A NEW SPECIES OF TANTILLA (SERPENTES, COLUBRIDAE) FROM NORTHEASTERN GUATEMALA

Tantilla tecta is described from near Laguna Yaxha in northeastern Gua temala. This species belongs to the taeniata group and is the only mem ber of this group known from the Peten region. It is characterized by: a narrow pale middorsal stripe restricted to the vertebral scale row; a narrow pale lateral stripe on adjacent portions of the third and fo urth scale rows; a broad pale collar that is uninterrupted medially; a nd 54 subcaudals in the single known specimen. It is most similar to T . jani of the Pacific versant of northern Middle America and to T. sla vensi of the Tuxtla region of southern Veracruz, Mexico, but may be di fferentiated from these species by the condition of the pale lateral s tripes on the body, the extent of the pale nuchal collar, the colorati on of the paraventral scale row, the number of ventrals and subcaudals , and relative tail length.