Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
Vol. 133, No. 10 
THE AMEIVA (LACERTILIA, TEIIDAE) OF 
HISPANIOLA. 
II. GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN AMEIVA 
CHRYSOLAEMA COPE 
By Albert Schwartz and 
Ronald F. Klinikowski 
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., U.S.A. 
PRINTED FOR THE MUSEUM 
March, 1966 
OCR text unavailable for this page.Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ., 133(10): 425-487, March, 1966. 
No. 10 — The Ameiva {Lacertilia, Teiidae) of Hispaniola 
II. Geographic Variation in Ameiva Chrysolaema Cope 
By Albert Schwartz 
10,000 SW 84th Street, Miami, Florida 33143 
AND 
Ronald F. Klinikowski 
127 Spring St., Reading, Pennsylvania 
INTRODUCTION 
The largest of the three species of Hispaniolan ground lizards, 
Ameiva chrysolaema Cope, was described in 1868 with the type 
locality ''Gonave Island." Three other names were then ap- 
plied to this species in rapid succession: vittipunctata Cope 
1871, affinis Fischer 1883, and regularis Fischer 1888. Of these, 
vittipunctata, as Cochran (1941: 275-276) has made clear, was 
apparently described by Cope from a young specimen (snout- 
vent length 88 mm) which was part of the same series from 
which he himself had taken the type of chrysolaema. Cope, how- 
ever, gave a different type locality — ' ' city of Santo Domingo ' ' 
— for vittipunctataA 
In her revision of the species in ' ' Herpetology of Hispaniola, ' ' 
Cochran (1941: 275-292) considered vittipunctata Cope a strict 
synonym of A. chrysolaema Cope. A. regularis Fischer was re- 
garded as a strict synonym of affinis Fischer, which was accepted 
as a valid mainland subspecies (a new status since affinis had 
previously been regarded either as a full species or a synonym). 
Prior to 1941 two subspecies of A. chrysolaema had been de- 
scribed from satellite islands of Hispaniola : A. c. woodi Coch- 
ran from He de la Tortue and A. c. ahhotti Noble from Isla Be- 
ata. These Cochran considered recognizable. A third subspecies, 
A. c. hoekeri Mertens (1938: 338), however, from the mainland 
at Fondo Negro, Republica Dominicana, was rejected as a syno- 
nym of A. taeniura. 
1 Cochran (1941 : 245) noted that the type locality of Cele^tus f= Diploglos- 
SU8) weinlandi, also described by Cope and said by him to have been collected 
on He de la (ionave, was incorrect and the s|ipcimen actnallv came from the 
mainland within 25 miles of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Since A. C. Younglove who 
collected the type of C. tveinlanrti in 1868 also collecred the type of A. rhrysn- 
laema, it is appropriate, as Dr. Cochran has done, to restrict the type locality 
of A. chryftolaema to "within 2.t miles of Pnrt-aii-I'rince." If the type of A. 
vittipunctata is actually part of the same series as the type of A. chrysolaema, 
the type locality of the former should likewise be considered the same as that of 
the latter, despite Cope's statement that it came from the city of Santo Domingo. 
428 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
The discussion below departs radically from Cochran's revi- 
sion in rejectinpr affinis while recoonizing" many other mainland 
subspecies. In large part this has been due to the much greater 
amount of material available to us. 
Six hundred and fifty-five carefully documented and noted 
specimens of A. chrysolaema have been collected by ourselves 
and associates betvreen June 1962 and September 1964. Large 
fresh series of this lizard are now availal)le to us from southern 
and central Haiti, from He de la Tortue and Gonave, and from 
the whole of its range in the Republica Dominicana. These speci- 
mens are in the Albert Schwartz Field Series (ASFS) and the 
collection of Richard Thomas (RT). They have been amassed 
through the efforts of ]\Iiss Patricia A. Heinlein, and Messrs. 
David C. Leber and Richard Thomas. All deserve our commen- 
dations and thanks, most especially Messrs. Leber and Thomas 
who made special efforts on our liehalf to secure topotypes of 
A. c. ahboffi on Lsla Beata. Li addition, we have examined 417 
specimens in the following collections : American ^Museum of 
Natural History (AMXH), Carnegie ]Museum (C^I), ]\Iuseum 
of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Museum of Zoology, University 
of Michigan (U]\OIZ), and United States National Museum 
(USNM). To the curators and their assistants — Charles M. 
Bogert and Miss Grace M. Tilger, Neil D. Richmond, Ernest E. 
Williams, Charles F. Walker and George R. Zug, Doris M. Coch- 
ran and James A. Peters — we wish to express our appreciation 
for allowing us to examine pertinent specimens under their care. 
Paratypes of new forms have been deposited in the Museum of 
Natural History, University of Kansas (KU), and the University 
of Illinois Museum of Natural History (UIMNH), as well as in 
the above collections. The Harvard collections once again have 
been indispensable ; through the efforts of Dr. "Williams, large 
and well preserved series from northern Haiti have been made 
available to us; without these our interpretation of the north- 
western Haitian situation would have been not merely difficult, 
but rather impossible. In the matter of literature, Edmond V. 
Malnate has been most helpful and we are grateful for his co- 
operation. The illustrations are the work of the junior author. 
SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT 
The Species as a Whole 
Amciva clirysolacma may be defined as follows: 1) a large 
species of the genus Amcii'a with snout-vent length to 160 mm in 
males and 134 in females; 2) dorsal caudal scales keeled and 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 429 
straig-lit; 3) ventrals in 10, 11, or 12 transverse rows and in 33 
to 41 long-itndinal rows; 4) fourth toe subdipital seales from 66 
to 101; 5) femoral pores 24 to 52; 6) fifteenth eandal verticil 
with 30 to 52 scales; 7) dorsal pattern consistino- of one of the 
following: a) a series of dorsal yellow to huffy longitudinal 
lines on a brown, tan, grayish tan, greenish, or lilackish ground 
color, the lines (straight or wavy) at times modified into dashes, 
dots, or fused with one another to give ultimately a median dor- 
sal longitudinal band, b) a rather uniform covering of brightly 
colored (blue, orange, yellow) spots on a dark background, 
c) a pale ground with dark vermiculations and tigroid vertical 
lateral bars, or d) completely or almost unicolor dorsally without 
any striking jiattern elements; and 8) hemipenis extending to 
about the seventh to ninth caudal verticil, sulcate surface naked, 
sulcus bifurcating apically, the branches ending in two poorly 
defined scalloped apical discs, non-sulcate surface entirely 
flounced, the flounces extending to the margins of the sulcate sur- 
face, a small smooth triangular area on the non-sulcat(> side which 
divides the flounces for about one-third the length of the organ 
into two fields of flounces which correspond to the apical discs. 
The center of the distriliution of A. chrysolacma is in the (Jul 
de Sac-Valle de Xeiba region of llispaniola; the species is rep- 
resented by large series and from numerous localities in this gen- 
eral region. From here, A. cJirysoIacDia extends westward to the 
vicinity of Leogane on the Tiburon Peninsula, and eastward as 
far as San Pedro de Macoris in the Pepublica Dominicana. From 
Leogane to San Pedro de ]\lacoris, there is a set of localities 
which implies a more or less continuous distribution. From this 
basic center, populations extend northAvestwarcl along the shore 
of the Golfe de la Gonave into the valley of the Riviere de I'Arti- 
lionite, and in the central portion of Haiti at least as far north 
as the vicinity of Mirebalais. In the Kepublica Dominicana, there 
is practical continuity of the main southern mass of the species 
north of the Sierra de Xeiba in the Valle de San Juan and 
thence to the Dominico-Haitian 1, order near Pedro Santana and 
immediately across the border at Cerca-la-Source in Haiti. A 
second major center lies in the northwestern portion of Haiti and 
extends thence eastward into the Valle de Cibao in the Republica 
Dominicana. Whether these two major populations are com- 
pletely isolated from one another is unknoAvn ; there is at least 
no contact in the Republica Dominicana, since the Cordillera 
Central stands between the two main regions, and the central 
valley along the eastern slopes of this range is unoccupied by 
chrysolaema. 
430 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
There are several apparently disjunct populations in southern 
Haiti and the Republiea Dominicaua ; in the former country 
there is a single specimen from Aquin to the west along the 
Tiburon Peninsula, far removed from the nearest records from 
Leogane. In the Republiea Dominicana there are specimens from 
Juanillo near the eastern extremity of the island. Although there 
are no records from between San Pedro de Macoris and Juanillo, 
the species has presumably occurred in that region fairly re- 
cently (and may still occur as isolated populations), since it oc- 
curs on Isla Catalina and Isla Saona. It is at present unknown 
from the adjacent mainland in each case. There were two speci- 
mens reported (Cochran, 1941:282) from Ile-a-Vache but these 
cannot now be located ; although in two extended visits to this 
island we secured only the very abundant A. tacniura Cope, it is 
not altogether impossible that A. chrysolaema occurs there as 
well. Finally, there are populations south of the Sierra de Bao- 
ruco-Massif de la Selle which are completely cut off by these 
ranges from their more northern relatives ; this same phenomenon 
has now been noted in several other species of reptiles from this 
area. These mountains, as well as the virtually non-existent 
coastal plain along the eastern shore of the Peninsula de Bara- 
hona, form an inescapable trap for several reptiles in the south- 
ern portion of the Peninsula. 
For the remaining satellite islands, A. chrysolaema is repre- 
sented by abundant material from He de la Gonave and occurs 
also on He de la Tortue, Isla Beata, and the Siete Hermanos 
islands off the northwestern portion of the Republiea Domini- 
cana. Of the three species of Hispaniolan Anieiva, none has so 
broad a range as does A. chrysolaema. Nonetheless, there is geo- 
graphic evidence that even this species is retracting its range ; 
the apparent absence of chrysolaema from much of the south- 
eastern portion of the Republiea Dominicana, but its occurrence 
on off-shore islands in this region, suggests a formerly more 
widespread distribution in this area. 
A. chrysolaema is absent from the distal third of the Tiburon 
Peninsula in Haiti, and apparently from much of the central i^or- 
tion of that country as well. In the Republiea Dominicana it does 
not occur in the Cordillera Central nor the Sierra de Neiba, and 
is absent from the central and eastern portions of the country- 
except along the southeastern coast. Interestingly, despite its 
occurrence in the Valle de Cibao, it does not occur along the 
northcentral coast of the Republiea Dominicana. The Cordillera 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 431 
Septentrional acts as an effective barrier in this region. Much 
of the eastern Republica Dominicana is mesic (in fact, the area 
of highest rainfall in the country occurs in this region), and 
since A. chrysolaema is distinctly a lizard of xeric habitats, this 
one factor may well have prevented its expansion into this region 
and onto the Peninsula de Samana. However, its absence along 
the coast from Cabo Engaiio westward is strange, since this coast 
is arid and appears suitable for these lizards. Considering the 
disjunct nature of the populations of the species in extreme east- 
ern Hispaniola, it is possible that it never occurred in this region 
or that it has already retreated from this suitable coastal area. 
A. chrysolaema lives in xeric regions. It is abundant in the 
Cul-de-Sac plain below sea level and on the Peninsula de Bara- 
hona. It occurs also in the dry Valle de San Juan, at elevations 
of about 1000 feet. Although more tolerant of less xeric situa- 
tions than A. lineolaia, the two often occur together, with A. 
Uncolata inhibiting more open, cactus-studded, sandy regions, 
and A. chrysolaema preferring slightly more shady areas, such 
as adjacent copses or thickets of Acacia. If lowland woods are 
present, A. chrysolaema may invade them; the woods may not be 
dense nor with abundant ground cover. Maritime deciduous for- 
ests along the mangrove border (but usually not the mangroves 
themselves) offer a suitable habitat. Scrub-lands and open 
beaches with some cover are often adetiuate. In its relationships 
with the other two species, A. chrysolaema most often occurs with 
A. lineolata as noted above. On occasion, however, A. chrysola- 
ema occurs with the shade-loving A. taeniura. In such instances, 
chrysolaema appears to be tlie secondary invader of a habitat 
which is the preferred habitat of taeniura; in one such case near 
Oviedo on the Peninsula de Barahona, taeniura kept strictly to 
the open dry forest, whereas chrysolaema occurred almost exclu- 
sively along the edges of the woods where they abutted on a dry 
mangrove flat. The latter is likely the more preferred habitat 
of chrysolaema, but during the heat of the day this species was 
not averse to foraging in marginal forested situations. 
Characters studied 
We have examined a total of 1072 specimens of A. chryso- 
laema (in contrast to 42 examined by Barbour and Noble, 1915, 
and 198 by Cochran, 1941) ; of these, 655 are specimens collected 
by ourselves and parties at various times, and upon which we 
have extensive data on coloration and pattern. Of the races 
432 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
recognized and described in the present paper, we have seen liv- 
ing or freshly killed specimens of all but two (the race from 
northwestern Haiti, and the race from extreme eastern Repvib- 
lica Dominicana). We feel that data on coloration and pattern 
are absolutely indispensable for any modern worker on the genus 
Ameiva. Old, faded, or (even worse) badly discolored specimens 
are completely useless except for scale counts and measure- 
ments, and analyses of populations must rest heavily and se- 
curely upon data from living or freshly killed animals. 
We have taken counts of rows of longitudinal and transverse 
ventrals, fourth toe subdigital scales, femoral pores, and scales 
in the fifteenth tail verticil (see Tables 1-4). Of these, only the 
numlier of transverse rows of ventrals can be used (partially) to 
characterize subspecies — i.e., having either 10 or 12 transverse 
rows of ventrals. Xo ]K)pulation has all specimens with 10 or all 
with 12 rows. However, there is most often a preponderance of 
one or the othei- in any particular sample, and we have used this 
modal number as typical of the race in question (Table 2), un- 
less the sample is rather small or the two categories differ by only 
a very few individuals. 
Of least value systematically is the number of longitudinal 
rows of ventrals. In the entire lot of A. chrysolacma examined, 
this figure varies from 33 to 41. The means for the 15 popula- 
tions described herein vary from 38.3 to 36.5. Data for longitu- 
dinal rows are presented in each case, but these data are not em- 
phasized. 
The counts of fourth toe scales, femoral pores, and fifteenth 
verticil scales show some trends, although in almost all cases the 
amount of overlap is rather large between most populations. Dif- 
ferences of means, however, between those races which rank first 
and last in each category may be rather striking (see Tables 2. 
3 and 4). The largest difference between the highest and lowest 
populations is in fourth toe scales, where the high population has 
a mean of 91.0, and the low 77.8 — a difference of 13.2 scales. 
For facility Ave have combined in all cases the fourth toe scales 
from both feet and the femoral pore counts for both legs into 
one figure for each specimen ; we do not feel that this weakens 
the use of the data and it may well intensify slight differences, 
which would otherwise be almost unnoticeable. We have given 
the means and extremes for these three scale counts for each 
subspecies ; the differences, if any, obviously are mean differ- 
ences, since overlap of ranges is great in most cases. 
schwartz and klinikowski : ameiva 433 
The Recognizable Subspecies 
Ameiva chrysolaema chrysolaema Cope, 1868 
Ameiva chrysolaema Cope, 1868, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 20:127 
(type locality — "He de la Gonave" = within 25 miles of Port-au- 
Prince, fide Cochran, 1941:275). 
Ameiva vittipunctata Cope, 1871, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 
22:220 (type locality — "city of Santo Domingo" = within 25 miles 
of Port-au-Prince; see Cochran, 1941:275-76 for discussion of rationale 
for this restriction). 
Ameiva affinis Fischer, 1883, Beschreibungen neuer Eeptilien, [Separat- 
Abdruk aus dem] Osterprogramm des akademischen Gymnasiums, Ham- 
burg, p. 1 (type locality — "Haiti"). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of very large size (males to 160 mm, females to 130 
mm snout-vent length), usually 12 transverse rows of ventrals, 
moderate number of fourth toe subdigital scales, high number of 
femoral pores and of scales in the fifteenth tail verticil ; dorsal 
pattern consisting of about six longitudinal yellow lines and/or 
yellow dots arranged in series (Fig. 1, left), and a black gular 
band which may involve the chest and undersides of the arms. 
