Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 3, Volume 4 (Zoology)
Part 1
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
THIRD SERIES
ZOOLOGY
VOL. IV
1905-1906
SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLISHED BY THE ACADEMY
1906
INDEX TO VOLUME IV, THIRD SERIES, ZOOLOGY.
New names in =heavy-faced type=; Synonyms in _italics_.
_adamanteus atrox, Crotalus_, 18
Amphispiza belli, 66
_Anaides lugubris_, 5
Anniella: The species of the Reptilian Genus Anniella with Especial Reference to Anniella texana and to Variation in Anniella nigra, 41-9 nigra, 42, 43, 44, 48, 49 pulchra, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48 texana, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48
anthonyi, Bascanion, 3, 4, 27
Arizona: On the Shape of the Pupil in the Reptilian Genus Arizona, 66-7 elegans, 66
_atrox, Crotalus_, 18, 24
attenuatus, Batrachoseps, 3, 6, 7, 16
auriculata, Uta, 3, 4, 26
_Autodax lugubris_, 4, 5 =lugubris farallonensis=, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bascanion, 25 anthonyi, 3, 4, 27 _laterale_, 26, 66 laterale fuliginosum, 3, 4, 26
Batrachoseps attenuatus, 3, 6, 7, 16 pacificus, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11
becki, Sceloporus, 2, 3, 4, 9
_beldingi, Verticaria_, 23
belli, Amphispiza, 66
biseriatus becki, Sceloporus, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Callisaurus ventralis, 3, 25
catenifer, Pituophis, 3, 21
_catenifer deserticola, Pituophis_, 21
cerroense, Phrynosoma, 3, 4, 23
clarionensis, Uta, 3, 4, 27
clarki clarki, Sceloporus, 23
Cnemidophorus labialis, 3, 4, 24 multiscutatus, 3, 4, 24 rubidus, 3, 25, 26 _tessellatus rubidus_, 26 _tessellatus multiscutatus_, 24 tigris undulatus, 66
Coluber, 66
_confluentus confluentus, Crotalus_, 18
copeii, Crotaphytus, 25
_Crotalus adamanteus atrox_, 18 _atrox_, 18, 24 _confluentus confluentus_, 18 exsul, 3, 4, 24 _lucifer_, 16, 18 mitchellii, 3, 26 oregonus, 3, 16, 18
_Crotaphytus copeii_, 25 wislizenii, 25
_curla_, Hyla, 23
Dermochelys: On the Occurrence of the Leather-back Turtle, Dermochelys, on the Coast of California, 51-6
Dipsosaurus dorsalis, 3, 24
dorsalis, Dipsosaurus, 3, 24
elegans, Arizona, 66
=exsul,= Crotalus, 3, 4, 24
Gerrhonotus, 18, 20 _multicarinatus_, 14 palmeri, 21 scincicauda, 3, 10, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21 scincicauda =ignavus= 2, 3, 19, 21 _scincicaudus_, 14
_Hemidactylium pacificum_, 6
_hernandezi, Phrynosoma_, 23
Hyla _curla_, 23 regilla, 3, 13, 23
hyperythra beldingi, Verticaria, 3, 23, 25
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus, 18 On the Occurrence of the Spotted Night Snake, Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus in Central California; and on the Shape of the Pupil in the Reptilian Genus Arizona, 65-6
=ignavus,= Gerrhonotus scincicauda, 2, 3, 19, 21
intermedius, Plethodon, 61
labialis, Cnemidophorus, 3, 4, 24
laterale, Bascanion, 26, 66
laterale fuliginosum, Bascanion, 3, 4, 26
_lateralis fuliginosus, Zamenis_, 26
_lucifer, Crotalus_, 16, 18
_lugubris, Anaides_, 5
_lugubris_, Autodax, 4, 5
=lugubris farallonensis=, Autodax, 2, 3, 4, =5=
=martinensis=, Uta, 2, 3, 4, =18=
mitchellii, Crotalus, 3, =26=
_multicarinatus, Gerrhonotus_, 14
multiscutatus, Cnemidophorus, 3, 4, =24=
_multiscutatus tessellatus, Cnemidophorus_, 24
nigra, Anniella, 42, 43, 44, 48, =49=
nigricauda, Uta, 3, =25=
