Clelia

Scott Jr., Norman J., Giraudo, Alejandro R., Scrocchi, Gustavo, Aquino, Aida Luz, Cacciali, Pier & Motte, Martha, 2006, THE GENERA BOIRUNA AND CLELIA (SERPENTES: PSEUDOBOINI) IN PARAGUAY AND ARGENTINA, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 46 (9), pp. 77-105 : 79-80

Key to Adult Clelia and Boiruna from

Argentina and Paraguay

1a. Supralabials usually 8 (Appendix 1); dorsal color medium brown or gray, not black, and paler on sides; hemipenes with 2 or more pairs of intrasulcal spines (Appendix 2); small species, adults usually less than 1 m in total length ................................... 2

1b. Supralabials usually 7; dorsal color olive, gray, or black, not noticeably paler on sides in large adults; variable number of intrasulcal spines on hemipenis; adults greater than 1 m in total length ................. 3

2a. Ventrals less than 180 in males, less than 190 in females; edge of dorsal dark color on sides of head sharply defined at dorsal edge of supralabials ...... .................................................................. Clelia bicolor

2b. Ventrals more than 180 in males, more than 195 in females; edge of dorsal dark color gradually invading supralabials, becoming paler towards the lip ................................................................... Clelia quimi

3a. Posterior ventral scales with dark pigment covering entire scale; intrasulcal spines lacking on hemipenis ......................................... Boiruna maculata

3b. Posterior ventral scales pigmented only on lateral portions; intrasulcal spines present or not (Appendix 2); central portion of all ventral scales clear white, ivory, or yellow ............................................. 4

4a. Dorsal adult coloration a uniform dark gray or black; indications of a light collar in small adults; venter white or ivory; a single pair of intrasulcal spines or none (Appendix 2) ................................. 5

4b. Dorsal adult coloration usually a reticulum formed by dark bases and borders of paler brown or olive scales, rarely unicolor; no indication of a light collar in adults; venter yellow, rarely spotted with black; usually two or more pairs of intrasulcal spines ..... .................................................................. Clelia rustica

5a. Ventrals more than 210 in males and more than 225 in females; border of dark dorsal body coloration forming a straight line on the lateral tips of the ventrals ( Fig. 1 ); loreal scale often small or missing, usually contacting only the second supralabial (Appendix 3); hemipenes without spines ............... ............................................................... Clelia plumbea

5b. Ventrals less than 215 in males and less than 220 in females; border of dark dorsal coloration forming a serrate line on the lateral tips of the ventrals ( Fig. 1 ); loreal scale normal, contacting the second and third supralabials; hemipenes with spines ........ Clelia clelia

Figures

FIGURE 1. Comparison of the patterns of dorsal color incursion on the tips of the ventrals in Clelia clelia (INALI 1685, lower) and C. plumbea (MNHNP 3059, upper). Notice the relatively straight border in the latter compared to the toothed pattern in C. clelia.