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Show 322 MR. G. KREFFT ON NEW AUSTRALIAN SNAKES. [May 13, three upper and three lower labials, the middle one largest, covering nearly the whole upper and lower lip (scales large and much imbricated, in sixteen rows). Occipitals not much larger than the superciliaries, very irregular, with sometimes a plate between them, and much broader than long. Tail much compressed, ending in a large flat scale, with two or three denticulations and a strong keel on each side. Scales in sixteen or seventeen rows, hexagonal, much imbricated, and covered with from five to ten or more tubercles. Ventral plates much tuberculated, in particular those near the tail. EMYDOCEPHALUS ANNULATUS. Scales in 16 or 17 rows. Ventral plates 144. One anal plate. Subcaudals 36 (ending in a broad spine). Total length 30 inches. Scales large and imbricated. Head small, about as long as broad, covered with rounded plates, which are more or less raised in the middle and much tuberculated ; one or two elongate shields wedged in between the superciliaries ; the number of upper and lower labials reduced to three, a middle one of extraordinary size between two small scale-like shields, each scale and plate covered with many small tubercles, and the body encircled by thirty-five black and as many white rings. The white scales upon the back and sides more or less black, and some of the black rings white-spotted. Hab. Probably the Australian seas. Two specimens in the M u seum collection. EMYDOCEPHALUS TUBERCULATUS. Scales in 17 rows. Abdominal plates 135. One anal plate. Subcaudal plates 30. Total length 32 inches, head 1, tail 5|, girth 4. Head short, but longer than in the previous species; neck rounded ; all the other parts of the body compressed, very stout, with strongly compressed tail, ending in a large flat scale or spine divided into three segments. Scales very large, hexagonal, the greater portion fully one quarter of an inch wide, much imbricated and tuberculated. Abdominal plates large, with a fold or ridge in the middle, but not keeled; each plate covered with several elongated tubercles. Head shielded, the sutures of the frontals and nasals forming right angles ; vertical nearly rounded; superciliaries large, five-sided ; occipitals short, much broader than long. Three upper and lower labials, the middle one very large, covering nearly the whole gape; the middle lower labial shield very irregular in form, with one or two indentations. One anterior and two posterior oculars ; eye of moderate size. General colour uniform purplish brown; some of the scales on the side mottled with lighter brown spots. Hab. Probably the Australian seas. A single specimen in the Museum collection. |