occidentalis, Sceloporus, 9, 10, 12
ochrorhynchus, Hypsiglena, =65-6=
oregonensis, Plethodon, 61, 62
oregonus, Crotalus, 3, =16=, =18=
pacificum, Hemidactylium, 6
pacificus, Batrachoseps, 3, 4, =6=, 7, =11=
palmeri, Gerrhonotus, 21
Phrynosoma, cerroense, 3, 4, =23= _hernandezi_, 23
Pituophis, 66 catenifer, 3, =21= _catenifer deserticola_, 21
_Pityophis sayi bellona_, 21
Plethodon, 7 intermedius, 61 oregonensis, 61, 62 =vandykei=, =61= Description of a New Species of Plethodon, =61-3=
pulchra, Anniella, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, =48=
regilla, Hyla, 3, =13=, =23=
Rhinechis, 66
riversiana, Xantusia, 3, 4, =15=, =16=, =17=
rubidus, Cnemidophorus, 3, =25=, =26=
rubidus, Cnemidophorus tessellatus, 26
sayi bellona, Pityophis, 21
Sceloporus =becki=, 2, 3, 4, =9= biseriatus becki, 3, 9, 10, =11=, =12=, =14= _clarki clarki_, 23 occidentalis, 9, 10, 12 undulatus, 9 zosteromus, 3, =23=, =25=, =26=
scincicauda, Gerrhonotus, 3, =10=, =12=, =14=, 19, 20, 21
scincicauda =ignavus=, Gerrhonotus, 2, 3, =19=, 21
scincicaudus, Gerrhonotus, 14
stansburiana, Uta, 3, =13=, =14=, =16=, =17=, 21, =23=, =24=
=stellata=, Uta, 2, 3, 4, =21=
tessellatus rubidus, Cnemidophorus, 26
tessellatus multiscutatus, Cnemidophorus, 24
texana, Anniella, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48
tigris undulatus, Cnemidophorus, 66
undulatus, Cnemidophorus tigris, 66
undulatus, Sceloporus, 9
Uta, 18, 27 auriculata, 3, 4, =26= clarionensis, 3, 4, =27= =martinensis=, 2, 3, 4, =18= nigricauda, 3, =25= stansburiana, 3, =13=, =14=, =16=, =17=, 21, =23=, =24= =stellata=, 2, 3, 4, =21=
=vandykei=, Plethodon Description of a New Species of the Genus Plethodon, =61-3=
ventralis, Callisaurus, 3, =25=
_Verticaria beldingi_, 23 hyperythra beldingi, 3, =23=, =25=
wislizenii, Crotaphytus, 25
Xantusia riversiana, 3, 4, =15=, =16=, =17=
_Zamenis lateralis fuliginosus_, 26
zosteromus, Sceloporus, 3, =23=, =25=, =26=
CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.
PLATES I-XI.
PAGE
Title-page i
Contents iii
No. 1. The Reptiles and Amphibians of the Islands of the Pacific Coast of North America from the Farallons to Cape San Lucas and the Revilla Gigedos. By John Van Denburgh. (Plates I-VIII) 1
(Published June 15, 1905)
No. 2. The Species of the Reptilian Genus Anniella, with Especial Reference to Anniella texana and to Variation in Anniella nigra. By John Van Denburgh 41
(Published December 2, 1905)
No. 3. On the Occurrence of the Leather-back Turtle, Dermochelys, on the Coast of California. By John Van Denburgh. (Plates IX-XI) 51
(Published December 2, 1905)
No. 4. Description of a New Species of the Genus Plethodon (Plethodon vandykei) from Mount Rainier, Washington. By John Van Denburgh 61
(Published March 14, 1906)
No. 5. On the Occurrence of the Spotted Night Snake, Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus, in Central California; and On the Shape of the Pupil in the Reptilian Genus Arizona. By John Van Denburgh 65
(Published March 14, 1906)
Index 69
December 30, 1914.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
THIRD SERIES
ZOOLOGY VOL. IV, NO. 1
_Issued June 15, 1905_
=THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST OF NORTH AMERICA FROM THE FARALLONS TO CAPE SAN LUCAS AND THE REVILLA GIGEDOS=
BY JOHN VAN DENBURGH _Curator of the Department of Herpetology_.
CONTENTS.
PLATES I-VIII.
