales fron~ ments are in millimeters. interparietal to first enlarged scales of tail; Maximum snout-vent length of male 65.2, 13-15 femoral pores; 37 lentrals from en- of female 67.2, average of adults (individuals larged preanals to gular granules; enlarged over 50.0) 55.9; total length of largest speci- preanals 4; circumferential number of caudals men examined 191.8 ( $ ); forelimbs averaging 20 mm. posterior from lent, 16. Diagnostic 31 per cent of snout-vent in males, 30 per cent characteristics of head scutellation few. Most in females; hindlimbs aleraging 66 per cent notable are: posterior three supraoculars cut in males, 64 per cent in females; length from off completely on right side and partially on axilla to groin 49 per cent in males, 53 per left side by row of ciliary granules projecting cent in fernales. medially; row of ciliary granules includes Number of dorsal granules at midbody 55 small supernumery scale split off posterior to 71 (mean & standard error 64.1 0.16); edge of anterior supraocular; 2-2 posterior sum of fe~noralpores 25 to 36 (30.9 -c 0.29); semicircular scales contacting frontoparietals number of translerse lamellae on longest posterolaterally; small supernumery scale be- phalange of hindfoot 24 to 32 (27.4 ? 0.24); tween anterior parts of left parietal, inter- two or less supraorbital semicircle scales con- parietal and median posterior edge of fronto- tacting lateral edge of frontoparietal, at least parietal; 13 enlarged occipital scales; 5-5 on one side (75%); number of enlarged pre- supralabials; 6-6 enlarged infralabials bor- anals from 2 to 6, averaging 3.6; ventrals from dering supralabials belo~z,,and projecting for gular fold through preanals 34 to 42 averaging some distance past last supralabial; 1-1 pre- 37.2. 156 COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2