Distribution: From St. Marc (and including the "Artibonite 
Valley") on the north, southeast along the shore of the Golfe de 
la Gonave, east throughout the Cul-de-Sac plain to the environs 
of Etang Saumatre (Manneville, Ganthier, Fond Parisien), and 
west on the Tiburon Peninsula as far as the vicinity of Leogane 
(Pere) ; an isolated specimen from Aquin, Dept. du Sud, Haiti 
(Fig. 11). 
Discussion : A. c. chrysolaema is distinctly the largest and most 
bulky of the races of the species. Males reach a snout-vent length 
of 160 mm and females 130 mm. Color notes on a series from 
Eaux Gaillees in the Haitian Cul de Sac show the situation as far 
as coloration and pattern are concerned. Males from Eaux Gail- 
lees were noted as dark brown to reddish brown dorsally, espe- 
cially reddish on the shoulders and head (which may also be 
grayish). Lores and cheeks with gray blotches. The back has 
either a series of six yellow lines and yellow dots in the inter- 
spaces between the lines, or has six rows of lemon yellow spots. 
The lateral fields are black with or without a longitudinal series 
of yellow spots. The lower sides have large yellow spots as 
well, and the lateralmost belly plates are blue-spotted. The 
ventral ground color is dull blue-gray, the throat pale orange 
(Maerz and Paul, 1950, PL 9D7). There is a black gular band, 
434 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Fig. 1. Left, Ameiva chrysolaema chrysolaema, ASFS X2162, 3.9 mi. 
NW Ganthier, Dept. de 1 'Quest, Haiti. Right, Ameiva c. umiratilis, holo- 
type, MCZ 77231, Baraliona, Barahona Prov., Eepublica Dominicana. 
which may expand posteriorly to cover the chest and under- 
sides of the arms. Some adult males have the shoulders and 
neck blackened, so that in these regions the yellow lines are 
much dulled and obscured. The females are like the males except 
that the lines are yellow and prominent anteriorly. The venter 
is dull blue-gray. The black gular collar is present but less pro- 
nounced than that of the males, and the throat is orange but 
paler than that of males. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 435 
A series from Diquiiii to the ^vest of Port-au-Prince was col- 
ored much as the Eaiix Gaillees material. The dorsal ground 
color in males was brown with yellow dots arranged in lines or 
with yellow lines additionally present. There is a black lateral 
field with yellow spots. The sides of the head and axillae had 
vivid and prominent blue to blue-green blotches. The heads were 
dull reddish brown to dull orange, with orange-pink throats. The 
ventral ground color was grayish to orange with blue spots on the 
sides of the abdomen. The hindlimbs were dotted with yellow, 
the forelimbs with blue-green. Females resemble the males, but 
the dorsal lines or dots are less bright and prominent. 
From the above descriptions it is obvious that, despite some 
diiferences in details, these two populations (as well as many 
others throughout the range of chrysolaema) share a communitj' 
of dorsal markings — the longitudinal series of yellow^ lines 
and/or dots. Cochran (1941: pi. 8E) showed a dorsal view of 
the type of A. chrysolaema. The six dorsal lines, in this case 
partially fragmented into series of longitudinal dashes, are 
quite distinct. There is no doubt that the type of A. chrysolaema 
did indeed originate in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince, since only 
this subspecies occurs anywhere near that city. Specimens from 
He de la Gonave are much duller, less prominently marked, lack 
fragmentation of the dorsal lines, and are not referable to the 
nominate form. 
The longitudinal ventrals vary between 35 and 40 (mean 
37.7) and these scales are most often arranged in 12 transverse 
rows (67.9 per cent), with 29.2 per cent having 10 transverse 
rows and 2.9 per cent having 11 rows. The variation in number 
of transverse rows depends primarily on whether the lateralmost 
of the enlarged ventral scales is sufficiently large to be con- 
sidered a ventral; we have so considered it if its length (longi- 
tudinally) is equal to that of the next inner adjacent row, and 
if its width (transversely) is equal to at least half that of the 
next inner adjacent row. Occasional specimens may also have one 
or two rows of the belly plates divided, thus attaining counts 
of 11 or 12 in another fashion. 
The fourth toe subdigital scales range from 76 to 101 (mean 
86.7) and the femoral pores range from 33 to 50 (mean 43.7). 
The scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil vary between 37 and 
51 (mean 44.4). 
Within the range ascribed to A. c. chrysolaema, there are vari- 
ous relatively minor pattern variants which we consider as 
436 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
part of the normal variation of the subspecies. Specimens 
from St. Marc at the northwesternmost extreme of the range are 
very boldly lined longitudinally; the same is true of two indi- 
viduals from Manneville. In both cases there are specimens from 
adjacent localities or from the same locality which have more 
typical chrysolaema markings. 
The single individual from Aquin (USNM 72614) is unique 
in several (possibly significant) features. The longitudinal lines 
are composed of dots which also have a more or less transverse 
arrangement, so that the back has a rather conspicuous trans- 
versely banded appearance, a condition seen in no other A. c. 
chrysolaema. The black lateral field is obscured, and there is no 
black gular band, the entire throat, chest and undersides of the 
arms being unmarked. The specimen is an adult male with a 
snout-vent length of 146 mm, ventrals in 38 longitudinal and 12 
transverse rows, 95 subdigital fourth toe scales, 41 femoral pores, 
and 43 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. None of these counts 
will distinguish the specimen from A. c. chrysolaema, although 
we attach no particular significance to this fact. Considering 
the wide gap between the known localities of A. chrysolaema 
between Pere near Leogane and Aquin (a distance of some 90 
kilometers) and the fact that the Aquin specimen comes from 
the southern, in contrast to the northern, side of the Tiburon 
Peninsula, it is likely that this single individual comes from a 
population which is distinct from A. c. chrysolaema. AVithout 
additional material, and especially lacking careful data on col- 
oration and pattern in life, we are unwilling to name this 
single Aquin specimen as distinct from A. c. chrysolaema. 
The character ascribed by Cochran (1941:277) to differenti- 
ate A. c. affinis — i.e., the interparietal being larger than the 
adjacent scales — we find to be completely untenable. Dr. Coch- 
ran has also shown (1941:291) that the scale counts of affinis 
fall within the known range of A. c. chrysolaema. Specimens 
which she assigned to affinis were reported (1941:292) from 
Momance, Manneville, and Pere in Haiti. Other specimens (p. 
282) from Manneville were assigned to c. chrysolaema. In a 
series of twenty-seven specimens from Fond Parisien and the 
eastern Cul de Sac, for example, six have the interparietal larger 
than adjacent scales and the balance have the interparietal 
smaller. The same situation applies to series from other locali- 
ties within the range of A. c. chrysolaema, and if we accept 
affinis as differentiated by this character alone, then the races 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 437 
chrysolaema and affinis are broadly and randomly sympatric. 
No features of pattern or coloration will distinguish specimens 
with smaller interparietals from those with larger interparietals, 
and we cannot detect any other constant scale feature which will 
distinguish two forms in this region. For this reason we con- 
sider affinis Fischer as a synonym of chrysolaema Cope. The 
reasons for considering vittipunctata Cope as a synonym of 
chrysolaema have been outlined in the introduction. 
Specimens examined: Haiti, Dept. de I'Artihonite, "Artibonite 
Valley" (not mapped), 1 (USNM 75921) ; St. Marc, 5 (USNM 
59079, MCZ 58012-13, 65351, AMNH 49766) ; Bept. de VOuest, 
2.2 mi. (3.5 km) SW Trou Forban, 1 (ASFS X1927) ; between 
Arcahaie and Trou Forban, 1 (MCZ 51433) ; 6.3 mi. (10.1 km) 
NE Arcahaie, 3 (ASFS X1928, X1930, X1946) ; 13 mi. (20.8 
km) SW Arcahaie, 1 (ASFS X1938) ; Port-au-Prince, 12 
(AMNH 49637-38, MCZ 13839, 59495-502, 69420) ; Carrefour 
Feuille, Port-au-Prince (not mapped), 1 (MCZ 65810) ; Delmas, 
2 (MCZ 65808-09) ; Petionville, 1 (USNM 59078) ; 10 mi. (16 km) 
SW Port-au-Prince, 1 (UMMZ 92197) ; 3.5 mi. (5.6 km) E Croix 
des Bouquets, 15 (ASFS X2197-211) ; Eaux Gaillees, 33 (ASFS 
X1651-83) ; Manneville, 11 (MCZ 8621-23, 8625, 8629-33, 8614, 
8618) ; 3.9 mi. NW Ganthier, 18 (ASFS X2153-70) ; 1.3 mi. (2.1 
km) NW Fond Parisien, 3 (ASFS X2174-76) ; 0.4 mi. (0.6 km) 
SE Fond Parisien, 7 (ASFS X2189-95) ; Hatte Latham (not 
mapped), 1 (MCZ 51424); Diquini, 36 (ASFS X2381-407, 
MCZ 6292, 8706, 8649-51, 8653-54, 8658-59) ; Momance, 8 (MCZ 
8634-35, 8638-41, 8649, 20875) ; Qa Ira, 2 (MCZ 64919-20) ; 
Pere, 3 (MCZ 13271-73) ; Dept. du Sud, Aquin, 1 (USNM 
72614). 
Ameiva chrysolaema umbratilis,^ new subspecies 
Ilolotype: MCZ 77231, a subadult female, from Barahona, 
Barahona Province, Republica Dominicana, taken 25 July 1963, 
one of a series taken by native collectors. Original number 
X9721. 
Paratypes: All from the Republica Dominicana, as follows: 
MCZ 81000-04, USNM 152558-60, KU 79861-64, UIMNH 56886- 
89, RT 738-39, same data as holotype; ASFS X9568-69, Bara- 
hona, Barahona Prov., 24 July 1963, native collector; AMNH 
37943-49, 38133-39, Barahona, iBarahona Prov., 12 October 1922, 
1 From the Latin for "remaining in the shade." 
438 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
G. K. Noble; AMNH 63191, 63193, Barahona, Barahona Prov- 
ince, 10-19 July 1932, W. G. Hassler; MCZ 58019, Barahona, 
Barahona Prov., 13 July 1932, W. G. Hassler; MCZ 43813-14, 
Barahona, Barahona Prov., 18 July 1932, W. G. Hassler ; ASFS 
V199-200, 4 km NW, 1 km SW Barahona, Barahona Prov., 5 
August 1963, A. Schwartz, R. Thomas; AMNH 49837-38, "Palo- 
mino Spring's, nr. Barahona" (not mapped), Barahona Prov., 
15 August 1935, W. G. Hassler. 
Associated specimens : Rcpuhlica Dominicana: Independencia 
Prov., 6.5 mi. (10.5 km) NE Jimani, 1 (ASPS X9507) ; 
4.4 mi. (7.0 km) SE Jimani, 3 (ASFS X9515-17) ; 13 km 
SW La Descubierta, 3 (ASPS X9364-66) ; 5 km E La Descu- 
bierta, 5 (ASFS X9354-58) ; Las Baitoas, 1 (MCZ 58776) ; 22 
km SE Duverge, 7 (ASFS X9928-34) ; 1 km W El Naranjo, 1000 
feet, 2 (ASFS X9943-44) ; northv^^est side, Laguna del Rincon, 1 
(MCZ 58779) ; Guayabal, 9 km N Postrer Rio, 2 (MCZ 57732- 
33) ; Baoruco Prov., Jaragua, 5 (ASFS X9469-72, RT 713) ; 
0.7 mi. (1.2 km) E El Estero, 2 (ASFS X9467-68) ; 0.8 mi. 
(1.3 km) SW Neiba, 15 (ASFS V252-64, RT 775-76). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolacma characterized by a 
combination of moderate size (males to 130 mm, females to 112 
mm snout-vent length), usually 10 (but often 12) transverse 
rows of ventrals, moderate number of fourth toe subdigital 
scales, low number of femoral pores, and high number of scales 
in the fifteenth caudal verticil ; dorsal pattern consisting of dull 
grayish brown to greenish black dorsal ground color with a series 
of eight to ten dorsal longitudinal lines composed of small and 
numerous dull yellowish to tan dots (Fig. 1, right), and a black 
gular band which in adult males may involve the chest and 
undersides of the arms. 
Distribution : The Valle de Neiba from just east of Jimani to 
the vicinity of tlie city of Barahona, Republica Dominicana 
(Fig. 11).' 
Description of type: A subadult female with the following 
measurements and counts : snout-vent length 93 mm, tail 184 
mm ; ventrals in 37 longitudinal and 10 transverse rows ; fourth 
toe subdigital scales 39 and 41 (total 80) ; femoral pores 18 
and 17 (total 35) ; 43 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. 
Dorsal ground color grayish brown in life, head gray, shoulders 
greenish ; ten rows of dull yellowish dorsal dots, the dots in each 
series virtually confluent with one another, giving a vague wavy 
line ; lateral fields obscure darker gray with scattered buffy dots. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 439 
Throat pale purplish orange, followed by a black gular band 
which extends slightl}' onto the chest and onto the underside of 
the f orelimbs ; ventral ground color grayish blue ; tail dull grayish 
brown above and grayish blue below, with some scattered darker 
scales dorsally. 
Variation: See tables. The characters of umhratilis are best 
expressed in populations from the eastern section of the Valle de 
Neiba ; however, even the most western specimens from the vicin- 
ity of Jimani are in no way comparable to Haitian A. c. chryso- 
laenia. The dorsal ground color was noted in life as being green- 
ish black (Jimani, La Descubierta, Jaragua), greenish brown 
(Duverge, El Naranjo), brown (El Estero), and grayish brown 
(Barahona). The dots in the dorsal longitudinal lines are tiny 
and very often confluent, giving almost a vermiculate appearance 
to the dorsal band; the dots vary in color from greenish 
(Jimani), creamy (La Descubierta), pale yellow to pale green 
(Duverge), yellow (El Estero), grayish yellow (Jaragua), or 
dull yellowish to tan (Barahona). 
The lateral fields are usually dull and inconspicuous, hardly 
darker than the lateral coloration ; they often include a row 
of yellow to creamy spots and are not outlined either above or 
below by pale and prominent longitudinal lines. The ventral 
coloration varies from pinkish gray and grayish orange to 
grayish blue, with specimens having the brighter colors known 
from the western extremity of the range. The throats are dull 
pinkish gray and grayish orange to dull purplish or dull orange. 
The l)lack gular band is invariably present and may, in adult 
males, expand to cover much of the chest and anterior abdomen 
and underside of the forelimbs. The upper surfaces of the 
limbs are usually unspotted, but if there are a few scattered dots 
these are blue on the forelimbs and yellow on the hindlimbs. 
Comparisons: The coloration and pattern of chrysolaema and 
xmhratilis are strikingly different; even in the western portion 
of the range of umhratilis, no specimen approaches closely the 
vivid dorsal coloration and pattern of the nominate race. The 
extreme condition in the eastern Valle de Xeiba contrasts 
strongly with the condition at Fond Parisien, for instance, and 
specimens from Jimani and La Descubierta are much more like 
individuals from Barahona in having fine dorsal dotting and 
generally more drab colors than they are to specimens from 
Fond Parisien. Umhratilis is a smaller lizard; no specimen of 
cither sex of this race achieves the much bulkier and larger 
440 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
size of chrysolaema. This is certainly not a sample artifact since 
large series of both forms are at hand. The tendency for vmhra- 
tilis to have 10 versus 12 transverse rows of ventrals, as in 
chrysolaema, is of interest, although in umhratilis the specimens 
are almost equally divided between the 10- and 12-row condi- 
tions. In number of longitudinal ventral rows, the two races 
are comparable {chrysolaema 37.7, umhratilis 37.1). In number 
of femoral pores these two races differ strongly, with a mean of 
43.7 in chrysolaema and 35.6 in umhratilis. Chrysolaema aver- 
ages slightly higher in counts of femoral pores and fifteenth 
verticil scales. 