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 2
TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION 3
FAUNAL RELATIONSHIPS 4
SOUTH FARALLON ISLAND 4
SAN MIGUEL ISLAND 6
SANTA ROSA ISLAND 11
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND 13
ANA CAPA ISLAND 14
SAN NICOLAS ISLAND 15
SANTA BARBARA ISLAND 15
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND 16
SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND 17
LOS CORONADOS 17
SAN MARTIN ISLAND 18
SAN BENITO ISLAND 21
CERROS ISLAND 22
NATIVIDAD ISLAND 24
MAGDALENA ISLAND 24
SANTA MARGARITA ISLAND 25
SOCORRO ISLAND 26
CLARION ISLAND 27
June 13, 1905
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
The first contribution to the herpetology of the islands of the Pacific Coast of North America of which I have knowledge was, curiously enough, a description of the lizard of Socorro, an island perhaps the least accessible of them all. This description was published by Professor Cope in 1871. Six years later Dr. Streets recorded a few notes on the fauna of Cerros, San Martin, and Los Coronados. Since that time there have appeared at intervals contributions from Yarrow, Belding, Cope, Garman, Townsend, Stejneger, and Van Denburgh, resulting in the gradual accumulation of a considerable fund of knowledge. The papers in which this information is contained are so widely scattered through journals and the publications of various societies and museums as to be but little available. It has, therefore, been thought expedient to review the whole subject while reporting upon the material which in the last few years has been accumulating in the collection of the Academy.
In this paper there are mentioned or described twenty-nine species and subspecies, representing the fauna of eighteen islands. Of these four are amphibians, nineteen are lizards, and six are snakes.
The following forms are here described as new:--
_Autodax lugubris farallonensis_, South Farallon Island,
_Uta martinensis_, San Martin Island,
_Uta stellata_, San Benito Island,
_Sceloporus becki_, San Miguel Island,
_Gerrhonotus scincicauda ignavus_, San Martin Island.
The island distribution of the various species and subspecies is indicated in the following table:
DISTRIBUTION OF ISLAND REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS.
Table Key:
A: Farallon B: San Miguel C: Santa Rosa D: Santa Cruz E: Ana Capa F: San Nicolas G: Santa Barbara H: Santa Catalina I: San Clemente J: Los Coronados K: San Martin L: San Benito M: Cerros N: Natividad O: Magdalena P: Santa Margarita Q: Socorro R: Clarion S: Mainland
===============================+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Name |A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S -------------------------------+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Autodax lugubris farallonensis |x| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Batrachoseps attenuatus | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | | | | | |x Batrachoseps pacificus | |x|x| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |? Hyla regilla | | | |x| | | | | | | | |x| | | | | |x Dipsosaurus dorsalis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | |x Callisaurus ventralis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | |x Crotaphytus wislizenii | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | |x Uta stansburiana | | | |x|x| | |x|x| | | |x|x| | | | |x Uta martinensis | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | | | Uta stellata | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | | Uta nigricauda | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | |x Uta auriculata | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | Uta clarionensis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| Sceloporus zosteromus | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| |x|x| | |x Sceloporus becki | |x| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sceloporus biseriatus becki | | |x|x| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Phrynosoma cerroense | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | Gerrhonotus scincicauda | |x|x|x| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x Gerrhonotus scincicauda ignavus| | | | | | | | | |?|x| | | | | | | |x Xantusia riversiana | | | | | |x|x|x|x| | | | | | | | | | Verticaria hyperythra beldingi | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| |x| | | |x Cnemidophorus rubidus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x|x| | |x Cnemidophorus multiscutatus | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | Cnemidophorus labialis | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | Bascanion anthonyi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| Bascanion laterale fuliginosum | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | Pituophis catenifer | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | | |x Crotalus exsul | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | | | | | Crotalus oregonus | | | | | | | |x| |x| | | | | | | | |x Crotalus mitchellii | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |x| | |x -------------------------------+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Little can be stated about the faunal relationships of the various islands beyond the fact that all except, probably, the Farallons are clearly Sonoran. Of the island reptiles, only fourteen are not known to live on the mainland. These are
Autodax lugubris farallonensis, Batrachoseps pacificus, Uta martinensis, Uta stellata, Uta auriculata, Uta clarionensis, Sceloporus becki, Phrynosoma cerroense, Xantusia riversiana, Cnemidophorus multiscutatus, Cnemidophorus labialis, Bascanion anthonyi, Bascanion laterale fuliginosum, Crotalus exsul.
Although the evidence is thus too meager to enable one to speak positively, it would seem that the probable faunal relationship is about as follows:
TRANSITION ZONE.
_Pacific Fauna:_
Farallon Islands.
UPPER AUSTRAL ZONE.
_Californian Fauna:_
San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Ana Capa.
_San Diegan Fauna:_
San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, San Clemente. Los Coronados, San Martin. Perhaps San Benito, Cerros, Natividad.
LOWER AUSTRAL ZONE.
Perhaps San Benito, Cerros, Natividad. Magdalena, Santa Margarita. Socorro, Clarion.
SOUTH FARALLON ISLAND.