A pattern of seven white, cream, or yellow- Trans-Pecos Texas, and up the \alley of the ish light stripes on a ground color of varying Pecos River to east-central New Mexico. Ver- shades of gray or black exists throughout the tical distribution from about 1,000 to 3,300 range of this subspecies. In examining 515 feet. Locality data for 515 specimens and addi- specimens I hale found only 16 exceptions to tional reliable records follo~z,: R1EXICO.- the seven-striped pattern. Exceptions usually Coah~~zla:29" 20' K-102" 35' W, S. Agua inlolve partial or complete absence, or split- Salada (RWA 2828); 29" 08' N-102" 32' W, ting of the vertebral stripe. Dorsal head color- SW. La Koria (RWA 2826-27, 2852-62). Chz- ation is usually greenish olive to brown, and huahua: 29" 12' K-104" 06' W, in Sierra Rica therefore lighter-than the ground color of the (RWA 2796-2825, 2839-53); 29" 10' N-104" body. Thr paravertebral light stripes extend 04' W, in Sierra Rica (RWA 2854-55). NEW anteriorly to either the parietals, supraorbital 1IEXICO.-Eddy Co.: Artesia, 15 mi. W. semicircles, or supraocular scales, giving the (University of Michigan hluseum of Zoology); enlarged posterior head scales a vivid pattern. Carlsbad Calerns Nat. Park Hdqrs., 2 mi. W. The sides and ventral surface of the head, and (UhlRlZ); White City, 7 mi. SW., 10 mi. SW. the ventral surface of the neck, body, limbs, (UJIAIZ). Toriance Co.: Lucy, 1.4 mi. SW. and tail (with exception of lighter areas (RWA 1560, 1571-75). TEXAS.-Biewster around the anal region), are sky biue in adult Co.: Alpine, 5 mi. W. (RWA 1803-8), 10 mi. males and bluish to light bluish white in adult E. (Rlinton 1959), 22 mi. S. (RWX 1856-58), females. Distallv the tail is skv blue to Dur- 44 mi. S. (RWA 1729); Big Bend Nat. Park plish blue in adults of both sexes and in juve- Hdqrs., 8 mi. N. (JIinton 1959); Black Gap niles. Ontogenetic change, although present, Wildlife RIanag. .Area (Texas Natural History is not marked. Juvenile ground coloration is Collection-121 spec.); E. Burro Mesa usually black, changing to lighter grayish (Brown, 1950), Dagger Flat (AIinton, 1959); black with adulthood. The light stripes are Holey (Brown, 1950); Gokernment Spring usually brighter in the young and may be (Brown, 1950); Green Gulch (Brown, 1950); yellowish in some individuals. Longfellow, 46 mi. S. (TKHC 11705); JIara- Comparisons.-Included under C. i. inor- thon (Minton, 1959), 4.3 mi. E. (RWA 1747- natus. 56), 5 mi. ESE. (RWA 1758-9), 3.5 mi. SE. Intergradation.-The dearth of material (RWA 1762), 12 mi. E. (RWA 1768), 18 mi. from east-central Coahuila precludes any anal- E. (RWA 1769), 25 mi. E. (RW.l 1783); JIc- ysis of intergradation of this form with C. i. Kinney Spring (Texas Cooperative Wildlife inornatus. A geographically intermediate pop- Collection 1152); Oak Springs, Chisos RIts. ulation situated between C. 2. inornatus and (TCWC 12946); Persimmon Gap (Minton, C. z. heptagramrnus ranges has been found in 1959); Terlingua (Brown, 1950), 4 mi. W. the old lake basins of the Cuatro Cienegas (RWA). Culber~onCo.: 31" 21' N-104" 31'W, area, Coahuila (see inset, Fig. 2). Although I KW. Borracho (RW.4 2486); Kent, 3 mi. S., ha\ e examined only one specimen (which has 4 mi. W., 8 mi. W. (Brown, 1950); Lobo, 3 mi. six light stripes instead of seven) from this SW. (RWA 1677); 31" 49' K-104" 49' W, SSW. area, its affinity was clearly with hepta,qram-- - Pine Springs (TNHC 20204); Van Horn, 9 mi. mus or other western forms, and not with K., 40 mi. N. (Brown, 1950). El Paso Co.: El inornatzis. Paso, 11 mi. SE. (Brown, 1950). Hudspeth Co.: Habitat.-This diurnal lizard occurs pre- Sierra Blanca, 7.2 mi. ESE. (RW.4 1695-7), dominately on alluvial flats in sub-xeric to 14 mi. ESE. (RWA 1681-84). Jeff Davis Co.: xeric vegetative associations throughout its 30" 48' K-104" 44' W, S. Lobo (RW.4 2035-7); range. It may be found on sandy, silty, or Fort Davis (Brown, 1950); LIadera Canyon gravel flats and washes, and may occasionally (TKHC 7035); 30" 59' N-103" 53' W, KW. wander onto adjacent sloping areas. It rarely Toyahlale (RWA 2864). Lovzng Co.: Carls- frequents rough, excessively rocky areas. Pop- bad, 40 mi. S. (Brown, 1950). Pecos Co.: nr. ulation density seems to be related to the Fort Stockton (Brown, 1950). Presidlo Co.: amount of vegetative cover in an area, with 29" 40' N-103" 52' W, Bandera Mesa (RWA few individuals in extremely barren areas, a 2865); hIarfa (Brown, 1950), 9 mi. E. (TCWC high density in open areas intermingled with 2832-3), 9.5 mi. S'lV. (RWA 1866-67, 1911-14, patches of shrubs and grass, and again in low 2004), 11 mi. ESE. (RWA 1660-61), 11 mi. SW. density in areas with complete grass cover. (KM'A 1891), 14 mi. SW. (RM7A 1898, 2011), Distribution.-(Fig. 2). C. i. heptagrarnmus 19.1 mi. KW. (KWA 1662), 26 mi. SW. (RWA occurs from northwestern Coahuila and east- 1904), 63 mi. S. (TKHC-7 spec.); 30" 01' N- ern Chihuahua, Mexico, northward through 104" 30' W, in Pinto Canyon (KWA 2684); AXTELL-CNEMIDOPHORUS 157

