OCR Text |
Show 1883.] GECKOS OF NEW CALEDONIA. 123 Greyish-brown above, variegated with darker, and with small round white spots ; a dark streak from the tip of the snout to the shoulder, passing through the eye ; above this streak and behind the eye two round white spots ; a round white spot on each of the digits ; lower surfaces dirty white, the belly dotted with brown. millim. Total length 65 Head 8 Width of head 5 Body. 28 Fore limb 8 Hind limb 11 Tail 29 This species is described from two female specimens in the British Museum, collected in N e w Caledonia by Mr. Brenchley, and hitherto confounded with L. cyclurus, and two others, male and young, the types of the species, communicated to me by M . Bavay. 4. RHACODACTYLUS, Fitz. Under this name I propose to unite the Geckos which have the digits of the same structure as in the genus Gecko of Gray, but have besides the inner digit furnished with a sheathed claw. Accordingly Correlophus, Guich., Ceratolophus, Boc, and Chamceleonurus, Blgr., are referred to Rhacodactylus, Fitz., which was established for Platydactylus leachianus, Cuv., the characters upon which these genera were based not being, in m y opinion, of more than subgeneric importance. This opinion, as concerns Chamceleonurus, has already been expressed by Prof. Barboza du Bocage; but, not having a sufficient knowledge of R. leachianus, and giving too great importance to the dermal appendages which characterize that species, I was not at first inclined to accept his view. I have convinced myself that the species of this genus have the tail prehensile. As regards P. ciliatus, however, I have still some doubts, the specimens examined by m e having that organ mutilated; but Guichenot's figure induces m e to believe that such is also the case in that species. The genus Rhacodactylus is confined to N e w Caledonia. I. Dorsal scales uniform. A. Digits half-webbed. Rostral separated from the nostril; scales on upper surface of head considerably larger than the granules on the back 1. leachianus. Rostral separated from the nostril; upper surface of head covered with minute granules not larger than those of the back 2. aubryanus. Rostral entering the nostril; upper surface of bead covered with small granular scales almost as small as those of the back 3. chahoua. |