Remarks: The occurrence of two very distinct races of A. 
chrysolaema in the Cul de Sac-Valle de Neiba complex is sur- 
prising. Aside from the more mesic eastern and western ends of 
this long xeric valley, the conditions throughout are quite com- 
parably severe. Interestingly, the Valle de Neiba is greatly con- 
stricted just to the east of Jimani ; it is possible that this narrow 
neck (7-10 km) has been effective in separating these two races. 
Specimens from the Republica Dominicana to the northwest of 
Jimani may well be assignable to A. c. chrysolaema. 
Ameiva chrysolaema boekeri Mertens, 1938 
Amciva chrysolaema hoeTceri Mertens, 1938, Senckenbergiana, 20:338 
(type locality — south of Foiido Negro, lower Rio Yaque del Sur, Bara- 
hona Province, Republica Dominicana). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by 
a combination of moderate size (males to 126 mm, females to 
111 mm snout-vent length), usually 10 transverse rows of ven- 
trals, moderate number of fourth toe subdigital scales, low num- 
ber of femoral pores, and high number of scales in the fifteenth 
verticil ; dorsal pattern of two phases : ( 1 ) back yellowish brown, 
grayish tan, to olive, and without pattern and often without any 
indication of lateral fields, or (2) dorsum colored as above 
but with faint paler marblings or longitudinal lines and a fairly 
prominent black to dark gray lateral field (Fig. 2), and a 
black gular band which may involve the chest and underside 
of the arms. 
Distribution: North of the Rio Yaque del Sur in extreme 
eastern Valle de Neiba, north and east to north of Azua and 
east to the vicinity of Bani, in the Llanos de Azua, Republica 
Dominicana ; intergrades with the next subspecies to the north- 
west in the vicinity of Hato Nuevo, Azua Province (Fig. 11). 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 
441 
Fig. 2. Left, Ameiva c. hoekeri, ASFS X7811, 10 mi. NW Bani, Peravia 
Prov., Eepiibliea Dominicana. Eight, Ameiva c. boeTceri, ASFS V689, 15.2 
mi. S San Jose de Ocoa, Peravia Prov., Eepubliea Dominicana. 
Discussion: A. c. hoekeri was described on the basis of four- 
teen lizards from Fondo Negro. Of these, seven males were 
dorsall}^ patternless (including the type), four males showed 
a " chriisolaema"-\ike pattern, and the final male was considered 
by Mertens (1939:72) to resemble the Beata race ahhotti — i.e., 
it was dorsally dotted. The two paratypic females were " chryso- 
toema "-like as well. We have examined a single paratype of 
hoekeri (MCZ 44757) and eighty-six other specimens from the 
range ascribed by us to hoekeri above. Of ten localities, only 
442 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
two have "pure" or almost "pure" hoekeri populations (i.e., 
patternless), viz., a series of five specimens from the west side 
of Punta Martin Garcia, Barahoua Province, and a series of 
twenty-one from 10 mi. XW Bani, Peravia Province. Additional 
specimens (four) from the eastern side of Punta Martin Garcia 
show the typical duality of dorsal pattern, however, and thus 
the uniformity of this small series of five is not significant. The 
large series from Bani, on the other hand, has only a single 
adult male which shows any pattern; this population is thus 
almost completely patternless. A fresh series of five topotypes 
from Fondo Negro has four individuals with patterns, and one 
without pattern. Thus, although the patternless condition pre- 
dominates at some localities (Bani), elsewhere (and including 
the type locality) both types of dorsal pattern occur. 
The two types of dorsal patterns, as delimited by jMertens, 
grade into one another. The back may be longitudinally lined with 
from six to ten tan to yellowish lines of fine dots, or these may 
be very obscure centrally and more prominent at the sides of 
the dorsal field. Some individuals have the back finely marbled. 
The lateral fields are well developed and enclose a series of buffy 
to cream dots; the lateral fields are often outlined below by a 
longitudinal yellowish line, and a similar line may border these 
fields above. The lower sides may be dotted with blue or bluish 
green. The dotted condition of the back, considered by Mertens 
as being ahhotti-like, is not at all comparable to the large and 
brilliant sky-blue spotting on a black ground of that race. There 
is some similarity between patterned hoekeri and nmhratUis. No 
nmhratilis however is unpatterned. 
In patternless lizards, the dorsal ground color was recorded 
as yellowish brown (Fondo Negro), brown (San Jose de Ocoa), 
grayish tan (Punta Martin Garcia), black (Barreras), and 
reddish brown (Bani). The lateral fields may be completely 
absent or may be indicated by a somewhat grayer longitudinal 
lateral stripe, without any sort of included or adjacent pale 
dots. The ventral ground color is blue-gray, purplish blue, blue, 
light olive, gray, or orange-gray. The throat is likewise variable, 
but is some shade of dull orange; females have throats which 
are typically more grayish orange than males. The tails are 
brown to grayish tan above, and gray below. 
Scale counts for the series (including intergrades from Hato 
Nuevo) are: longitudinal ventrals 34-40 (mean 37.2), trans- 
verse ventrals in 10 (82.4 per cent) or 12 (17.6 per cent) rows, 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 443 
fourth toe scales 73 to 98 (mean 84.6), femoral pores 31-41 
(36.5), fifteenth verticil 37-48 (mean 42.7). 
The much smaller size and faded pattern of those hoekeri 
which have patterns, as well as the patternless individuals, can 
easily be distinguished from A. c. chrysolaema. Chrysolaema is 
likewise characterized by 12 rather than 10 rows of ventrals. 
In counts of fourth toe scales, femoral pores, and fifteenth verti- 
cil scales, hoekeri averages less than chrysolaema, the most 
striking difference being in femoral pores {chrysolaema 43.7, 
hoekeri 36.5). Patternless hoekeri can be easily differentiated 
from all umhratilis, since this race is never patternless. Pat- 
terned hoekeri are much like umhratilis. In both, the dorsal pat- 
tern is faded and not well demonstrated. One feature is sugges- 
tive ; patterned hoekeri have the lateral fields prominent and 
often outlined both above and below, whereas the typical umhra- 
tilis condition is an obscure lateral field, not set off by longi- 
tudinal pale lines. Both umhratilis and hoekeri usually have 10 
rows of ventrals, although umhratilis has a much higher fre- 
quency of 12-row individuals. In counts of fourth toe scales 
and femoral pores, hoekeri averages slightly higher than um- 
hratilis; the means for fifteenth verticil scales are identical. 
Because of the similarities of umhratilis and patterned hoekeri, 
we have considered the possibility that the name hoekeri should 
be applied to Ameiva from the Yalle de Neiba. To be counted 
against this conception is the fact that of 61 umhratilis, none 
is unpatterned, whereas 56.3 per cent of the specimens (hoekeri) 
from north of the Kio Yaque del Sur are patternless. There is 
no indication of this patternless condition in specimens from 
Barahona, nor from elsewhere in the range of umhratilis. We 
prefer to regard hoekeri as a separate entity, distinct from um- 
hratilis to the south. 
A. c. hoekeri is approached geographically by three adjacent 
races; of these it is known to intergrade only with the race to 
the northwest in the Valle de San Juan (these intergrades will 
be discussed later). From umhratilis the range of hoekeri is sep- 
arated by the lower reaches of the Rio Yaque del Sur and by 
the extremely mesic conditions of much of the eastern portion 
of the Valle de Neiba. Although hoekeri is not presently known 
to intergrade with the race next to the east along the southern 
coast of the Republiea Dominicana, it may well do so. It is cer- 
tainly significant that hoekeri occupies the western Llanos de 
444 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Azua in the vicinity of Ban! ; just to the east of that city, con- 
ditions become more mesic, and the region is occupied by another 
race. Intergradation likely takes place where these two regions 
come into contact. 
Specimens examined: Repuhlica Dominicana, Barahona Prov., 
Fondo Negro, 6 (ASFS X9703-07, MCZ 44757); west side, 
Punta Martin Garcia, 5 (ASFS V84-88) ; Azua Prov., 3 km E 
Barreras, 2 (ASFS V3164-65) ; 2 km W Puerto Viejo, 2 (ASFS 
V3183-84) ; 22 km NW Azua, 3 (ASFS V465-67) ; 1.8 mi. (2.9 
km) W, 1.1 mi. (1.8 km) N Azua, 18 (ASFS X8002-18, X8103) ; 
1.8 mi. (2.9 km) W, 2.7 mi. (4.3 km) N Azua, 10 (ASFS 
X8019-28); Peravia Prov., 8.9 mi. (13.9 km) S San Jose de 
Ocoa, 1300 feet (430 m), 1 (ASFS V714) ; 15.2 mi. (24.3 km) 
S San Jose de Ocoa, 9 (ASFS V687-95) ; 10 mi. (16 km) NW 
Bani, 23 (ASFS X7801-21, RT 613-14). Intergrades between 
A. c. hoekeri and the race to the northwest were examined from : 
RepuMica Dominicana, Azua Prov., Hato Nuevo, 10 (ASFS 
X437-46). 
Ameiva chrysolaema alacris,^ new subspecies 
Holotype: MCZ 77232, an adult male, from 10 km SE San 
Juan, San Juan Province, Republica Dominicana, one of a series 
taken 9 August 1963 by Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas. 
Original number V283. 
Paraiypes: All from the Republica Dominicana, as follows: 
ASFS V284-97, same data as holotype ; RT 778-79, 10 km S San 
Juan, San Juan Prov., 9 August 1963, R. Thomas ; MCZ 81005-06, 
USNM 152561-64, AMNH 92842-43, KU 79865-66, UIMNH 
56890-93, 2.5 km W, 4.4 km S San Juan, San Juan Prov., 9 
August 1963, D. C. Leber, R. F. Klinikowski ; KU 79867-68, 
AMNH 92844, 2.5 km W, 5.4 km S San Juan, 9 August 1963, 
D. C. Leber, R. F. Klinikowski ; ASFS V389-90, 10 km E Valle- 
juelo, San Juan Prov., 12 August 1963, R. Thomas; USNM 
152565, 3 km E Las Matas, San Juan Prov., 9 August 1963, R. 
Thomas. 
Associated specimens: Haiti, Dept. du Nord, Cerca-la-Source, 
1 (USNM 76780) ; Repuhlica Dominicana, San Rafael Prov., 3.8 
mi. (6.1 km) SE Sabana Cruz, 1 (ASFS V329) ; Guayabal, 1 
(MCZ 58672); Azua Prov., Tubano (= Padre las Casas), 3 
(USNM 66729-31) ; 0.7 mi. (1.1 km) NW Villarpando, 9 (ASFS 
V419-27). 
1 Prom the Latin for "lively." 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 
445 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of moderate size (males to 126 mm, females to 109 
mm snout-vent length), usually 10 transverse rows of ventrals, 
moderate number of fourth toe subdigital scales, very low num- 
ber of femoral pores, and high number of scales in fifteenth 
caudal verticil ; dorsal pattern consisting of five to seven bold 
longitudinal dorsal lines (the lateralmost forming a strong upper 
border to the prominent black lateral fields with their enclosed 
bright yellow dots), the longitudinal lines never broken into 
dots and lines as in c. chrysolaema and always conspicuous and 
discrete (Fig. 3, left), and a black gular band which rarely in- 
volves also the chest and undersides of the arms. 
Fig. 3. Left, Ameiva c. alaeris, holotype, MCZ 77232, 10 km SE San 
Juau, San Juan Piov., Republica Dominicana. Eight, Ameiva c. proeax, 
holotype, MCZ 77233, Santo Domingo, 2.2 km SW Rio Ozama, Dist. Nac, 
Eepublica Dominicana. 
446 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OP COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Distribution: From east central Haiti (Cerca-la-Source) south- 
eastward through the Valle de San Juan (Fig. 11) ; intergrading 
with A. c. hoekeri at Hato Nuevo, Azua Province, and with A. c. 
chrysolaema in the vicinity of Mirebalais, Dept. de I'Ouest, 
Haiti (see discussion below). 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts: snout-vent length 116 mm, tail 200 mm; 
ventrals in 37 longitudinal and 12 transverse rows; fourth toe 
subdigital scales 42 and 44 (total 86) ; femoral pores 16 and 16 
(total 32) ; 46 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. Dorsal 
ground color brown with seven longitudinal pale yellow lines, 
the lateralmost bordering above the black lateral fields with their 
isolated yelloAv dots; lateral fields bordered below by a slightly 
duller longitudinal line which contains a series of bright yellow 
dots; lower sides dotted with yellow. Throat gray, venter dull, 
dirtj^ orange. A black gular band, not extending onto the chest 
or undersides of the arms. Tail brown above, gray below, with 
an indistinct proximal and lateral area of yellowish dots; top of 
tail with some darker brown scales. Fore- and hindlimbs with 
pale scattered small dots, bluish on forelimbs and yellowish on 
hindlimbs. 
Variation: See tables. A. c. alacris presents a constant as- 
semblage of coloration and pattern elements throughout its 
range. The dorsal ground color is alwaj^s brown, with from 
five to seven pale or dull yellow longitudinal lines, these 
lines always forming a conspicuous pattern. The lines are 
entire and not fragTiiented or modified into series of longitud- 
inal dots, although in some specimens the more central lines, 
especially posteriorly, may be broken into dashes. In general, 
however, the integrity of the lines (even when fragmented) is 
maintained. The black lateral fields are bold, set off by pale 
longitudinal lines above and below, and enclose a single series 
of scattered yellow dots ; the lower line bordering the lateral 
field may have superimposed upon it a series of bright yel- 
low dots, thus rendering the black lateral field even more con- 
spicuous. The lower sides are dotted with yellow. The throat 
varies from gray to very pale orange, and the venter likewise 
varies between these two extremes. 
A. c. alacris intergrades to the southeast with A. c. hoekeri 
and to the southwest with A. c. chrysolaema. A series of ten 
specimens from Hato Nuevo, Azua Province (ASFS V437-46), 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 447 
shows the intergradatiou with hoekeri. Of this series, five are un- 
patterned hoekeri, and five represent the patterned phase of that 
race. These five patterned lizards have the lateral fields darker 
than most patterned hoekeri, and there is a distinct tendency to 
have the dorsal lines more boldly (brighter yellow) displayed 
anteriorly, although the posterior dorsal pattern is fainter and 
very like "typical" patterned hoekeri. The distance from Hato 
Nuevo {alacris X hoekeri intergrades) to Villarpando {alacris) 
is only ten kilometers, yet the series from the latter locality is 
typical of alacris in all waj^s and has no patternless individuals. 
From the vicinity of Mirebalais, Dept. de I'Ouest, Haiti, we 
have examined specimens from the following localities: 3.4 mi. 
(5.4 km) NE Barrage de Peligre, 2 (ASFS X2217-18) ; 1.1 mi. 
(1.8 km) S Mirebalais, 3 (ASFS X2237-39) ; Mirebalais, 1 (MCZ 
68510) ; La Tombe, nr. Mirebalais, 8 (MCZ 68517-24) ; Boudou, 
nr. Mirebalais, 2 (MCZ 69387-88) ; Duvie, nr. Mirebalais, 1 (MCZ 
68478). Of these, the last three places named. La Tombe, Boudou, 
and Duvie, cannot be located ; they have not been mapped. Taken 
as a whole, this lot of lizards is intermediate between chrysolaema 
and alacris, although they are closer to alacris than to chrys- 
olaema. Three lizards (ASFS X2237, ASFS X2217, MCZ 68510) 
show the disintegration of the dorsal lines into series of yellow 
spots, a typical chrysolaema feature. Several male specimens 
are larger than alacris, with snout -vent lengths of 133 to 145 mm 
(five lizards) ; two females have snout-vent lengths of 109 mm 
(the upper extreme of alacris females), and another has a snout- 
vent length of 110. In life, our specimens from Barrage de 
Peligre and Mirebalais had yellow lines and a greenish wash on 
the neck — the latter a chrysolaema character. Finally, some 
individuals have a discrete black gular band as in alacris, whereas 
others have the band expanded onto the chest and arms as in 
chrysolaema. We consider this entire lot of specimens inter- 
gradient between alacris and chrysolaema. 
