BREVIORA Museum of Comparative Zoology Cambridge, Mass. May 28, 1965 Number 223 A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CLE LI A CLE LI A (SERPENTES : COLUBRIDAE) FROM THE ISLAND OF GRENADA By Allen E. Greer The recent acquisition of two specimens of Clelia clelia from the island of Grenada, Lesser Antilles, draws attention to signifi-cant morphological and behavioral differences between the island and mainland populations of this species. The population of Clelia clelia from Grenada warrants taxonomic recognition and may be known as : Clelia clelia groomei^ new subspecies Fig. 1 '&• Holotype. MCZ 79767, adult male, Beausejour, Grenada. Coll. James D. Lazell, Jr., 1 July, 1964. Paratypes. MCZ 79766, Du Quesne, Du Quesne River Valley, St. Marks, Grenada. Coll. James D. Lazell, Jr., 26 June, 1964. MCZ 4507, Grenada. Coll. Peter Gillinam. Received by the Museum, August, 1880. Diagnosis. Clelia clelia groomei is similar to the mainland populations of C. clelia except for the preocular which is either very much reduced in size or united with the supraocular. When present, the preocular does not reach dorsally to the level of the upper edge of the loreal. When the preocular is lacking, the supraocular extends ventrally in front of the eye to touch the third supralabial. Comments. In all three specimens the reduced preocular is present on the left side of the head and absent on the right. As only three specimens of Clelia are known from Grenada, 1 Grenada is one of the few places in the world where snakes are protected by law. Dr. John R. Groome of Point Salines, Grenada, one of the few zoologists in the Lesser Antilles, has been the primary instigator of this reform. For this, and for his hospitality to Mr. Lazell during his stay on Grenada, the new subspecies is named in Dr. Groome's honor.
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