30" 05' K-104" 27' W, NE. Ruidosa (RW.4 tions. The divergent population, which occu- 2054-6, 2571); Valentine, 9 mi. W. (TNHC pies northern Coahuila and Chihuahua, hIex- 4130-32), 10 mi. WSW. (TNHC-230 spec.), ico, western Texas, and east-central New 11 mi. W. (TNHC 2886-95), 12 mi. SE. (KWA hlexico is named Cnernidophorus inornatus 2019-23). Reeves Co.: Balmorhen, 15 mi. E. heptagrammus ssp. n., in allusion to its (Brown, 1950); nr. Toyah\ale (Brown, 1950). consistently seven-lined pattern. Terrell Co.: Comstock, 54.8 mi. WNW. (TKHC 243); Dryden, 2 mi. E. (RWA 2698); Sanderson, 21 mi. E. (RWA 2690-1); Sheffield, AXTELL,R. IY. 1959. Amphibians and reptiles 13 mi. S. (TKHC 7753-4), 15 mi. S. (TNHC of the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, 7839+), 18 mi. S. (TNHC 8331+), 21 mi. S. Brewster County, Texas. Southu-estern Nut. (TNHC 8196+). Wa~dCo.: Pecos River at 4 :88-109 RAIRD,S. F. 1858. Descriptions of new genera Pecos (Brown, 1950). and species of North American lizards in the acknowledgment^.-For loan or privilege museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Proc. to examine material I am grateful to Drs. A. Acad. h'at. Sci. Philadelphia 1858:253-256. C. Smith and D. Cochran of the U. S. - AND CHARLESGIRARD.1852. Charac- M. teristics of some new reptiles in the museum National hIuseum, Dr. W. B. Dakis and Mr. of the Smithsonian Institution. ibid. 1852:125- J. R. Dixon of the Texas Cooperative Wild- 129. life Collection of Texas A. and AI. College, BOULENGER,G. A. 1885. Catalogue of the liz- and Dr. F. Blair of the Texas Natural His- ards in the British Museum (h'atural History). W. h. 2:497 1- tory Collection of the Unkersity of Texas. A RROWN, B. C. 1950. An Annotated check list Revolving Research Fund grant from the of the reptiles and amphibians of Texas. American Society of Ichthyologists and Her- Baylor L'niu. Press, V'aco: xxi + 25; p. petologists in 1955 helped considerably dur- BURGER,IP. L. 1950. New, revived and re- allocated names for Korth American whip- ing the accumulation of material for this tailed lizards, genus Cnemidophorus. Sat. paper. I owe a considerable debt of gratitude Hist. Misc. Chicago Acad. Sci. h'o. 65:9 p. to Dr. Marshall C. Johnston and Mr. AIichael RURT,C. E. 1931. A study of the teiid lizards of Sabath for many hours of enthusiastic assist- the genus Cnemidophorus with special refer- ence to their phylogenetic relationships. U. S. ance and memorable companionship in the h'at. Museum Bull. ATo. 154:uiii + 286 p. field. I want to thank hlessrs. Robert F. COPE,E. D. 1900. Crocodilians, lizards, and Berentz, Jr., Charles L. Boston, James L. Bur- snakes of North America. Ann. Refit. L'. S. nett, Rlax H. Fly, Dan Gorsky, G. G. Hol- h'atl. Mus. for 1898:151-1294. FUGLER,C. M. AND R. G. WEBB. 1956. Distribu- comb, Bob J. Jobes, C. Ray Linder, and tional notes on some reptiles and amphibians Robert G. Young for then collecting efforts from southern and central Coahuila. Herpeto- while on the field trip sponsored by Sul Ross logica 12:167-1i1. State College during the summer of 1959. Mr. GADOW,HANS. 1906. A contribution to the study of evolution based upon the Mexican Frederick R. Gehlbach proxided me with in- species of Cnemidophorus. Proc. Zool. Soc. formation regarding certain Kew Mexican London 1906:191-244. records in the University of Michigan Mu- JAMESON,D. L. AND A. G. FLURY.1949. The seum of Zoology. reptiles and amphibians of the Sierra Vieja Range in southwestern Texas. Texas J. Sci. illy wife Joan deserves especial mention for -7.54-77.- . , , . her curatorial efforts and her continuous as- KLAUBER,L. M. 1936. The California king sistance in the field and laboratory. snake, a case of pattern dimorphism. Her- petologica 1 :18-2;. -. 1939. A further study of pattern dimorphism in the California king snake. Bull. Both Cnemidophorus inornatus, an un- Zool. Soc. San Diego 15:l-23. striped whiptail lizard, and C. octolineatus, a -. 1944. The California king snake: a striped lizard were described from Pesqueri further discussion. Amer. Midland h'at. 31:85- 87. Grande, Nuevo Lebn, Mexico, by S. F. Baird LOWE, C. H., JR. 1956. A new species and a (1858). A collecting visit to that locality (now new7 subspecies of whiptailed lizards (genus known as Villa de Garcia) corroborated the Cnemidophorus) from the inland southwest. existence of both color forms at one locality, Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci. 10:137-150. MASLIN,T. P., R. G. BEIDLE~IANAND C. H. LOLVE, and led to the discovery that they are con- JR. 1958. The status of the lizard Cnemido- specific. Cnemidophorus inornatus has pri- phorus perplexus Baird and Girard (Teiidae). ority over C. octolineatus and becomes the Proc. LT. S. h'atl. dlus. 108:331-345. valid name for the species. The C. zno~natzis MECHAM,J. S. 1957. The taxonomic status of some southwestern skinks of the Multiuirgatus populations from Villa de Garcia differ sig- group. Copeia 1957:111-123. nificantly from one of the annectant popula- MILSTEAD,TI1. W. 1953. Ecological distribution 158 COPEIA, 1961, NO. 2