Comparisons: A. c. alacris is easily distinguished from the 
three previously described races on the basis of dorsal pattern ; 
the discrete, bold, and undotted longitudinal lines of alacris 
contrast with the patternless or weakly patterned races hoekeri 
and umhratilis, and with the larger and dorsally dotted and lined 
chrysolaema. Alacris is a race with ten transverse rows of 
ventrals as are umhratilis and hoekeri, in contrast to the twelve- 
rowed chrysolaema. In fourth toe scales, alacris (84.8) averages 
close to hoekeri (84.6), slightly higher than umhratilis (83.0) 
448 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
and lower than chrysolaema (86.7). In femoral pores, alacris 
has the lowest average (33.8) of any race of A. chrysolaema; 
of the described forms, it is approached by umhratiUs (35.6) 
and hoekeri (36.5) and is far below chrysolaema (43.7). In 
scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil, on the other hand, both 
alacris and chrysolaema are high (44.0 and 44.4), with hoekeri 
and unih rat ills (both 42.7) lower. 
Remarks: A. c. alacris occupies the high and xeric Valle de 
San Juan and associated upland foothills (i.e., Tubano). It is 
likely that it is more widespread in east-central Haiti than the 
present evidence of one specimen from Cerca-la-Source indicates. 
Presumabl}^ the race follows down the valley of the Riviere de 
I'Artibonite, and in the vicinity of Mirebalais has genetic con- 
tact with the more southern chrysolaema. Such genetic con- 
tinuity may come across the Montagues de Trou d'Eau from the 
Cul de Sac (although there is no obvious means of penetration 
of this mountain mass), or chrysolaema may reach Mirebalais 
via the valley of the Artibonite from the St. Marc area. The 
only evidence for the latter is the single specimen noted under 
A. c. chrysolaema, from the "Artibonite Valley"; this individual 
may have come from some undetermined locality which is inter- 
mediate between St. Marc and Mirebalais. Further collecting in 
these areas should easily reveal the precise place of contact 
between these two races. 
AmEIVA CHRYSOLAEMA PROCAX^ lieW SUbspCcics 
Holotype: MCZ 77233, an adult male, from Santo Domingo, 
2.2 km SW of the Rio Ozama, Distrito Nacional, Repiibliea 
Dominicana, one of a series taken 14 June 1963 by Ronald F. 
Klinikowski, David C. Leber, and Richard Thomas. Original 
number X7714. 
Paratypes: All from the Republiea Dominicana, as folloAVS: 
ASFS X7711-13. X7724-26, MCZ 81007-10, USNM 152566-70, 
KU 79869-71, UIMNH 56894-97, RT 605-08, same data as holo- 
type ; ASFS X9254-56, Santo Domingo, old airport, Distrito 
Nacional, 17 July 1963, D. C. Leber, R. Thomas; AMNH 92845- 
49, 5.9 km W Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, 20 June 1964. 
D. C. Leber, R. Thomas. 
Associated specimens: Rcpuhlica Dominicana, San Cristobal 
Prov., 8.4 mi. (13.6 km) NE Sabana Grande de Palenque, 2 
1 From the Latin for "bold." 
SCHWAETZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 449 
(ASFS X8167-68) ; 4.2 mi. (6.7 km) NE Sabana Grande de 
Palemiue, 22 (ASFS X8149-66, RT 643-46). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaenia characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 141 mm, females to 116 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 10 (but often 12) transverse rows 
of ventrals, moderate number of fourth toe subdigital scales, low 
number of femoral pores, and high number of scales in the 
fifteenth caudal verticil ; dorsal pattern a series of six or seven 
longitudinal yellow lines in a reddish brown field, the lines usu- 
ally wavy or broken into a series of longitudinal dashes (Fig. 3, 
right), and a black gular band which may be so expanded as to 
involve the entire ventral surface including the undersides of 
the arms. 
Distribution: The coastal regions of San Cristobal Province 
and the Distrito Nacional, from the Rio Ozama on the east to the 
vicinity of Sabana Grande de Palenque on the west (Fig. 11) ; 
presumed to occur inland, since individuals were seen crossing 
the road near the city of San Cristobal. 
Description of type: An adult female with the following 
measurements and counts : snout-vent length 114 mm, tail 275 
mm ; ventrals in 38 longitudinal and 12 transverse rows ; fourth 
toe subdigital scales 46 and 46 (total 92) ; femoral pores 18 and 
20 (total 38) ; 44 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. Dorsal 
ground color rich reddish brown in life, with a series of seven 
dull longitudinal lines, the median line rather obscure, the lateral 
lines broken into a series of wavy dashes, the lateralmost lines 
bordering above the black lateral fields, which have a series of 
tiny yellow dots inclosed within them. Sides of head gray with a 
creamy subocular patch and some pale irregular blue blotches. 
Throat fleshy gray. Ventral color dark blue-gray. Hindlimbs 
heavily spotted with yellow, forelimbs faintly spotted with blue. 
A dark gray gular band not involving the chest and underside of 
the arms. Tail reddish brown above, dark gray below. 
Variation: See tables. The series of A. c. procax is remark- 
ably uniform in both coloration and pattern. The dorsal ground 
color is always some shade of reddish brown, and there may be 
a yellowish green wash over the shoulders. The longitudinal 
lines are conspicuous, although the median line may be reduced 
or faint. Only in young and subadult individuals are the lines 
entire, and even in these specimens there is a strong tendency 
toward wavy fragmentation. The lateral fields are black and 
the yellow dots included therein are regularly very tiny; in 
450 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
females these included dots are less well differentiated than in 
the males. The gular band is present, and in large males may be 
very extensive, including most of the belly. The venter is blue 
in juveniles and females, and gray to solid black in males. 
Comparisons: The reddish brown dorsal coloration and the 
wavy dorsal lines separate procax from all other races. Some 
specimens of chrysolacma were noted in life as reddish brown, but 
this is not the usual dorsal coloration of the nominate race. In- 
dividuals of chrysolaema with this coloration are readily differen- 
tiated from procax on the basis of the very different dorsal pat- 
terns of the two subspecies. 
In size, procax is closest to chrysolaema, although procax is dis- 
tinctly the smaller of the two. Chrysolacma is typically a subspe- 
cies with 12 rows of ventrals, whereas procax, although it has in- 
dividuals with 12 rows, has a modal condition of 10 rows. Procax 
averages fewer (84.8) fourth-toe scales than chrysolaema (86.7), 
the same as alacris, and more than hoekeri (84.6) and umhratilis 
(83.0). In number of femoral pores, procax (36.1) averages far 
lower than chrysolacma (43.7), and slightly lower than hoekeri 
(36.5), but slightly higher than umhratilis (35.6) and alacris 
(33.8) ; procax is one of the races with a low^ number of femoral 
pores. In fifteenth verticil scales, procax averages less (42.8) 
than chrysolaema (44.4) and alacris (44.0), and is about equal to 
hoekeri and umhratilis (42.7). 
Remarks: A. c. procax is presently not known to intergrade 
either with hoekeri to the west or the race next to the east along 
the southern Hispaniolan coast. The easternmost hoekeri locality 
(where the population incidentally is almost completely made up 
of non-patterned individuals) and the westernmost locality of 
procax are separated by onh' 35 kilometers. As noted in the dis- 
cussion of hoekeri, Bani lies about on the dividing line between 
the xeric Llanos de Azua to the west and more mesic conditions 
on the east. Procax inhabits these eastern more mesic regions, 
whereas hoekeri is restricted to the xeric Llanos de Azua. 
Ameiva CHRYSOLAEMA PARVORis,^ new subspecics 
Holotype: MCZ 77234, an adult male, from 0.9 mi. (1.4 km) 
E Boca Chica, Distrito Naeional, Republica Dominicana, one of a 
series taken 23 x\ugust 1963 by Ronald F. Klinikowski, David C. 
Leber, and Richard Thomas. Original number V649. 
1 From the Latin parvum (small) and os, oris (mouth), a translation of Boca 
Chica. the type locality. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 451 
Paratypes: All from the Republica Dominicana, as follows: 
MCZ 81011-14, USNM 152571-74, A:MNH 92850-55, KU 79872-74, 
UIMXH 55638-39, RT 789-90, same data as liolotype; ASFS 
V669-79, Boca Cliica, eastern edge, Distrito Nacional, 23 August 
1963, R. F. Klinikowski, D. C. Leber, R. Thomas. 
Associated specimens: Repuhlica Dominicana, San Pedro de 
Macoris Pro v., 0.5 mi. S San Pedro de Macoris, at lighthouse, 11 
(ASFS X8181-91) ; La RomanaProv., Isla Catalina, western end, 
4 (ASFS V554-57). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 137 mm, females to 113 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 12 transverse rows of ventrals, mod- 
erate number of fourth-toe subdigital scales and femoral pores, 
and high number of scales in the fifteenth tail verticil; dorsal 
pattern of tan to blackish brown ground color with dull yellow 
spots which may be either discrete or confluent, giving a reticu- 
late appearance (Fig. 4, left), lateral fields present and black, or 
broken to give a tigroid effect, and a black gular band which may 
be expanded to involve the chest and the undersides of the arms. 
Distribution: Coastal southeastern Republica Dominicana, 
from Boca Chica on the east to San Pedro de Macoris on the west, 
and including Isla Catalina ; range as here described apparently 
discontinuous, and A. chrysolaema unknown from the mainland 
opposite Isla Catalina (Fig. 11). 
Description of type: x
adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts : snout-vent length 129 mm, tail 282 mm ; 
ventrals in 38 longitudinal and 10 transverse rows; fourth-toe 
subdigital scales 41 and 42 (total 83) ; femoral pores 19 and 19 
(total 38) ; 44 scales in the fifteenth tail verticil. Dorsal ground 
color dull blackish brown, with the entire back from the neck to 
the sacrum covered with dull yellow spots, not aligned into linear 
series ; lateral fields black, not bordered above or below, and in- 
vaded by the brown dorsolateral coloration, the entire sides spot- 
ted with yellow dorsally and pale blue ventrally. Throat gray, 
ventral ground color gray. A black gular band which extends 
slightly onto the chest and also the underside of the arms. Fore- 
limbs faintly spotted with bluish, hindlimbs spotted with dull 
yellow. Tail grayish brown dorsally, gray ventrally. 
Variation: See tables. The dorsal ground color of A. c. par- 
voris varies from blackish brown (type locality) to tan and 
brown (San Pedro de Macoris). The spotted condition of 
the black is typical of most specimens, including small juveniles. 
452 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Fig. 4. Left, Ameiva c. parvoris, holotype, MCZ 77234, 0.9 mi. E Boca 
Chica, Dist. Xac, Eepublica Domiuicana. Eight, Ameiva c. jacta, holotype, 
MCZ 75267, Juanillo, La Eouiana Prov., Eepublica Dominicana. 
but others show a more lineate pattern somewhat like that 
described for procax — the dorsal lines broken into dashes 
giving a wavy appearance. The lateral fields maj^ be obscured 
as in the type, or may be slightly more prominent, with much 
encroachment of brown to give an irregular and indefinite edge ; 
at the same time the black lateral field pigment may extend 
up onto the sides of the back, thereby giving a distinctly tigroid 
appearance to the sides and dorsolateral regions. In some indi- 
viduals the dorsal spots are confluent, thereby increasing the 
tigroid effect by transverse dorsal pale markings. The throat is 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 453 
grayish to dull orange and the ventral ground color varies from 
grayish blue to dull, deep orange. 
The small series from Isla Catalina resembles the mainland 
specimens in dorsal pattern and in extent of the gular band, 
which in parvoris may involve the chest and undersides of the 
arms. The dorsal dots are conspicuously confluent, the lateral 
fields are obsolete, and the ventral coloration is pale bluish with 
an orange tint. The most obvious difference in coloration is that 
the dorsal surfaces of the hindlimbs are rusty — a feature found 
in no mainland parvoris. The Catalina series is composed of one 
adult male with a snout-vent length of 126 mm and thus a large 
lizard, and three females (one of which is a small juvenile), the 
largest of which has a snout-vent length of 112 mm, again a large 
lizard. The transverse ventrals are 10 in three specimens and 12 
in one. In all other features of scalation the Catalina lot falls 
within the known range of mainland parvoris. Additional speci- 
mens from Isla Catalina ma}- well reveal that it is inhabited by 
still another distinctive race ; the strikingly rusty hindlimbs are 
indicative of at least one major color difference between Isla 
Catalina specimens and mainland parvoris. 
Comparisons: No other race of A. chrysolaema has the back 
with irregularly arranged and at times confluent spots, and 
tigroid sides. This feature alone will distinguish parvoris from 
the previous races. In size, parvoris is much smaller than chryso- 
laema and slightly smaller than procax, but larger than the re- 
maining subspecies. In fourth toe scales, parvoris averages less 
(83.2) than other races except umhratilis, which is comparable 
(83.0). Pari^om averages less (38.2) than chrysolaema (43.8) in 
femoral pores, but exceeds the remaining races, all of which have 
low femoral pore counts. In fifteenth verticil scales, parvoris has 
the same mean as hoekeri and umhratilis (42.7), less than chry- 
solaema and alacris (44.4 and 44.0), and almost the same as 
procax (42.8). 
Remarks: A. c. parvoris is not known to intergrade with 
procax on the west nor with the following subspecies to the 
east. The easternmost locality for procax is separated by 35 
kilometers from the westernmost parvoris record. It is possible 
that the Rio Ozama may divide these two races of A. chrysolaema. 
The area occupied by parvoris does not differ in any obvious way 
from that inhabited by procax. 
454 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Ameiva chrysolaema jacta^ new subspecies 
Holotype: MCZ 75267, an adult male, from Juanillo, La Ro- 
mana Province, Republica Dominicana, taken 29 March 1963, by 
Clayton E. Ray and Robert R. Allen. 
Paratypes: MCZ 75268-69, same data as holotype. 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 134 mm snout-vent length; 
females unknown), usually 12 transverse rows of ventrals, low 
number of fourth toe subdigital scales, moderate number of femo- 
ral pores, and very low number of scales in the fifteenth caudal 
verticil; a dorsal pattern of dark brown to black tigroid mark- 
ings on a grayish tan background (in preservation), the pattern 
extending in a diluted fashion onto the neck, a bold, checker- 
board-patterned tail (Fig. 4, right), and a black gular band 
which extends onto the chest and underside of the arms. 
Dist)ihidion: Known only from the type locality in extreme 
eastern Republica Dominicana (Fig. 11). 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts : snout-vent length 134 mm, tail 304 mm ; 
ventrals in 38 longitudinal and 12 transverse rows; fourth-toe 
subdigital scales 41 and 41 (total 82) ; femoral pores 21 and 22 
(total 43) ; 35 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. Dorsum 
(preserved) tannish gray with a dark brown, almost black pat- 
tern consisting of bold vertical tigroid markings on the sides and 
about five wide, dark, longitudinal lines on the back, the latter 
much confused and joined by the lateral vertical markings, giv- 
ing a rather complete and complex dark brown reticulum, which, 
although present on the neck, is much paler gray. Lateral fields 
completely absent, no dotting on sides or back whatsoever. Upper 
surface of forelimbs with obscure grayish lines and blotches, 
hindlimbs with a dark brown reticulum enclosing large spots 
which are pale centrally and darker peripherally. Tail with a 
bold checkerboard pattern of grayish tan, white, and dark brown, 
this pattern becoming obsolescent and absent on the distal half of 
the tail. Belly and throat presently dull grayish orange, with 
some lateral ventral scales with very dark gray blotches, thereby 
giving the belly somewhat of a faint checkerboard appearance 
laterally. Black gular band obsolete but indicated, and anterior 
ten rows of ventrals clouded with dark gray. 
