Of the 243 specimens examined, 147 (60.5%) have the prefrontal separated
from the labials on each side. Of the remaining 96 specimens, 53 (21.8%
of the 243) have the prefrontals in contact with the second labial on
each side; five other variations of this characteristic were observed
(Table 2).
TABLE 2. Variation in Contact of the Prefrontals and the Labials in 243
Specimens of Tantilla gracilis.
----------------------------------------------------+---------+----------
|Number |Per cent
CHARACTERISTIC |of |of
|specimens|occurrence
----------------------------------------------------+---------+----------
No contact | 147 | 60.5
Contact of prefrontal with second labial on right | 26 | 10.7
Contact of prefrontal with second labial on left | 10 | 4.1
Contact of prefrontal with each second labial | 53 | 21.8
Contact of prefrontals with labial two on left and | |
labial three on right | 1 | 0.4
Contact of prefrontals with labial three on left and| |
labial two on right | 3 | 1.2
Contact of prefrontals with labial two on left and | |
labials two and three on right | 3 | 1.2
----------------------------------------------------+---------+----------
The specimen having the prefrontal in contact with labial 2 on the left
and labial 3 on the right has seven supralabials on the right, the extra
labial being added anterior to the eye. In two of the three specimens
with the prefrontals in contact with labial 3 on the left and labial 2
on the right, the preoculars and prefrontals are fused on each side; the
third specimen has each preocular reduced to a small vertical sliver. Of
the three specimens having the prefrontals in contact with labial 2 on
the left and labials 2 and 3 on the right, two are typical with respect
to other characteristics that might result in this atypical condition,
but one has the prefrontals and preoculars fused.