of the lizards of the La Mota Mountain re- and reptiles of the Big Bend region of Texas. gion of Trans-Pecos Texas. Texas J. Sci. 5:403- Field iMus. Wat. Hist. Zool. Ser., 29:75-96. I C 1/. SMITH,H. hl. 1943. Another analysis of the -. 1957a. A reconsideration of the nomen- status of the western king snakes of the clature of the small whiptail lizards (Cnemi- Getulus group. Am. Midland h'at. 29:245-251. dorphorus) of southwestern Texas. Copeia -. 1946. Handbook of Lizards. Cornstock 19.57 :228-229. Pub. Co., Ithaca, A'. Y. xxi + 577 p. - 1957b. Observations on the natural his- -AND E. H. TAYLOR.1950. An annotated tory of four species of whiptail lizard, Cnemi- checklist and key to the reptiles of hlexico exclusive of the snakes. Bull. U. S. h'atl. Mus. dophorus (Sauria, Teiidae) in Trans-Pecos h70.199:v + 253 pp. Texas. Southwestern h'at. 2:105-121. STEBBINS,R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles -, J. S. MECHAMAND HASKELLMCCLINTOCK. of western North America. McGraw-Hill Book 1950. The amphibians and reptiles of the Co., h7ew York xxii + 528 pp. Stockton Plateau in northern Terrell County, STRECKER,J. K. 1909. Reptiles and amphibians Texas. Texas J. Sci. 2:543-62. collected in Brewester County, Texas. Baylor MINTON,S. A., JR. 1959. Observations on am- Univ. Bull. 12:II-15. phibians and reptiles of the Big Bend region VAN DENBURGH,JOHN. 1922. The reptiles of of Texas. Southwestern h7at. 3:28-54. western North America. Vol. 1 Lizards. Occas. SCHIIIDT,K. P. 1953. A checklist of Sorth Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 1O:I-611. American amphibians and reptiles. 6 ed., A~ner. Soc. Ichs. & Herps. viii + 280 p. - .~ND T. F. SBIITH. 1944. Amphibians

