The fourth comma in this question (the one after 'purple–blotched') is mine; without it the question didn't make sense. It now makes grammatical sense, even if it brings me no nearer to having a clue about the answer.
Basically, this question is so long–winded that even the person who wrote it seems to have got confused – never mind the person who has to read it out or answer it. I hope my comma is in the right place; if not, I apologise.
© Macclesfield Quiz League 2019