No reptiles have been found on the Farallon Islands and it is probable that none occur there. The amphibians are represented on South Farallon Island by a salamander which has been regarded as identical with _Autodax lugubris_ Hallowell. Specimens from this island, however, are much more profusely spotted or blotched with yellow than is the mainland form of this species. In examining series of specimens one finds a few individuals from the mainland as heavily spotted as some of the Farallon specimens, but the average difference seems constant and the extremes are very dissimilar. I therefore propose that the Farallon Island form be called
1. =Autodax lugubris farallonensis= subsp. nov.
PLATE II.
_Anaides lugubris_ YARROW, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 24, 1882, p. 158 [part].
_Autodax lugubris_ COPE, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 34, 1889, p. 185 [part]; KEELER, Zoe, v. 3, 1892, p. 154.
_Diagnosis._--Similar to _Autodax lugubris_ Hallow, but yellow spots more numerous and often larger.
_Type._--Cal. Acad. Sci. No. 3731, South Farallon Island, Charles Fuchs, February 8, 1899.
_Description of Type._--Head elongate, depressed, with truncate, protruding snout; nostril small, a little above and behind the corner of snout, with groove running down to edge of lip, separated from its fellow and from orbit by length of eye-slit; lip margin long and undulating; maxillary and mandibular teeth large; palatine teeth small, in series running back from each inner nostril and forming a V-shaped figure; a large well-defined patch of parasphenoid teeth divided by a slight median groove and posterior notch; tongue large, long, ovate, with a small posterior notch, free except along the median line; neck short, somewhat constricted, a well-developed gular fold; body subfusiform, diminishing toward both extremities; 13 transverse costal grooves between limbs, extending from a short distance from vertebral line entirely across belly; tail conical with similar transverse grooves; limbs well-developed, posterior longer than anterior, toes overlapping when adpressed; digits 4-5, well-developed, nearly free, with slight terminal disc-like expansion; third finger longest, first short, second and fourth nearly equal; first toe short, second and fifth and third and fourth nearly equal; skin everywhere smooth, but dotted with the mouths of small glands.
Color above smoky seal-brown, lightest on the snout and limbs, dotted, spotted and blotched with pale straw-yellow on top and sides of head, neck, body, limbs and tail; largest blotches, on sides of neck, 2 by 4 millimetres. Lower surfaces dirty yellowish white.
Length to anus 72[1] 38 58 66 67 75 Length of tail 64 33 50 52 56 71 Snout to gular fold 20 11 17 18 19 20 Nostril to orbit 4 2½ 3 4 3½ 4 Fore limb 21 13 18 19 20 22 Hind limb 24 15 20 20 22 24
[Footnote 1: Type.]
Sixteen specimens were collected by Mr. Fuchs on South Farallon Island, February 8, 1899, and four by Mr. L. M. Loomis, July 9, 1896. They were found under piles of loose stone.
The spots on the type specimen are larger and somewhat more numerous than on any of the others.
SAN MIGUEL ISLAND.
I know of no records of reptiles or amphibians from San Miguel Island. Two species of lizards and a _Batrachoseps_ were secured on this island by Mr. R. H. Beck while collecting for the California Academy of Sciences.
=1. Batrachoseps pacificus= _Cope_.
PLATE III.
_Hemidactylium pacificum_ COPE, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1865, p. 195.
_Batrachoseps pacificus_ COPE, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1869, pp. 97, 98; YARROW, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 24, 1882, p. 153 [part?]; BOULENGER, Cat. Batrach. Grad. 1882, p. 59; COPE, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 34, 1889, p. 129 [part?].
_Batrachoseps pacificus_ was described by Professor Cope, in 1865, from a specimen said to have been collected at Santa Barbara, California. Two specimens from San Francisco were afterward referred to this species. All of the specimens I have examined from both these localities are of the common form known as _B. attenuatus_. I was, therefore, inclined to doubt the existence of _B. pacificus_ as a distinct species until I examined eight specimens collected by Dr. Eisen on Santa Rosa Island in 1897. In March, 1903, Mr. R. H. Beck secured on San Miguel a large series of a _Batrachoseps_ which seems to differ in no respect from that found on Santa Rosa Island, but which is very distinct from the species of the mainland.
