Females have from 122 to 137 (mean, 130.8 ± 0.26; N = 107) ventrals;
males have from 117 to 131 (mean, 122.3 ± 0.21; N = 139; Fig. 2). Of the
246 specimens examined, 29 (11.8%; 11 females and 18 males) have an
added half-ventral immediately anterior to the anal plate. Of these
specimens, 27 have the added half-ventral on the left side and two have
it on the right. Five specimens have the last ventral divided similar to
the normal division of the anal plate. One specimen has the last ventral
incompletely divided transversely. Excluding the last ventral, seven
specimens have divided ventrals (half-ventrals). Four of these specimens
have added half-ventrals on the right side (two specimens with one
half-ventral each, one specimen with two half-ventrals, and one specimen
with three half-ventrals), and four have added half-ventrals on the left
side (one half-ventral on each specimen).
Subcaudals
Females have from 37 to 47 (mean, 42.0 ± 0.20; N = 79) subcaudals; males
have from 43 to 55 (mean, 48.4 ± 0.23; N = 109; Fig. 3). Of the 187
specimens examined, 13 (7.0%) have the last pair of subcaudals fused.
One specimen has left subcaudal 28 fused with both adjacent subcaudals
(also fused) on the right. While reading proof we found two omissions in
Fig. 3; there should be illustrated two males with 43 subcaudals and
three males with 44 subcaudals.
[Illustration: FIG. 3. Number of subcaudals in females and males of _T.
gracilis_.]
Ventrals minus subcaudals
The value for number of ventrals minus the number of subcaudals varies
from 80 to 96 (mean, 88.8 ± 0.39) for 79 females, and from 67 to 83
(mean, 73.8 ± 0.28) for 109 males.
Additional scale characteristics
Of the 246 specimens examined, four (1.6%) have the rostral in contact
with the left prefrontal, and hence the internasals are separated from
one another. One snake has approximately one-fourth (anteriorly) of the
suture between the parietals fused. One specimen has the posterior edge
of the frontal fused with the left parietal. One specimen has the
parietal shield on the right side abbreviated posteriorly. One specimen
has both prefrontals fused with the frontal, although an incomplete
suture is present.
Maxillary characteristics (_Figs. 4 and 5_)
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