1 From the L.itin for "thrown," an nllusion to the far flung distribution of this 
subspecies. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 455 
Variation: See tables. In coloration and pattern the two 
paratypes are much like the type and require little comment. 
The major difference is that the paratypes have a bold, black, 
gular band which involves the chest and the underside of the 
arms. Neither lizard has any indication of lateral fields, and 
the sides and back have the tigroid vertical bars and brown to 
black reticulum, as well as the checkerboard tail, just as de- 
scribed for the type. 
Comparisons: A. c. jacta does not need detailed comparison of 
pattern with any other described subspecies ; the boldly and viv- 
idly marked back with its light ground color will distinguish 
jacta from the remaining races. A. c. parvoris is closest to jacta 
in pattern, but the differences are so striking that the similarity 
between these two subspecies is not very great. 
In size, jacta is smaller than chrysolaema, procax and parvoris, 
and larger than the remaining forms. All other races have a 
higher numl^er of fourth-toe scales and fifteenth verticil scales. 
Jacta has a high mean of femoral pores, having less than chryso- 
laema, and more than the balance of the subspecies. 
Remarks: No intergradation is known between jacta and par- 
voris to the southwest; the easternmost mainland locality for 
parvoris is separated by 145 kilometers from that of jacta. We 
have attempted to secure specimens of A. chrysolaema between 
San Pedro de Macoris and Juanillo at several localities along 
the coast (La Romana, Boca de Chavon, Boca de Yuma) as well as 
inland in this eastern region, without success. Typical xeric chry- 
solaema habitats here are occupied by A. taeniura. Considering 
the likeness of jacta to the race from Isla Saona, described below, 
it is probable that this boldly marked type of lizard was at one 
time (and still is?) abundant locally in extreme eastern Hispan- 
iola. Presently, the hiatus between jacta and parvoris and the 
apparent absence of the species in this eastern region suggests 
strongly that the populations are relict wdth a disjunct distribu- 
tion. 
AmEIVA CHRYSOLAEMA RICHARDTHOMASI ^ UCW SUbspecicS 
Holotypc: :\ICZ 77235, an adult male, from the environs of 
Mano Juan, Isla Saona, Repiiblica Dominicana, taken 19 July 
1964 by Richard Thomas. Original number V3018. 
1 Named for the collector. 
456 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OP COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Paratypes: ASFS V3019-30, USNM 152575-76, AMNH 92856- 
58, KU 79875-77, UIMNH 56898-99, RT 935, same data as holo- 
type. 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 137 mm, females to 124 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 10 (but often 12) transverse rows of 
ventrals, high number of fourth-toe subdigital scales and femoral 
pores, and moderate number of scales in the fifteenth caudal ver- 
ticil; dorsal pattern of two phases: (1) back gray-green with 
Fig. 5. Left, Amelia c. richardthomasi, holotype, MCZ 77235, environs 
of Mano Juan, Isla Saona, Eepublica Dominicana. Eight, Ameiva c. ridtard- 
thomasi, ASFS Y3019, environs of Mano Juan, Isla Saona, Eepublica 
Dominicana. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 457 
only an indistinct mottling of gray-brown in the area of the lat- 
eral fields or (2) back gray-green with heavy black mottling, no 
lateral fields, and tigroid vertical bars on the sides, the dorsal 
mottling not extending onto the shoulders and neck (Pig. 5), 
and without a black gular band. 
Di.strihufion: Known only from the type locality, but pre- 
sumed to occur throughout Isla Saona (Fig. 11). 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts : snout-vent length 137 mm, tail 146 mm, 
twice broken and regenerated ; ventrals in 37 longitudinal and 12 
transverse rows ; fourth-toe subdigital scales 45 on left side ; 
femoral pores 22 and 20 (total 42) ; 38 scales in the fifteenth tail 
verticil. Dorsal ground color gray-green (Maerz and Paul: pi. 
22F1), becoming finely mottled laterally with a series of \Qvy 
faint grayish brown vertical bars in the region of the lateral 
fields ; lower sides putty colored. Throat and venter orange with 
no black gular band. Fore- and hindlimbs unicolor with back, 
and patternless. Tail grayish tan without obvious checkerboard 
pattern above, putty colored below. 
Variation: See tables. Sixteen specimens of richardthomasi 
(including the type) are patternless dorsally and have a finely 
filigreed, grayish brown area in the region of the lateral fields. 
The tails are gray to tan without a prominent checkerboard pat- 
tern as in the patterned lizards. The venters are orange to drab 
gray, generally slightly more orange in the pectoral region, and 
grayer posteriorly. Throat and underside of forelimbs are 
mottled to nearly unicolor orange, sometimes in discrete flecks. 
The younger specimens have light gray throats. The underside 
of the hindlimbs and tail is gray to putty colored with some 
orange on the anterior surface of the femur, and in some speci- 
mens on the entire underside of the hindlimb. Two small juve- 
niles (snout-vent length 47 and 51 mm) are in this patternless 
phase. 
Eight specimens (adults and subadults of both sexes) have 
patterned backs. In this phase, the dorsal ground color is gray- 
green with a heavy black mottling and strikingly' tigroid barred 
sides. The black dorsal x^attern quickly fades at the shoulders 
and is absent or very suppressed on the neck. The dorsal blotch- 
ing is much as that described for jacta, i.e., a vermiculate or at 
times longitudinally arranged configuration of black on a lighter 
ground. In no specimens are the lateral fields apparent and 
there is no spotting or dotting on the sides. The bellies of these 
458 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATR^ ZOOLOGY 
patterned lizards were the same as those of patteruless speci- 
mens; females of the patterned lizards have the extent and in- 
tensity of the orange not so great as do the males. The checker- 
board tail is a common feature. 
As in A. c. hoekeri, we have no doubt that the two phases in 
richardthomasi represent two basic patterns, and in no way 
should be interpreted as an adult phase versus a juvenile and 
subadult phase. Although the only two juveniles at hand are 
patternless, there is an intermingling of sizes of both sexes insofar 
as the two phases are concerned. Just as in hoekeri, which is rep- 
resented by a much longer series, there are no intermediates be- 
tween the two conditions; each lizard is distinctly in one phase 
or the other . 
Comparisons: The patterned phase of A. c. richardthomasi re- 
quires comparison only with A. c. jacta to which race the former 
is obviously closely allied. The two can easily be differentiated in 
that jacta has a black gular band and the dorsal pattern con- 
tinues anteriorly onto the neck, whereas richardthomasi lacks a 
gular band and has the pattern faded anteriorly. Jacta also is 
not known to have a patternless phase 
The patternless phase of richardthomasi requires comparison 
with patternless hoekeri. The two are much alike, but richard- 
thomasi differs in having the filigreed or mottled lateral field 
area whereas hoekeri has an obsolete lateral field and no mottling 
in this region. Also the dorsal hues of hoekeri populations are 
usually not greenish. 
In size, richardthomasi is smaller than chrysolaema and procax, 
equal to parvoris, and larger than the remaining races. In having 
a mean of 87.6 fourth-toe scales, richardthomasi averages higher 
than all previously named races. In femoral pore counts, it is 
higher than all races except chrysolaema. Considering fifteenth 
caudal verticil scales, richardthomasi is exceeded by all forms ex- 
cept jacta. 
Remarks: The close alliance of richardthomasi with jacta is 
obvious. If we assume that extreme eastern Hispaniola is (was) 
inhabited by a population with heavy dorsal mottling and 
marbling, this population must also have given rise to the Saonan 
subspecies. We have no evidence that jacta or a related form 
still occurs on the adjacent Hispaniolan mainland. Certainh' 
richardthomasi is an insular derivative of an extreme eastern 
heavilv marked form which was likelv similar to jacta. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 459 
Ameiva chrysolaema leberi^ new subspecies 
Holohjpe: MCZ 77236, an adult male, from 5 km E Peder- 
nales, Pedernales Province, Republica Dominicana, one of a series 
taken 25 June 1964 by David C. Leber and Richard Thomas. 
Original number V2509. 
Paratypes: All from the Republica Dominicana, Pedernales 
Prov., as follows: ASFS V2510-19, USNM 152577-82, RT 932, 
KU 79878-81, same data as holotype; MCZ 81015-18, UIMNH 
56900-05, Pedernales, 3 July 1964, D. C. Leber, R. Thomas; 
AMNH 92859-61, 1 km E Pedernales, 25 July 1963, R. F. Klini- 
kowski ; AMNH 92862-63, 12 km E Pedernales, 25 June 1964, R. 
Thomas. 
Associated specimens: Haiti, Dept. d l' Quest, Tean, nr. Sal- 
trou (not mapped), 4 (MCZ 69389-92) ; Saltrou, 7 (AMNH 50000- 
04, 50007-08). BepuMica Dominicana, Pedernales Prov., Oviedo, 
3 (MCZ 58674-76). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of small size (males to 111 mm, females to 104 mm 
snout-vent length), 10 transverse rows of ventrals, moderate num- 
ber of fourth-toe subdigital scales and femoral pores, and low 
number of scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil ; a completely pat- 
ternless rusty brown dorsum, no lateral fields (Pig. 6, left), a 
deep orange-red belly, and a black gular band which may involve 
the chest and underside of the arms. 
Distribution : To the south of the Massif de la Selle and Sierra 
de Baoruco, from the vicinity of Saltrou in Haiti, east onto the 
Peninsula de Barahona, to 12 kilometers southeast of Pedernales 
(Fig. 11). The record from Oviedo is discussed below. 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts : snout-vent length 103 mm, tail 233 mm ; 
ventrals in 34 longitudinal and 10 transverse rows; fourth-toe 
subdigital scales 40 and 42 (total 82) ; femoral pores 21 and 20 
(total 41) ; 40 scales in fifteenth caudal verticil. Dorsum uniform 
rusty brown anteriorly, becoming gray-brown posteriorly; sides 
of head reddish brown. Lateral fields absent. Throat orange, ven- 
tral ground color brick red, lower sides (and lateralmost two 
rows of ventral scales) blue. A black gular Imnd, extending onto 
the first four or five rows of ventrals and onto the undersides of 
the arms. Tail gray above, off-white below. Dorsum and top of 
tail completely unpatterned. 
1 Xamed for one of the collectors. 
460 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Fig. 6. Left, Ameiva c. leheri, holotype, MCZ 7720(5, '> km E Pederualcs, 
Pedeniales Prov., Kepubliea Dominicana. Bight, Ameiva c. ficta, holotype, 
MCZ 77237, 13.1 mi. SW Euriquillo, Pedernales Prov., Eepubliea Dominicana. 
Variation: See tables. The dorsal ground color varies from 
rusty brown to reddish brown, and the ventral ground color from 
gray with small amounts of red to orange-red, fading posteriorly, 
to brick red. The gular band is present in all specimens, and in 
only one male does it not extend onto the chest. The lower sides 
and lateral two rows of ventrals on each side are blue, or at least 
have blue flecking, but one small male has the lateral ventrals 
orange-red like the balance of the venter. The lores and cheeks 
are unspotted pinkish gray. The tails are gray, unmarked above, 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 461 
and the undersides of the tails are a grayish off-white. There is 
no obvious sexual dichroniatism. 
Comparisons: By virtue of its patternless dorsum, leheri can 
easily be differentiated from all races except patternless hoekeri 
and patternless richardthomasi. The different dorsal hues of 
leheri and ricJiardfhomasi (rusty brown versus greenish gray) 
and the presence of a gular band in the former and its absence in 
the latter, as well as the larger adult size of richardthomasi, all 
make this distinction easy. From patternless hoekeri, leheri dif- 
fers in smaller adult size, and in lacking any expression of the 
lateral fields, whereas boekeri retains the fields as obsolete grayish 
longitudinal smudges. The vivid venters of leheri are not found 
in hoekeri, and the brighter dorsal ground color of leheri con- 
trasts strongly with the more drab tones of hoekeri. 
Leheri is the smallest race of A. chrysolaema. In number of 
fourth-toe scales, leheri averages lower (85.5) than richard- 
thomasi (87.8) and chrysolaema (86.7), and is higher than the 
remaining subspecies. In femoral pores, leheri again averages 
less (41.3) than chrysolaema (43.7) and richardthomasi (42.6), 
the same as jacta, and more than in the other races. In fifteenth 
verticil scales, leheri is exceeded by all subspecies except jacta. 
Remarks: A. c. leheri is not known to intergrade with either 
chrysolaema to the north (from whose range it is completely 
separated by the Massif de la Selle) or with the form to the east 
on the Peninsula de Barahona. The three specimens from 
Oviedo noted in "Associated Specimens" above, will be discussed 
in detail in the treatment of the following subspecies. 
AmeIVA CHRYSOLAEMA FICTA^ UCW SUbspCcicS 
Holotype: MCZ 77237, an adult male, from 13.1 mi. (20.8 km) 
SW Enriquillo, Pedernales Province, Republica Dominicana, one 
of a series taken 22 July 1963 by Albert Schwartz and Richard 
Thomas. Original number X9401. 
Paratypes: All from the Repiiblica Dominicana, Pedernales 
Province, as follows: ASFS X9402-09, same data as holotype; 
ASFS X9950, same locality as holotype, 30 July 1963, R. 
Thomas; ASFS V197-98, same locality as holotype, 4 August 
1963, D. C. Leber, R. Thomas. 
Associated specimens: Repuhlica Dominicana, Pedernales 
Prov., 30 km from Oviedo, road to Pedernales, 1 (MCZ 58673) ; 
1 Prom the I-atin for "invented, devispfl," in allusion to resemblances to abbntti. 
462 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Oviedo, 15 (MCZ 58677-80, 58682-90, 58692-93) ; 5 mi. (8 km) 
NE Oviedo, 11 (ASFS X9957-58, V273-80, RT 752) ; Barahona 
Prov., 3 km SW Enriquillo, 1 (ASFS V290) ; Enriquillo, 2 
(MCZ 58777-78). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of moderate size (males to 121 mm, females to 
113 mm snout-vent length), 10 transverse rows of ventrals, low 
number of fourth-toe subdigital scales, moderate number of 
femoral pores and scales in the fifteenth tail verticil; dorsum 
tan to brown, spotted with pale blue, lateral fields obsolescent 
and often replaced by vertical blackish bars or vermiculations 
(Fig. 6, right), belly rust colored, a prominently checkerboarded 
tail, and a black gular band often extending onto the chest and 
underside of the arms. 
Distribution: The Peninsula de Barahona from (apparently), 
30 km NW Oviedo in the west, east to the east coast in the vicin- 
ity of Oviedo, and thence north to Enriquillo (Fig. 11) ; see 
however Remarks below. 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts : snout-vent length 112 mm, tail 287 mm ; 
ventrals in 36 longitudinal and 10 transverse rows; fourth toe 
subdigital scales 38 and 39 (total 77) ; femoral pores 21 and 
20 (total 41) ; 38 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. Dorsal 
ground color brown, with six longitudinal series of more or less 
discrete pale blue spots, the lateralmost series bordering above 
the remnants of the lateral fields, below which is another longi- 
tudinal series of pale blue spots; lower sides with alternating 
vertical black and pale blue bars ; f orelimbs vaguely spotted with 
small dots, hindlimbs boldly marked Avith large rusty spots 
dorsally. Throat grayish orange, belly rust colored; an exten- 
sive black gular band which includes the first eight rows of 
ventrals and extends onto the undersides of the arms. Tail 
brown above, with blue spots on the first nine verticils dorsally, 
and additionally somewhat checkerboarded; tail ivory below. 