These island salamanders agree in all important points with the original description of _B. pacificus_, but since the published descriptions of this species are not very complete, I sent a specimen from San Miguel Island to my friend Dr. Stejneger with a request that he compare it directly with the type. This he has very kindly done, and his conclusion is as follows:
"I have carefully compared it with the type of _Batrachoseps pacificus_ and find them to agree completely. I have no doubt they represent the same species. As for the origin of our specimen I can only say that our record book shows the following entry: '6733. _Batrichoseps pacificus_ (Type) Santa Barbara Cal. Dr. Hayes. 1881 Oct. 28. 1.' This entry is evidently made many years after the numbering of the specimen which took place in 1866, probably at the time tin-tags were substituted for the old labels most of which were destroyed as in this case. The entry is in an unknown boyish hand and is probably made from the destroyed label. The double error, _i_ in _Batrachoseps_ and _e_ in Hays, shows that it was made by an ignoramus. I can find no other record of specimens received from the same source, but in the S. I. reports from 1864-67 I find noted that a Dr. W. W. Hays sent birds and fishes to the museum from 'Southern California'. The Santa Barbara locality is therefore not above suspicion. The other two specimens credited in Cope's Man. Batr. p. 130 to _B. pacificus_, viz. No. 4006 San Francisco, Cal. R. D. Cutts, have not been seen here since I took charge of the collection in 1889. In the record book there is entered in the remark column 'Destroyed (C)' (C) standing for Cope. The specific name _Batrachoseps pacificus_ is in Cope's handwriting, while the locality San Francisco and the name of the collector are in Prof. Baird's hand."
In the light of all this it appears that the type of _Batrachoseps pacificus_ may perhaps have been secured on some fishing trip from Santa Barbara to Santa Rosa or San Miguel, and that the specimens from San Francisco most probably were misidentified by Cope.
_Batrachoseps pacificus_ is a larger species than _Batrachoseps attenuatus_. Its general appearance, owing to the greater broadness of head and body, is very suggestive of the various species of _Plethodon_. This resemblance is carried further in one specimen by the presence of five digits on one hind foot. Structurally, however, the species is a true _Batrachoseps_; that is to say, the tongue is adherent anteriorly, the digits are normally 4-4, the premaxillary is single, and there is a large parietal fontanelle.
_Diagnosis._--Costal grooves usually seventeen (rarely sixteen or eighteen); head much broader than body; color yellowish brown above, white or yellow below.
_Description._--General form elongate, slender; body cylindric or somewhat flattened; tail conical, a little longer than head and body; head depressed, rather broad, nearly circular in outline from above; snout rounded or truncate from above, truncate and high in profile; eyes large and rather prominent, separated anteriorly by about the length of the orbital slit; nostrils small, near corners of snout, separated by a little more than their distance from orbits; a very indistinct subnasal groove, not extending to margin of lip; upper jaw overhanging lower; line of lip nearly straight to below eye, then deflected downward; palatine teeth in 2 nearly straight very oblique series which nearly meet on the median line posteriorly and anteriorly do not extend to the internal nares; parasphenoid teeth separated by a narrow space posteriorly but confluent anteriorly, extending nearly to the palatine series; internal nares rather small, in front of the anterior ends of the series of palatine teeth; tongue large, oval, not emarginate, attached along the median line, free laterally and posteriorly; neck not distinct from body, with several vertical and 2 or 3 longitudinal grooves; gular fold well marked, continued forward on side of neck to eye; 1 or 2 indistinct grooves anterior to gular fold; costal grooves between limbs usually 17, occasionally 16 or 18,[2] continued nearly to midline on back and belly; limbs short, weak, each with 4 digits; digits with rounded knob-like ends, inner digit short, rudimental, others well-developed, second and fourth nearly equal, third longest, web small or absent; tail more slender than body, with well-marked lateral grooves; a more or less indistinct dorsal longitudinal groove, most distinct on neck and pelvic region; skin smooth with minute pits; adpressed limbs widely separated.
[Footnote 2: In fifty specimens the costal grooves are 17 in forty, 16 in six, and 18 in four.]
The color above in alcoholic specimens is yellowish brown (cinnamon to mummy brown) paler on the head and limbs and often becoming fawn-color on the tail. The upper lip and all the lower surfaces are white or dull yellow. Young specimens are much darker than adults, and the lower surfaces often are minutely dotted with brown.
Length to anus 25 36 49 52 52 56 Length of tail 20 31 64 56 63 59 Width of head 3½ 5 7 6½ 7 8 Snout to orbit 2 2 3 3 3 3 Snout to gular fold 6 7½ 10 10 10 10½ Snout to fore limb 7 10 13 13 14 14 Between limbs 15 22 31 36 33 38 Fore limb 5 7 9 9 8½ 9 Hind limb 5½ 7½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 10
=2. Sceloporus becki= sp. nov.