Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala Part 6

Individuals were found beneath logs on the forest floor or moving about in the litter on the forest floor. One was observed crawling across a trail during a heavy rain. In some adults the tan dorsal spots are large and distinct; in others the spots are small and indistinct. Two juveniles, apparently recent hatchlings, were found on June 28 and July 5. These specimens have snout-vent lengths of 29 mm. and tail lengths of 38 and 41 mm.

=Eumeces schwartzei= Fischer

Chinaja, 1.

One specimen (KU 59551) was found on the forest floor at midday; it is an adult female having a snout-vent length of 125 mm. and a tail length of 210 mm. This specimen is larger than those recorded by Taylor (1936:99) and extends the known range of the species south of Ramate, approximately 125 kilometers south-south-westward to Chinaja.

=Eumeces sumichrasti= (Cope)

20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1.

One adult male having a snout-vent length of 82 mm. was found beneath a palm frond on the forest floor. In life the dorsum was dull brown; the chin was cream; the belly was yellow, and the underside of the tail was orange. A juvenile having a black body, yellow dorsal stripes, and a bright blue tail was observed on the forest floor.

=Scincella cherriei cherriei= (Cope)

Chinaja, 2; 30 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1; Toocog, 1.

All individuals of this lizard were found in the leaf litter on the forest floor; many escaped capture. In life the tail is dull bluish gray. The number of dorsal scales varies from 59 to 61 (average 60); thus, these specimens fall within the range of variation of _S. cherriei cherriei_, and thereby differ from _S. cherriei stuarti_ to the west and _S. cherriei ixbaac_ to the north.

=Ameiva festiva edwardsi= Bocourt

Chinaja, 16; 15 km. NW of Chinaja, 10; Sayache, 4; Toocog, 1.

This abundant terrestrial lizard, locally called _lagartijo_, is found throughout the forest. A juvenile obtained on March 14 at Sayaxche has a snout-vent length of 42 mm. and a prominent umbilical scar. Other juveniles were observed at Chinaja in February and March, thereby indicating that the young probably hatch in the early part of the year.

Juveniles have bright blue tails.

=Celestus rozellae= Smith

20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 2.

Two specimens were obtained from trees by workmen in February. These lizards have snout-vent lengths of 70 and 83 mm. and tail lengths of 133 and 135 mm. There are 21 and 23 lamellae beneath the fourth toe; each has 31 longitudinal rows of scales around the body.

=Boa constrictor imperator= Daudin

15 km. NW of Chinaja, 1; 20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 2; Toocog, 1.

All specimens were found on the forest floor. One individual was found in combat with a large _Drymarchon corais melanurus_. Apparently, the _Drymarchon_ was attempting to devour the _Boa_, which had a total length of 1683 mm. Locally this snake is called _masacuata_; it is one of the few snakes believed by the local inhabitants to be non-poisonous.

=Clelia clelia clelia= Daudin

15 km. NW of Chinaja, 1; 20 km. NNW of Chinaja, 1.

One specimen is represented only by the head; the snake was killed on the forest floor by workmen. Another individual was found in a pool of water at the base of a limestone outcropping in the forest; this specimen (KU 58167) is a female having a body length of 2220 mm. and a total length of 2634 mm. This snake contained 22 ova averaging 56 23 mm. Both specimens were uniform shiny black above and cream-color below.

The local name is _sumbadora_.

=Coniophanes bipunctatus bipunctatus= (Gunther)

Chinaja, 1.

This snake was found on the forest floor by day; it is a male having 130 ventrals, an incomplete tail; cream-colored belly, and a pair of large brown spots on each ventral scute.

=Coniophanes fissidens fissidens= (Gunther)

Toocog, 1.

This male specimen was found beneath a rock in a sink hole. It has 122 ventrals and 77 caudals. A narrow temporal stripe extends along the upper edge of the anterior temporal and the lower edge of the upper secondary temporal. The belly is ashy white with a pair of small black spots on each ventral.

=Coniophanes imperialis clavatus= (Peters)

Chinaja, 3.

All specimens were found on the forest floor by day. These small snakes are capable of rapid movement and quickly disappear in the litter on the ground. Two individuals evaded capture. The belly is creamy white anteriorly and vermillion red posteriorly.

=Dryadophis melanolomus laevis= (Fischer)

Chinaja, 3.

These snakes, locally known as _sumbadora_, were found on the forest floor; two others were seen, but escaped. The variation in coloration has been a source of confusion in this species in northern Central America (see Stuart, 1941:86). All of the present specimens are males: KU 55709 has 178 ventrals, 121 caudals, and a total length of 914 mm.; the dorsum is olive-tan with six darker cross-bars on the neck; the belly is creamy white. KU 58160 has 188 ventrals, 123 caudals, and a total length of 1365 mm.; the dorsum is uniform olive-brown, except that some dorsal scales at midbody have black anterior borders like _D.

melanolomus melanolomus_ has in the Yucatan Peninsula; the venter is pale yellow. KU 58158 has 179 ventrals, 122 caudals, and a total length of 723 mm.; the dorsum is rich chocolate brown with eight dark cross-bars on the neck; the belly is bright orange.

Stuart (1941a:87) stated that in life two distinct color phases were observed in specimens collected by him in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. One had an olive-brown dorsum and the other, a reddish orange dorsum.

Stuart made no mention of variation in the color of the venter. Similar variation is known in _D. melanolomus alternatus_ in Costa Rica, where some individuals have orange-red venters. This color phase has been recognized as a distinct species, _Dryadophis sanguiventris_, by Taylor (1954:722). Examination of 18 specimens from Costa Rica shows no differences in scutellation, nor geographic segregation of two populations. I am convinced that the red-bellied _Dryadophis_ in Costa Rica, like those in Guatemala, represent a color phase of the subspecies inhabiting those areas and that _Dryadophis sanguiventris_ Taylor is a synonym of _Dryadophis melanolomus alternatus_ (Bocourt).

=Drymarchon corais melanurus= (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril)

15 km. NW of Chinaja, 1; Sayaxche, 1.

The specimen from Sayaxche was found at the edge of a clearing in the forest; that from 15 kilometers northwest of Chinaja was found on the forest floor coiled with a _Boa constrictor imperator_, which the _Drymarchon_ apparently was trying to eat. The _Drymarchon_ is a giant specimen having a total length of 2950 mm. (see Duellman, 1961:368). The _Boa_ with which it was coiled has a total length of 1683 mm. I was attracted to the snakes by a loud thrashing noise. When I approached the writhing ma.s.s, the snakes separated, but I was able to see that the _Drymarchon_ had its teeth firmly imbedded in the posterior part of the head of the _Boa_. From the _Drymarchon_ I forced the regurgitation of a recently ingested _Bothrops nummifer nummifer_ having a total length of 953 mm. These observations show that the snake-eating capabilities of _Drymarchon_ can hardly be over-estimated.

In both _Drymarchon_ the anterior one-half of the body is olive-tan, which changes to bluish black posteriorly. The local name is _sumbadora_.

=Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus= (Schlegel)

Chinaja, 3; Sayaxche, 1.

All individuals were obtained in clearings in the forest by day in the rainy season. Two individuals each contained a _Similisca baudini_ and another contained a _Bufo valliceps valliceps_. Locally this snake is known by the appropriate name of _ranera_.