Variation: See tables. The tan to brown dorsum with pale 
blue discrete spots characterizes A. c. ficta. The spots, on 
occasion, may be greenish anteriorly or tan posteriorly, but 
in general they are pale blue. The lateral fields are obsolete 
or almost completely obliterated by vertical black bars alter- 
nating wdth blue bars on the sides. The throat and ventral 
ground color are grayish orange and rust, with bellies of females 
slightly paler than those of males. In some individuals the 
dorsal spots are distinctly lineate in appearance, and in a few 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 463 
the back has a more or less complete finely filigreed appear- 
ance, although this is not the norm. The spots themselves vary 
in size, distribution, and density ; they may be much smaller 
than in the type and much more closely appressed to one an- 
other, or the paramedian rows (if rows are discernible) may 
be fused to form a pair of paramedian pale blue lines. The 
checkerboard tail with blue spotting on its basal portion is a 
common feature. 
Comparisons: Only one other race thus far discussed, A. c. 
parvoris, has a spotted dorsum, although A. c. chrysolaema has 
a pattern of spots and lines. In neither of these two races are 
the dorsal spots pale blue, but are rather some shade of yellow. 
In actuality, the pattern of chrysolaema, although dotted, bears 
little resemblance to that of ficta; the pattern of parvoris is 
similar but the coloration and general aspect of the lizards of 
these two races are quite distinctive. Parvoris lacks a conspicu- 
ously checkerboarded tail. 
Compared to the described races, jicta is exceeded in size 
by all other forms except leheri, which is still smaller. In 
number of fourth-toe scales, ficta is exceeded by all races except 
jacta. Chrysolaema, richardthomasi, jacta, and leheri exceed 
ficta in mean number of femoral pores, and in this character ficta 
exceeds the balance of the races. Ficta averages higher in 
fifteenth verticil scales than richarclthomasi, leheri, and jacta, 
and lower than the other races. 
Remarks: The distribution of A. c. ficta encompasses the east- 
ern shore of the Peninsula de Barahona from Enriquillo south 
to Oviedo, and thence inland toward Pedernales for a distance of 
30 kilometers. Ficta is not known to intergrade with either 
imibratilis to the north or leheri to the west (but see below). The 
northernmost station for ficta is 40 kilometers from the closest 
record of umhratilis ; we presume that these two races do not 
come in contact because of the, at best, narrow and intermittent 
nature of suitable habitats for chrysolaema along the east coast 
of the Peninsula de Barahona. 
There are three specimens (MCZ 58674-76) from Oviedo which 
are clearly leberi and in no way resemble ficta. Assuming 
that these specimens did indeed come from Oviedo, they present 
a problem. They are the only specimens from the entire eastern 
coast of the Peninsula de Barahona which are patternless ; in our 
considerable collecting experience in the Oviedo region, we never 
encountered nor collected any leheri-\ike individuals. There are 
464 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
several possibilities ; all of which depend upon the assumed cor- 
rectness of the locality data for these three specimens: 1) they 
represent a Ze&en-phase of ficta; 2) leheri and ficta are not both 
subspecies of chrysolaema; 3) leheri and ficta are both chrysolaema 
derivatives but one has been so long separated from the parent 
stock that the two forms act as species, with a rather broad (30 
km) region of sympatry. 
In defense of our arrangement of these two forms as subspecies 
of A. chrysolaema, the following comments are pertinent: 1) 
There is no incontrovertible evidence that these three lizards are a 
patternless phase of ficta. All of our own Oviedo material is pat- 
terned, and there is no indication that there exists a patternless 
phase oi ficta (although of course there is this possibility). 2) Since 
neither Ichcri nor ficta intergrades with any other subspecies for 
reasons of geography, and since both have apparently been long 
isolated from chrysolaema and umhraiilis to the north, one or both 
might be logically regarded as a distinct species (if so, then 
ahbotti and ficta would compose one species, or leheri could be 
so regarded). We feel that leheri, despite its complete isolation 
from chrysolaema, is so like patternless boekeri and richard- 
thomasi that to regard it as a distinct species would be mislead- 
ing and obscure its clear relationships to the balance of A. 
chrysolaema. A somewhat stronger case may be made for sep- 
arating ahhotti and ficta at the species level; here again, how- 
ever, the resemblance of both these spotted forms to parvoris for 
example (as well as the overall similarities of ahhotti- ficta to 
the more northern subspecies) tends in our opinion to negate 
removing these two forms from the species chrysolaema. 3) The 
most appealing interpretation is that one (leheri) of the two in- 
volved forms has been long separated from its parent stock (A. c. 
chrysolaema), and that once contact between it and another 
subspecies (ficta) has been re-established, the two forms do not 
intergrade but act as separate species. The present lack of 
contact between leheri and chrysolaema and between ficta and 
umhratilis suggests that both forms may well have had long inde- 
pendent histories. It is even not improbable that ficta has been 
derived from aMotti, rather than the reverse, and thus ahhotti 
may have been insularly isolated from leheri. Such a combination 
of situations might argue for species status for both leheri and 
ahhotti-ficta and we have considered this possibility. On the other 
hand, such a decision obscures the obvious relationships of these 
two forms to A. chrysolaema (in contrast, for instance, to A. 
taeniura or A. lineolata) . 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 465 
Finally, and probably the most important point is that the 
region between Oviedo and Pedernales still remains little known 
herpetologically ; there is alwaj^s the possibility that the pre- 
sumed leheri from Oviedo are in actuality from farther west and 
thus from within the known range 0/ leheri. We have tried to 
adhere in this ease to a via media, and rather than make assump- 
tions from inadequate data, we consider both leheri and ficta sub- 
species of A. chrysolaema, although admitting that the situa- 
tion is not completely clear. Exclusive of these three question- 
able lizards, the ranges of jicta and leheri approach, very 
closely; the distance between the nearest localities for the two 
races is only 15 kilometers. 
AmEIVA CHRYSOLAEMA ABBOTTI Noble, 1923 
Ameiva ahhotti Noble, 1923, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 64:1 (type locality 
— Isla Beata, Eepublica Dominicana). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of small size (males to 117 mm, females to 108 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 12 transverse rows of ventrals, high 
number of fourth-toe subdigital scales and femoral pores, and 
moderate number of scales in the fifteenth verticil; dorsum 
black with a pattern of isolated spots which are orange or 
yellowish, becoming blue anteriorly, lateral field absent, the sides 
spotted with sky-blue spots (Fig. 7, left), venter deep brick red 
to orange posteriorly, and a black gular band which expands 
to cover the chest and underside of the arms. 
Distrihution: Known only from Isla Beata, off the tip of Cabo 
Beata (Fig. 11). 
Disciissio7i: A. c. ahhotti is the most brilliantly colored and 
striking of the races of A. chrysolaema. The combination of black 
dorsal coloration, orange to yellowish spots middorsally, becom- 
ing blue anteriorly, and the vivid blue lateral spots provides a 
particularly colorful lizard. The forelimbs are black to brown 
(distally) with blue spots, and the hindlimbs black with prox- 
imally blue and distally orange spots. The venter is brick red, 
grading to orange or pinkish posteriorly, and the lateralmost 
ventrals are invaded by blue and white spotting. The heads 
are tan to orange with white or bluish spots on the sides. There 
is a bold black pectoral band which extends onto the chest and 
even onto the venter and the undersides of the arms. The 
underside of the hindlimbs is orange on the thighs and orange 
466 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Fig. 7. Left, Ameiva c. abbotti, ASFS V2743, Isla Beata, Eepublica 
Dominicana. Eight, Ameiva c. secessa, holotype, MCZ 77238, Etroits, He 
de la Gonave, Haiti. 
to light tan on the crura. The upperside of the tail is checker- 
boarded black and white or cream; the underside of the tail is 
gray to greenish on its proximal half to two-thirds, and uniform 
light tan to pinkish distally. The dorsal spots are invariably 
discrete and there is neither a tendency for them to become 
lineate or to be fused into longitudinal lines. The females are 
colored and patterned like the males; a juvenile lacks the bright 
orange ventral color and the black pectoral area. 
A. c. ahhoiti is so very distinctive in its dorsal coloration and 
pattern that it is hardly necessary to compare it with any other 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 467 
subspecies. Closest, at least in pattern, are parvoris and ficta; 
the former, although a dorsally spotted race, is not so gaudy and 
lacks the discrete spotting so characteristic of abhotti. The ad- 
jacent race ficta, on the mainland, resembles ahhotti in basic 
pattern, but differs in having the back brown rather than 
black, in having the dorsal spots pale blue rather than orange 
to yellowish, in having the spots at times arranged into lines, 
and in having the spotting on the back quite variable in density. 
In contrast, ahhotti is surprisingly constant in density of dorsal 
spotting. Ficta is primarily a race with 10 rows of ventrals. 
whereas ahhotti usually has 12. 
Variation: See tables. A. c. ahhotti has the highest mean (89.6) 
of fourth-toe scales of any race described to this point, and is ap- 
proached only by richardthomasi (87.8) ; of all races of A. chry- 
solaema, ahhotti has the highest average of femoral pores (43.8), 
although it is closely approached by chrysolaema (43.7). AVith a 
mean of 40.4 fifteenth verticil scales, ahhotti exceeds ficta, richard- 
thomasi, leheri and jacta, and has less verticil scales than the 
other races. 
The relationships of abhotti are obviously with ficta on the 
mainland. Whether the latter occurs on the southern tip of 
the Peninsula de Barahona is unknown, but it certainly is a 
more likely candidate there than the drab and patternless leheri, 
if we assume that abhotti was derived directly from the adjacent 
mainland. 
Specimens examined: Repuhlica Dominicana, Isla Beata, 39 
(ASFS V2743-69, MCZ 28571-73, 37578-79, 37581-82, 17676-77, 
57049, RT 934, UMMZ 83098). 
Ameiva chrysolaema secessa^ new subspecies 
Holotype: MCZ 77238, an adult male, from Etroits, He de 
la Gonave, Haiti, taken 17 July 1962 by Elie Cyphale. Original 
number X2447. 
Paratypes: All from He de la Gonave, as follows: ASFS 
X2440-46, X2448-59, UIMNH 56906-09, USNM 152583-87, AMNH 
92864-69, KU 79882-86, same data as holotype ; USNM 80377-78, 
Pointe Quest, 21 March 1930, L. H. Parish and W. Perrygo; 
USNM 77062-69, MCZ 25539-48, Pointe a Raquette, August 
1927, W. J. Eyerdam; MCZ 80251-78, Pointe a Raquette, sum- 
mer 1964, G. Whiteman; MCZ 80231-36, Nan Palmiste, 4 km 
1 From the Latin for "distant, removed." 
468 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
from Pointe a Kaquette, summer 1964, G. Whiteman; MCZ 
80237-50, Ti Roche, 0.5 km from Pointe a Raquette, summer 1964, 
G. Whiteman; USNM 80359-68, 80370-76, UMMZ, 92196, Anse a 
Galets, 23 March 1930, L. H. Parish and W. Perrygo; MCZ 
37568-77, Anse a Galets, 9 April 1934, T. Barbour; USNM 
76803, Nan Cafe, March 1929, A. J. Poole and W. Perrygo. 
Associated specimens: He de la Gondve (no other locality), 
3 (CM 8133, MCZ 12870-71). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 134 mm, females to 111 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 12 transverse rovs^s of ventrals, high 
number of fourth-toe subdigital scales, and moderate number 
of femoral pores and scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil ; dor- 
sum reddish brown with six or seven dull buffy longitudinal 
lines, grayish brown (rather than black) lateral fields with 
isolated buffy dots enclosed therein (Fig. 7, right), and with the 
black gular band usually absent, or at least very restricted, 
seldom involving the anterior ventrals but at times extending 
onto the underside of the arms. 
Distribution: He de la Gonave, Haiti (Fig. 11). 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts: snout-vent length, 117 mm, tail 134 mm, 
broken; ventrals in 39 longitudinal and 10 transverse rows; 
fourth-toe subdigital scales 45 and 45 (total 90) ; femoral pores 
21 and 21 (total 42) ; 42 scales in the fifteenth caudal verticil. 
Dorsal ground color reddish brown with seven dull buffy longi- 
tudinal lines, the median line somewhat broken and indistinct; 
head dull tan, neck greenish ; sides of head gray with whitish 
blotches. Lateral fields grayish brown with an enclosed series 
of buffy dots, more distinct posteriorly than anteriorly, the 
lateral fields set off above by the lateralmost dorsal lines, and 
below by a series of bluish spots; lower sides spotted with blue. 
Throat dirtj^ pinkish gray, gular band absent, belly gray. Fore- 
limbs with scattered pale greenish blue spots, hindlimbs pro- 
fusely dotted with pale yellow. Tail reddish brown above, grayish 
blue below, with some blue scales on the sides. 
Variation: See tables. The large series of A. c. secessa at hand 
shows little variation in pattern ; the entire animal invariably is 
quite dull, and the lateral fields are never conspicuous. The longi- 
tudinal lines do not contrast especially strongly with the dorsal 
ground color and in some topotypes are very obscure and are 
seen with some difficulty. In many specimens there are six 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 469 
(rather than seven) dorsal lines, the median line being absent. In- 
variably the gular band is poorly developed or completely absent ; 
if the band is present, it does not involve the anterior ventrals 
but may send some pigment onto the underside of the arms. The 
coloration of the venter varies from gray and bluish gray to dull 
orange-gray. There is no sexual dichromatism. 
Comparisons: A. c. secessa is so dull and drab compared to 
all other races that no comparison is really necessary. It differs 
from the spotted races parvoris, ficta, and ahhotti in being lon- 
gitudinally lined, and from the patternless races hoekeri, richard- 
thomasi and leheri in having a pattern. It is much duller pat- 
terned, and likewise differently patterned, from the other lined 
races — clirysolaema, mnhratilis, alacris, and patterned hoekeri. 
From jacta and richardthomasi (in the patterned phase), secessa 
differs in lacking the lateral tigroid markings and in having a 
quite different dorsal pattern. Perhaps the most cogent compari- 
son is with clirysolaema which occupies all the adjacent mainland 
about the Golfe de la Gonave. From clirysolaema, secessa can 
at once be differentiated by its much more drab coloration and 
pattern, and by the lack of dotting in combination with lines on 
the dorsum. Both chrysolacma and secessa are typically 12-row 
lizards. 
In fourth toe scales, secessa has a higher mean than any other 
race, being approached most closely by ahhotti (89.6). In num- 
ber of femoral pores, secessa is exceeded only by ahhotti, chryso- 
laema and richardthomasi; in fifteenth verticil scales, secessa, 
exceeds ficta, richardthomasi, leheri and jacta, and is exceeded by 
the means of the balance of the subspecies. 
Remarks: Although A. c. secessa, has presumably evolved from 
the adjacent A. c. clirysolaema, in dorsal pattern it grossly 
resembles alacris and procax, but is quite distinct in several 
features, notably the obscure lateral fields and the lack of 
a gular band. It seems likely that the nominate race has 
carried the pattern evolution — i.e., disintegration of the longi- 
tudinal lines into a series of dots — farther than has the isolated 
secessa which has become faded and pale in contrast to its more 
brightly colored neighbor. Another possible origin of secessa is 
discussed below. 
470 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Ameiva chrysolaema DEFENSOR^ iiew subspecies 
Holotype: MCZ 63379, an adult male, from Mole St. Nicholas, 
Dept. du Nord Quest, Haiti, one of a series taken 24-29 July 
1960 by A. S. Kand and J. D. Lazell, Jr. 
