| OCR Text |
Show 1881.] LIZARDS FROM ECUADOR. 235 keels of the tail are stronger below than above, and the coloration is quite different. 8. ECPLEOPUS (EUSPONDYLUS) GUENTHKRI, sp. n. (Plate XXIII. fig. 1). Form slender and elongate. Head rather narrow, not constricted at the nape, muzzle rather long. Internasal plate large, longer than broad, rounded in front, followed by two large, irregular, four-sided fronto-nasals extensively in contact on their inner or smaller side ; frontal, two fronto-parietals, and large moderately broad and long interparietal, two wedge-shaped parietals ; two occipitals behind the interparietal, smaller outer occipitals and paroccipitals above the temporal region, the shields of which are polygonal and large. Nasal large, triangular, with the nostril in the middle; frenal also large, obliquely cut off posteriorly by the first and largest of a series of rather large infraoculars. Supraorbitals four. Supralabials six, not elongate; infralabials five, the first unusually smaller and wedge-shaped. Symphysial very large ; single mental followed by two pairs of large contiguous postmentals ; a third with their points almost meeting, and a wide concavity behind occupied by the gular scales, of which there are three rows before the minute gular collaret, and seven between this and the last gular series of eight narrow and long shields which form the collar. All these series are continuous with those of the nape, forming complete rings of smooth quadrangular plates, there being no granular space on the neck, and only a limited space covered with small or minute, but not granular, scales at the shoulder and fore part of the side. Back with cross rows of elongate quadrangular smooth shields, about fourteen or fifteen in each row. Small or minute lateral shields of the same type run up between the dorsal rows. Thirty-four transverse dorsal rows from the occiput to the root of the tail. Ventral shields elongate, quadrangular, smooth, in ten longitudinal series (counting the smallest external ones in the middle of the body), in twenty-one transverse rows from the collar to the anal region. Prseanal plates two large anterior, five long posterior ones. Tail with the dorsal and ventral scutellation. Limbs covered almost entirely with large smooth plates, leaving only a very limited space occupied by small scales on the posterior surfaces. Femoral pores eight. Fore limb reaching to front of eye ; third and fourth toes equal. Hind limb reaching three fourths of the length of the side ; fourth toe the longest. The inner toes are well developed on both fore and hind feet. Ground-colour of the entire dorsal surface uniform pale brown, with dark bars and spots disposed as follows :-Each of the shields on the upper surface of the head has one or more round blackish spots; eight broad transverse bars on the back between head and root of tail; the bars are continued at equal intervals on the tail, diminishing to mere spots towards the end. Lower surface of body and tail yellowish, also with round blackish spots, generally one on each plate on the anterior portions (the gular and labial regions in particular) being large, variegated with the dark colour, distinct bars |