Comparative Accumulation of Radioactive Zinc in

Young Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brook Trout l2

HE lethal action of dissolved salts of nutritional viewpoint and yet also known to Theavy metals on fish has been investigated limit survival (Affleck, 1952) it was thought in earlier studies by Carpenter (1927) and to be of interest to determine the rate of ac- Jones (1938). The metabolic role of some of cumulation of this ion and to investigate its these same metal ions. known in low concen- subsequent localization. Since comparative trations to play important parts as enzyme studies on ion accumulation in fish are also activators and essential nutritional compo- much needed, the uptake in three different nents in various animals, has been little in- species was studied. vestigated in fish to the present time, however. Interest in zinc accumulation, particularly Zinc 65, has recently been initiated by the Fingerling trout ranging in size from 38-32 Japanese especially in the vicinity of Bikini mm and in age from 7-8 months were ob- Atoll where observations on the nature of tained from the fish hatchery at Kalispell, radioactive contamination in fish after the Montana, during the months of July and atom bomb explosion and zinc localization in August in 1958. The species employed were certain pelagic forms have recently been pub- rainbow trout, Salmo gazrdneii, of the Win- lished by Amano, et al. (1935), Saiki, et al. throp Washington Strain, brook trout, Salve- (1935) and Yamada (1955). The radioactive lintis fontinalis, from the hatchery at Omak, isotope of zinc was discovered to be responsi- Washington, and cutthroat trout, Salmo ble for much of the biological activity found clarki, grown at the Kalispell Hatchery. in this area. Since zinc, in extremely low con- The fish were incubated at 10-12.3"C in a centration, is known to be important from a water bath at the Biological Station of Mon-

1 The aid of Mr. B. H. Cook, Head Manager, and Mr. Fred tana State University and natural lighting J. Howard, Assistant Hatchery Manager, of the Kalispell Fish occurred throughout the experiment. The ani- Hatchery, United States Fish and Wildlife Service is gratefully acknowledged in supplying fingerling trout for this experi- mals were placed singly in 600 ml. Pyrex mentatlon. 2 This work was supported by grants from the United States beakers containing 200 ml. of radioactive zinc Atomic Energy Commission and the National Science Founda- solution made up in filtered Flathead Lake tion in Aid to a Radiation Biology Institute at the Montana State University Biological Station at Flathead Lake, Montana. water. The top of each beaker was covered http://www.jstor.org

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You have printed the following article: Cnemidophorus inornatus, the Valid Name for the Little Striped Whiptail Lizard, with the Description of an Annectant Subspecies Ralph W. Axtell Copeia, Vol. 1961, No. 2. (Jun. 19, 1961), pp. 148-158. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819610619%293%3A1961%3A2%3C148%3ACITVNF%3E2.0.CO%3B2-K

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Literature Cited

The California King Snake: A Further Discussion Laurence M. Klauber American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 31, No. 1. (Jan., 1944), pp. 85-87. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-0031%28194401%2931%3A1%3C85%3ATCKSAF%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N

The Taxonomic Status of Some Southwestern Skinks of the Multivirgatus Group John S. Mecham Copeia, Vol. 1957, No. 2. (Jul. 15, 1957), pp. 111-123. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819570715%293%3A1957%3A2%3C111%3ATTSOSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R

A Reconsideration of the Nomenclature of the Small Whiptail Lizards (Cnemidophorus) of Southwestern Texas William W. Milstead Copeia, Vol. 1957, No. 3. (Aug. 26, 1957), pp. 228-229. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0045-8511%2819570826%293%3A1957%3A3%3C228%3AAROTNO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2 http://www.jstor.org

LINKED CITATIONS - Page 2 of 2 -

Another Analysis of the Status of the Western King Snakes of the Getulus Group Hobart M. Smith American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 29, No. 1. (Jan., 1943), pp. 245-251. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-0031%28194301%2929%3A1%3C245%3AAAOTSO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D