Paratypes: All from Haiti, Dept. du Nord Quest, as follows: 
MCZ 63368-72, 63374-78, same data as holotype; MCZ 63364- 
67, Jean Rabel, 26 July 1960, A. S. Rand and J. D. Lazell, Jr. ; 
AMNH 49856-57, Port a I'Ecu, 1 April 1935, W. G. Hassler; 
USNM 59925, Bale des Moustiques, 3 May 1917, W. L. Abbott ; 
AMNH 49851-55, river just W Port-de-Paix, 2 April 1935, W. G. 
Hassler ; MCZ 58014, river just W Port-de-Paix, 2 August 1935, 
W. G. Hassler. 
Associated specimens: Haiti, Dept. du Nord Quest: Bombar- 
dopolis, 1 (MCZ 63381) ; Dept. de VArtibonite, Gros-Morne, 1 
(MCZ 63380). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. c. chrysolaema characterized by 
a combination of moderate size (males to 126 mm, females to 
106 mm snout-vent length), 10 transverse rows of ventrals, low 
number of fourth toe subdigital scales and scales in the fifteenth 
caudal verticil, and moderate number of femoral pores ; dorsal 
pattern a series of six or seven dull longitudinal lines on a tan to 
brown background, lateral fields dull brown, not especially con- 
trasting with the dorsal ground color and often with the included 
light spots in the lateral field much reduced or completely absent, 
a checkerboard tail pattern (Fig. 8, left), and no indication of a 
black gular band, black on the anterior ventrals, or extension of 
black pigment onto the underside of the arms. 
Distribution: The northwest peninsula of Haiti, from Bom- 
bardopolis in the south to the vicinity of Port-de-Paix in the 
northeast, and thence south to Gros-Morne (Fig. 11). 
Description of type: An adult male with the following meas- 
urements and counts: snout-vent length 118 mm, tail 242 mm, 
partially regenerated; ventrals in 38 longitudinal and 12 trans- 
verse rows; fourth-toe subdigital scales 44 and 44 (total 88), fem- 
oral pores 19 and 18 (total 37) ; 38 scales in the fifteenth verticil. 
Dorsal ground color (in preservative) dull brown with a series 
of seven tan longitudinal lines, the median line the least conspic- 
uous, all lines disappearing on the neck. Lateral fields brown, 
with included tan dots only in their posterior thirds, the anterior 
1 For the Latin for "defender" in allusion to the English fort at Mole St. 
Nicholas which guarded the Windward Passage. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 
471 
Fig. 8. Left, Ameiva c. defensor, holotype, MCZ 63379, Mole St. Nicholas, 
Dept. du Nord Quest, Haiti. Bight, Ameiva c. woodi, unnumbered specimen 
from MCZ 37583-92, He de la Tortue, Haiti. 
two-thirds being without dots. Forelimbs grayish tan, vaguely 
dotted, hindlimbs brown with large pale spots, leaving almost a 
reticulum of dark brown surrounding the large pale areas. Ven- 
tral ground color (including throat) bluish gray, no black pig- 
ment on throat, chest, or undersides of arms. Lower sides with 
gray and blue markings which are almost tigroid. Tail tan, heav- 
ily checkerboarded with dark brown above, blue-gray marked 
with cream below, and with black and some cream on sides. 
472 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Variation: See tables. We are somewhat handicapped in 
discussing A. c. defensor since we have not seen this subspecies 
in life. Judging from the material at hand, especially the 
fresh specimens from the Museum of Comparative Zoology 
(old material in the American Museum from Port-de-Paix 
and Port a I'Ecu is so discolored that it is completely worth- 
less insofar as coloration is concerned but does still retain 
some evidences of pattern), defensor is typically a dull and 
drab lizard with dorsal coloration of tan to brown with six 
or seven longitudinal buffy lines. The lateral fields are brown 
and have the included dots much reduced (often absent an- 
teriorly) or completely absent. In the latter case the lateral 
field presents an unbroken brow^n lateral band. In some speci- 
mens, the longitudinal lines have become more obscure than in 
the type, due to light pigmented areas in the interline regions, 
and in one extreme case (IMCZ 63378 — snout-vent 119, and 
thus not the largest male) the entire back is marbled with dark 
and light and the sides are tigroid, the latter a condition noted 
to a slighter degree in some other individuals. No specimen has 
any indication of black on the chest or undersides of the arms, 
and the gular black band is lacking completely. The prom- 
inently checkerboarded tail is a constant feature and is plainly 
discernible even in old and discolored individuals. 
Comparisons: A. c. defensor most closely resembles A. c. seccssa 
from He de la Gonave. However, the reduced or absent dotting 
in the lateral fields, smaller size, and the generally somewhat 
brighter dorsal pattern (although defensor is nonetheless a 
rather drab lizard) will distinguish the two races. Secessa usu- 
ally has 12 rows of ventrals, defensor usually has 10. From 
the patternless races, def elisor can be distinguished in having a 
pattern, and from the spotted subspecies by having a dorsal pat- 
tern of longitudinal lines. From the other lined races, def elisor 
differs in the lack of a black lateral field with included yellow 
dots, and lack of a black gular band. 
In fourth-toe scales, defensor (82.4) exceeds only ficta (81.9) 
and jacia (79.7) ; in number of femoral pores, defensor (37.2) 
exceeds only loekeri (36.5), procax (36.1), umlratiUs (35.6), and 
alacris (33.8). In fifteenth verticil scales, defensor (38.0) ex- 
ceeds only leheri (37.9) and jacta (35.7). In counts of fourth- 
toe scales and fifteenth verticil scales, defensor is quite low in 
the series of subspecies. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 473 
Remarks: A. c. defensor is not known to intergrade with any 
other subspecies ; there are two wide hiatuses, however. The 
closest approximation of records for defensor (Gros-Morne) and 
chrysolacma (St. Marc) is 83 kilometers. To the east, there are 
no specimens available between Port-de-Paix and Cap-Ha'itien, 
a distance of 70 kilometers. 
Although A. c. secessa is closer geographically to A. c. chryso- 
laema, the former is much more similar to defensor than to the 
nominate race. Such a similarity may be merely convergence 
and may not reflect direct relationships. It is possible, on the 
other hand, that defensor has reached the northwest peninsula 
from GonPive ; it seems hardly likely that the reverse is true — 
i.e., that Gonave has lieen colonized from the north — consider- 
ing the proximity of Gonave to the adjacent mainland (21 kilom- 
eters at its closest point) and its distance from the northwest 
peninsula (72 kilometers at its closest point). 
Ameiva chrysolaema woodi Cochran, 1923 
Ameiva chrysolaemea woodi Cochran, 1923, Occ. Papers Boston Soc. Nat. 
Hist., 8:181 (type locality — He Tortue, Haiti). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by 
a combination of large size (males to 141 mm, females to 126 mm 
snout-vent length), 10 transverse rows of ventrals, low number 
of fourth toe subdigital scales, moderate number of femoral pores 
and scales in the fifteenth verticil ; dorsum very dark brown with 
three to five dull yellowish to buffy stripes or a median dorsal 
buffy longitudinal band ; the stripes may be variously joined and 
modified to give rather complex dorsal figures which are derived 
from the simple five lines (Figs. 8, right; 9) ; sides with vertical 
tigroid markings, and no black gular band or extensions thereof 
onto the chest and underside of the arms. 
Distribution: He de la Tortue, Haiti (Fig. 11). 
Discmsion: The most strikingly patterned and at the same 
time most variable of the races is A. c. ivoodi. Basically the 
dorsal pattern is a series of three to five broad, dull yellowish 
to buffy longitudinal lines on a very dark brown ground. This 
basic pattern may be modified in that the area between the two 
paramedian lines may be filled in with a buffy color so that the 
back has a lateral pair of pale lines and a middorsal pale zone. 
From this condition, the balance of the back may be filled in 
with paler, so that the entire back is marked with a single broad 
pale middorsal zone. In two individuals, the pale lines have 
474 
BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Fig. 9. Left, Ameiva c. woodi, ASFS X2270, Palmiste, He de la Tortue, 
Haiti. Eight, Ameiva e. woodi, ASFS X2267, Palmiste, He de la Tortue, 
Haiti. 
grossly fragmented and joined randomly, to form a bizarre, 
longitudinally reticulate pattern -which is quite distinctive. The 
heads are dull gray-green, with the lores gray. The sides are 
tan to grayish brown ; this lateral color invades the dark brown 
back to give a series of alternating dark brown and tan vertical 
tigroid bars, the tan bars often faintly brick colored at their 
dorsal points. The throats are dirty pale orange, those of the 
females usually lighter than those of the males (although one 
female has a brighter orange throat than any other specimen 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 475 
examined in life). The venter is gray, occasionally with a pale 
orange wash. No specimen has any indication of a black gular 
band or anj- black on the chest and undersides of the arms, al- 
though there may be some isolated black flecking on the chest. 
The tails are tan dorsall3^ wdth prominent black markings, giv- 
ing a strong checkerboard effect. The undersides of the tails are 
gray and often have almost as prominent checkerboarding as 
the upper surfaces. 
Variation: See tables. In pattern, no other race of A. chryso- 
laema is comparable to tvoodi; the three to five longitudinal lines 
are fewer than in the pattern regularly noted in other subspecies, 
and the peculiar middorsal broad band, either with or without 
two dorsolateral lines, and the irregular fragmentation and join- 
ing of the lines on a dark brown ground are all features which 
woodi shares with no other race. In lacking a gular band, woodi 
is comparable only to the adjacent defensor, and seccssa and 
richardtJiomasi. All other forms have the band present. A. c. 
ivoodi is a remarkably distinct form; it resembles none of the 
mainland races and is particularly unlike the adjacent mainland 
defensor. 
A. c. ivoodi is a large subspecies, being exceeded only by 
chrysolaema in size, although procax is equal in snout-vent 
length. Woodi, in having a low mean (80.5) of fourth-toe scales, 
exceeds only jaeta (79.7) in this count. In femoral pore count, 
woodi is exceeded by abhotti, chrysolaema, ricliardthomasi , and 
secessa, and has a mean femoral pore count equal to those of jacta 
and leheri. The moderate fifteenth verticil coimt (38.8) of 
woodi exceeds only richardthomasi, defensor, leheri, and jacta, 
and is equal to that of ficta. 
The derivation of woodi must certainly be from the adjacent 
defensor of the mainland. The lack of a gular band, and black 
on the chest and undersides of the arms, and the ten rows of 
ventrals are features in common between the two races. There 
the resemblances cease, however, since woodi is a boldly and color- 
fully patterned lizard, whereas defensor is dull and drab. De- 
fensor likewise does not exhibit any patterns which are reminis- 
cent of those of vwodi, although the lack of dots in the lateral 
fields may foreshadow the absence of these fields entirely in 
woodi. 
Specimens examined: Haiti, He de la Tortiie, Palmiste. 10 
(ASFS X2267-76) ; no specific locality on the island, 29 (MCZ 
37583-92 -f 19 unnumbered specimens). 
476 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Ameiva chrysolaema regularis Fischer, 1888 
Ameiva regularis Fischer, 1888, Jahrb. Wiss. Anst. Hamburg, 5:26 (type 
locality, Sans Souci, Haiti; this locality is the palace of the same 
name near Milot, Dept. du Nord, Haiti). 
Diagnosis: A subspecies of A. chrysolaema characterized by a 
combination of large size (males to 132 mm, females to 128 mm 
snout-vent length), usually 12 transverse rows of ventrals, very 
low number of fourth-toe subcligital scales, moderate number of 
femoral pores, and high number of scales in the fifteenth verticil ; 
dorsal pattern a series of five to seven pale yellow lines on a tan 
to browm ground color, occasionally with a clear tan middorsal 
zone, neck greenish and dorsal ground color often suffused with 
Fig. 10. Ameiva c. regularis. ASFS Y-1215, 9 km NW Villa Vasquez, 
Monte Cristi Prov., Republiea Dominicana. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 477 
blackish, lateral fields black with an included row of yellow 
dots (Fig. 10), and black gular band present or absent, when 
present seldom invading the chest or extending onto the under- 
side of the arms. 
Distribution: North central Hispaniola, from Cap-Haitien 
and Grande Riviere du Nord in the west, east to Fort Liberte, 
Haiti, and thence to Monte Cristi and throughout the Valle de 
Cibao as far east as the vicinity of Santiago, Republica Domini- 
cana; also the Siete Hermanos islands (known from Isla Muer- 
tos, Toruru, Monte Chico, and Tercero) and Isla Cabras to the 
north of Monte Cristi (Fig. 11). 
Discussio7i: Cochran (1941 : pi. 8, figs. B and D) has illustrated 
two phases in the dorsal pattern of A. c. regularis from Cap- 
Ha'itien, which is near the type locality of the subspecies. Gen- 
erally, throughout its wide range on the mainland, regularis is 
fairly consistent in dorsal pattern. Specimens from the Valle 
de Cibao, Monte Cristi, and Pepillo Salcedo, which we have 
seen in life, were brown dorsally, often suffused with blackish, 
with a greenish wash on the neck, and had five to seven longi- 
tudinal pale yellow lines. At times there is a clear tan mid- 
dorsal zone resulting from fusion of stripes and filling in of 
the interspaces with tan. The lateral field is black and prom- 
inent with a longitudinal series of yellow dots. The lower sides 
are dotted with blue-green, and the sides of the belly are bright 
blue. The ventral ground color varies from grayish to deep dull 
orange, and the throat from yellowish to gray-orange. The fore- 
limbs are spotted with blue-green, the hindlimbs with yellow. 
The gular band may be either present or absent ; if present, it is 
not extensive and seldom encroaches upon the chest or extends 
onto the undersides of the arms. 
There are variants of the above basic pattern, such as that 
shown by Cochran (1941: pi. 8, fig. D), in which there are faint 
filigreed lines in a middorsal zone. Some specimens show acces- 
sory dots between the longitudinal lines, especially posteriorly; 
in the series from near Villa Vasquez, Monte Cristi Province, 
two in life clearly showed a secondary dorsal condition, similar 
to that typical of adult A. c. cJirysolaema, in which the dorsal 
lines are supplanted by a series of bright yellow dots overlying 
the fainter longitudinal lines. In general, specimens from near 
Cap-Haitien seem somewhat darker than those from the xeric 
Valle de Cibao, but in features of pattern they are not remark- 
ably different from those from the Valle de Cibao. Occasional 
478 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
specimens from the western portion of the range of regularis 
have the yellow dots in the lateral fields very tiny, and the field 
thus appears, grossly, to be immaculate, as is characteristic of 
some defensor. 
A series of three adult male lizards from Isla Cabras, off 
the coast just north of Monte Cristi differs from mainland ma- 
terial in having dark brown lateral fields, and yellow dots on 
the lower sides. These three specimens also have extensive black 
gular bands involving the chest and the undersides of the arms. 
Neither in size nor scalation do there seem to be any differences 
betw^een these lizards and those from the adjacent mainland. We 
consider them as regularis since in most features of pattern and 
coloration they are very close to that race. 
There are 17 specimens from the Siete Hermanos, a group of 
seven islets off the mouth of the Kio Yaque del Norte. Of these 
lizards, ten are from Isla Muertos, two from Isla Tercero, two 
from Isla Toruru, and three from Isla Monte Chico. In colora- 
tion, pattern, and scalation they do not differ from mainland 
specimens, and we regard them as regularis. 
Variation : See tables. A. c. regularis may be differentiated by 
its lined pattern from the patternless races — hoekeri, leheri, 
richardtJiomasi — and those which have distinct patterns (dots, 
vermiculations, etc.) — parvoris, jacta, ricJiarcWwmasi, fief a, ab- 
hotti. From the lined races, regularis differs in lacking a dotted 
and lined dorsum in combination (chrysolaema), in having a 
dark ground color dorsally and complete and black lateral fields 
(defensor, secessa), in almost always lacking a pattern of a mid- 
dorsal tan zone and at times having a black gular band (woodi), 
and in having twelve rather than ten rows of ventrals (hoekeri, 
alacris, procax, umhratilis). Begularis most closely resembles 
alacris and procax; compared with alacris, regularis reaches a 
larger size and averages fewer fourth-toe subdigital scales (77.8 
versus 84.8). From procax, regularis differs in smaller adult size 
and in often lacking a black gular band, which procax regularly 
possesses. The two subspecies differ in fourth-toe scales, with 
regidaris having a lower mean (77.8) than procax (84.8). 
The north central subspecies is not known to intergrade with 
either of its neighbors ; there are no specimens to the west between 
Cap Ha'itien (regularis) and Gros-Morne (defensor) , a distance of 
70 kilometers. The closest approximation of regularis (Fort 
Liberte) and alacris (Cerca-la-Source) is 58 kilometers. The 
intervening mountains almost certainly completely separate these 
two subspecies. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 479 
The distribution of A. c. rcgularis along the northeastern coast 
of Haiti and thence into the Valle de Cibao in the Republica 
Dominicana suggests that this form has evolved along the north- 
ern coast and thence has penetrated into the xeric cul-de-sac of 
the Valle de Cibao. The affinities of rcgularis with alacris sug- 
gest strongly that the parent stock has been the latter, yet we 
cannot visualize any means of dispersal of alacris to the north 
Haitian coast ; presently at least the Massif du Nord and the 
Cordillera Central form insurmountable barriers. One route of 
dispersal suggests itself : the valleys of the Grande Riviere du 
Nord and the Riviere Bouyaha (the latter a member of the 
Artibonite system whose upper valleys are occupied by alacris) 
approach each other in the Departement du Nord. These valleys 
and their approximation may have offered a means of ingress 
for Ameiva from the south into the northern Haitian littoral. 
Specimens examined: Haiti, Dipt, du Nord, Cap-Haitien, 14 
(USNM 74075-86, MCZ 37593-94) ; Ti Guinin nr. Cap-Haitien, 
(not mapped), 24 (UMMZ 122819 [=12 specimens], MCZ 66527- 
38) ; Grande Riviere du Nord, 46 (UMMZ 122820 [=12 speci- 
mens], MCZ 63353-63, 66514-26); Fort Liberte, 6 (USNM 
76770-75) ; RepuMica Dominicana, Monte Cristi Prov., Laguna 
de Salodillo, 7 km S Pepillo Salcedo, 1 (ASFS V1430) ; 4 km 
E Pepillo Salcedo, 8 (ASFS V1149-55, V1166) ; Isla Cabras, 
3 (ASFS V1372-74) ; Monte Cristi, 1 (MCZ 58018) ; 2 km SE 
Monte Cristi, 5 (ASFS V1210-12, V1284-86) ; 9 km NW Villa 
Vasquez, 14 (ASFS V1214-25, RT 811-12) ; 5 km W Guayubm, 15 
(ASFS V1494-508) ; 7 km N Guayubin, 13 (ASFS V1471-83) ; 
Valverde Prov., 9 km N Los Quemados, 1 (ASFS V1766) ; 7 km 
E Valverde, 10 (ASFS V2931-40) ; 2 km E Esperanza, 5 (ASFS 
V1755-59) ; Santiago Prov., 7 km W Santiago, 2 (ASFS V2925- 
26) ; Santiago and vicinity, 6 (MCZ 58665-66, 58668-71) ; Siete 
Hermanos, Isla Muertos, 10 (ASFS V1590-95, RT 826, USNM 
76733-35) ; Isla Monte Chico, 3 (USNM 76715-17) ; Isla Ter- 
cero, 2 (USNM 76736-37) ; Isla Toruru, 2 (ASFS V1573-74). 
DISCUSSION 
Before proceeding to a discussion of the variation and possible 
history of Ameiva chrysolaema in Hispaniola, we would like to 
bring out several facts which seem especially worthy of mention. 
The distribution of patternless races, or at least races which 
have some patternless members (leheri, hoekeri, richardthomasi), 
480 
BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 481 
is especially interesting. Of these subspecies, one (leheri) is iso- 
lated on the south shore of His^Daniola below the La Selle-Baoruco 
massifs; leheri approaches, insofar as known without intergrada- 
tion, the very different patterned race ficta on the Peninsula de 
Barahona. Another (hoekeri) has patterned individuals, and is 
surrounded by three patterned races, of which it intergrades 
with one {alacris), is separated from another (umhratilis) by 
the Rio Yaque del Sur, and from the third {procax) by a 
distinct and dramatic change of environment. Finally, richard- 
fhomasi on Saona has patterned and patternless individuals; 
this subspecies is related most closely to jacta. 
Three races are dorsally spotted : ahhotti and ficta on Beata 
and the Peninsula de Barahona, respectively, and parvoris on 
the southeastern coast of Hispaniola. Parvoris is separated from 
its neighbor to the west, procax, by the Rio Ozama, and from 
its eastern neighbor, jacta, by a wide gap which is apparently 
})resently uninhabited by A. chrjjsolaema. The occurrence of 
parvoris on Isla Catalina, to the east of the known mainland 
distribution of that race, is noteworthy. 
Of the striped races, chrysolaema stands alone in its large size 
and its style of dorsal patterning, a combination of lines and 
dots. Chrysolaema is known to intergrade with alacris, another 
striped race, in the vicinity of Mirebalais, but no intergrades are 
known between chrysolaema and unihratilis in the Cul de Sac- 
Valle de Neiba. rmhraiilis resembles the striped phase of hoekeri 
to some extent ; the two are not known to intergrade. The races 
procax, ala<;ris, and regularis are all comparably striped ; of 
them, alacris and procax have 10 rows of ventrals, whereas 
regularis has 12 rows of ventrals. The range 0/ alacris is sep- 
arated from that of procax by the intervening and quite different 
hoekeri. Defensor, by virtue of its pallid coloration and drab pat- 
tern, stands alone among the mainland races, but it is approached 
somewhat by the drab secessa from Gonave ; secessa has 12 rows 
of ventrals. rkfensor 10. The Tortue subspecies woodi is very 
distinctive, I)ut logically must have been derived from either 
defensor or regularis, the only two races on the north coast. 
The Sierra de Xeiba and the Montagues du Trou d'Eau form 
the northern boundary of the Cul de Sac-Valle de Neiba plain, 
which is in actuality a fossil strait that once separated His- 
paniola into two distinct islands, the north and south islands 
The south side of the same plain is bounded by the Massif de la 
Selle and its associated northern ranges (Morne I'Hopital, ]\Iont 
482 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
des Enfants Perdus) and the Sierra de Baoruco. Considering 
only this region, one is struck by the amazing diversity of the 
four races of A. chrysolaema associated with it : chrysolaema in 
the northwest, umhratilis in the northeast, ficta in the southeast 
and leberi in the southwest. Here we are involved with four 
races whose patterns are radically different — chrysolaema dark 
with longitudinal lines and dots, umbratilis pale with lines, ficta 
with large dorsal spots, and leheri without pattern. 
It has become customary to catalogue, if possible, Hispaniolan 
reptiles and amphibians into either north or south island species 
— i.e., depending upon their present and presumed past distribu- 
tion. Although this is somewhat difficult in the present case, 
we feel that A. chrysolaema is a north island species. Except for 
the isolated occurrence of A. c. chrysolaema at Aquin on the 
Tiburon Peninsula (based on a single specimen), this south- 
western extremity of Hispaniola lacks the species; the otherwise 
westernmost record is from Pere, near Leogane. The occurrence 
of the very different race ficta on the Peninsula de Barahona 
(and its relative ahhotti on Beata), as well as leheri to the west 
along the south coast, indicates that the A. chrysolaema stock was 
long isolated on the southeastern portion of the south island, 
where ficta evolved in isolation from the northern mass of the 
species. The presence of leheri along this south shore is most 
puzzling, especially since it is geographically closest to ficta (see 
Remarks under A. c. ficta for additional comments), and since 
it also resembles hoekeri far to the northeast. Perhaps leheri is 
the more ancient of the two mainland south island races, and its 
present rather restricted distribution a mere remnant of a range 
which was once more extensive, especially to the west toward 
Jacmel. If such is the case, leheri might be regarded as a sub- 
species derived from (pre) chrysolaema; a possible source of 
colonization from the northern shore of the Tiburon Peninsula 
might be the Vallee de Trouin, the low pass between the north 
and south shores of the peninsula. It is of course quite possible 
that additional collecting in the vicinity of Jacmel or between 
that city and Saltrou will reveal the presence of leheri; it is 
also possible that chrysolaema or chrysolaema X leheri inter- 
grades may l)e found in the Vallee de Trouin as well. 
On the north island, and including the Cul de Sac-Valle de 
Neiba, we visualize the old coast inhabited by two races, chryso- 
laema and umhrotilis, much as today procax and parvoris occur 
along the south shore of the eastern Republica Dominicana. With 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA -483 
the closure of the strait, each of these races has expanded into 
the resulting xeric plain, although to the northwest along the 
Golfe de la Gonave, chrysolaema still occupies the narrow coastal 
plain and adjacent xeric foothills much as it may formerly have 
done farther south. Once across the plain, chrysolaema has ex- 
tended its range inland to some extent (Petionville), and to the 
west (Pere, Momance). Vmhratilis, on the other hand, has not 
been able to penetrate far into the adjacent mountains, although 
it does reach an elevation of 1000 feet near El Naranjo. The 
range of nnihratilis is bounded on the north by the valley of the 
Rio Yaque del Sur. 
To the east of the Rio Yaque del Sur are a series of four, more 
©r less coastal, races. Of these, hoekeri, immediately to the north 
and east of the Yaque, is rather like umbratilis in its patterned 
phase. We consider hockcri as a direct derivative of umhratilis 
and restricted to the Llanos de Azua. The next three races — 
procax, parvoris, jacta — show increasingly scattered patterns 
of distribution to the east, with jacta apparently the most iso- 
lated. As noted previously, procax and hoekeri approach one 
another in the vicinity of Bani, precisely in the area of rapid 
transition from the xeric Llanos de Azua to the more mesic 
coastal areas to the east. The Rio Ozama separates procax from 
parvoris, which is known from only two localities on the main- 
land and from a slightly differentiated population on Isla Cata- 
lina. We consider hoekeri, procax, and parvoris as a more or less 
sequential coastal series still maintaining its integrity in response 
to environmental and geographical influences. 
Jacta, on the other hand, along with richardthomasi, represents 
a very different sort of lizard. We feel that the jacta-richard- 
thomasi populations at one time (and perhaps still) occupied 
most of the extreme eastern end of the island. The presently 
restricted and scattered distribution and records for not only 
jacta but also parvoris, as well as the isolated occurrence of 
parvoris on Catalina, suggest strongly that the range of A. 
chrysolaema in this region is retracting, leaving isolated outliers 
which may be indicative of former populations. The absence of 
records of the species between San Pedro de Macoris and Juan- 
illo, as well as only two general localities of parvoris on the 
mainland, add substance to this supposition. The eastern dis- 
tribution of Ameiva lineolata tends also to bear out this conten- 
tion. 
484 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Of the remaining- races from the southern part of the north 
island, only the strii)ed alacris is left. Alacris is so like procax 
in many features that it is difficult not to associate the two. On 
the other hand, they are separated presently by hoekeri, with 
which race alacris intergrades, as it does with chrijsolaema on 
the west. Tt is possible that alacris and procax were at one time 
confluent, but that bockcri has pushed between them, thereby 
severing- any direct genetic continuity between the two. An- 
other possibility is that alacris has been derived from chryso- 
laema, either across the Montagues de Trou d'Eau or along the 
valley of the Riviere de I'Artibonite. Continued evidence of 
intergradation between these two races near ]Mirebalais lends 
support to this possibility. 
A. c. defensor on the northwestern peninsula has obviously 
been long isolated from its more southern relatives. Presumably 
it has been derived from chrysolaema. The Gonave race secessa 
resembles defensor in pattern and cohn-ation, and it is possible 
that Gonave was colonized from tlie north (defensor) rather than 
from the adjacent mainland [chrysolaema) . The latter, however, 
seems more likely both on the basis of proximity and what is 
presently known of the origin of the Gonave herpetofauna. 
The relationships of regularis seem closest to the procax-alacris 
pair; possibility of origin of regularis from alacris via the Arti- 
bonite system and thence to the Grande Riviere du Xord has 
already been discussed. Other possibilities are an old origin 
from defensor (although this is not particularly appealing) or 
an origin from procax via the central valley to the east of the 
Cordillera Central in the Republica Dominicana. The only evi- 
dence against this is that A. chrysolaema does not occupy this val- 
ley today, although procax occurs at its southern end and 
regularis at its northern end uear Santiago. 
Finally, A. c. woodi on Tortue, although closer geographically 
to defensor than to regularis, seems closer in some characteristics 
to regularis than to defensor. There are, however, tendencies of 
pattern in defensor which herald the extreme peculiarities of 
woodi patterns. On the other hand, occasional regularis have 
dorsal patterns like some woodi. It seems more likely that ivoodi 
is a direct derivative of defensor. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 485 
LITERATURE CITED 
Barbour, Thomas, and G. Kingley Noble 
1915. A revision of the lizards of the genus Ameiva. Bull. Mus. Comp. 
Zool., 59(6):417-479. 
Cochran, Doris M. 
1941. The herpetology of Hispaniola. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 177: 
i-vii + 1-398, 12 pis., 120 figs. 
Maerz, a., and M. Rea Paul 
1950. A dictionary of color. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 
pp. i-vii, 1-23, 137-208, 56 pis. 
Mertens, Robert 
1938. Aniphiliien und Reptilien aus Santo Domingo, gesanimelt von 
Dr. H. Boker. Senckenbergiana, 20: 332-42, 6 pis. 
1939. Herpetologische Ergebnisse einer Reise naeh der Insel Hispan- 
iola, Westindien. Abh. senckenberg. naturf. Ges., 449: 1-84, 
10 pis. 
Schwartz, Albert 
(in press) The Ameiva (Reptilia, Teiidae) of Hispaniola. I. Ameiva 
lineolata Dumeril and Bibron. Caribbean Jour. Sci. 
(Received February 25, 1965.) 
486 
BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 
Subspecies 
chrysolaema 
woodi 
procax 
richardthomasi 
parvoris 
secessa 
jacta 
regularis 
umbratilis 
boeheri 
alacris 
defensor 
ficta 
abbotti 
leberi 
160 
141 
141 
137 
137 
135 
134 
132 
130 
126 
126 
126 
121 
117 
111 
130 
126 
116 
124 
113 
111 
128 
112 
111 
109 
106 
113 
108 
104 
Table 1. Subspecies of Ameiva chrysolaema ranked according to snout- 
vent length (in mm) of largest male for each race. 
Transverse ventrals 
Table 2. Subspecies of Ameiva chrysolaema ranked according to means of 
number of fourth-toe subdigital scales; each race is also characterized by 
the modal number of transverse rows of ventral scales (but see discussions 
of umbratilis, procax, and richardthomasi). N ^ number of specimens ex- 
amined. 
SCHWARTZ AND KLINIKOWSKI : AMEIVA 487 
Subspecies 
abbotti 
chrysolaema 
richardtJiomasi 
seoessa 
jacta 
leberi 
woodi 
ficta 
parvoris 
regularis 
defensor 
boeTceri 
procax 
umbratilis 
alacris 
Table 3. Subspecies of Ameiva chrysolaema ranked according to mean 
number of femoral pores; N = same as in Table 2. 
Scales in 15th caudal verticil 
Subspecies Mean and extremes 
chrysolaema 
alacris 
regularis 
procax 
boeTceri 
umbratilis 
parvoris 
abbotti 
secessa 
ficta 
woodi 
richardthomasi 
defensor 
leberi 
jacta 
Table 4. Subspecies of Ameiva chrysolaema ranked according to mean num- 
ber of scales in fifteenth caudal verticil ; N = same as in Table 2.