OCR Text |
Show 1897.] MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON A NEW TORTOISE. 919 3. Description of a new Tortoise of the Genus Sternothcerus. By G. A. BOULENGER, F.B.S. [Received October 6, 1897.] (Blate LIII.) Among some living Tortoises from the Society's Gardens, recently submitted to m e for identification, there was a specimen of Sternothcerus, received on deposit on September 30th, which does not fall into the definition of any of the species hitherto described. Its locality is unfortunately unknown, but as it was accompanied by specimens of Sternothcerus udansonl it probably came from some part of Tropical Africa. STERNOTHCERUS OXYRHINUS, sp. n. (Plate LIII.) Carapace rather elongate, not serrated behind, with an interrupted keel terminating in a low knob on the second, third, aud fourth vertebral shields ; second and third vertebral shields as long as broad, fourth a little longer than broad; dorsal shields feebly areolate. Intergular shield large, twice as long as broad; suture between the abdominal shields once and two-thirds as long as that between the femorals, which equals that between the anals ; pectoral shields forming together a very short suture; outer border of the pectoral shields much shorter than the humerals, equalling the length of the inner border of the latter shields. Hind lobe of plastron as broad as the front lobe, which is freely movable, with moderately deep crescentic notch posteriorly. Head large, triangular; snout as long as the orbit, pointed, strongly projecting; nostrils not visible from above; upper jaw neither hooked nor bicuspid ; suture between the frontal shields a little longer than interorbital width, equal to length of mandibular symphysis. T w o rather long mental barbels. Shell black; head black above, with yellowish-brown marblings; labial region yellow, with black vertical streaks ; upper surface of neck, forearm and hand, and upper surface of leg and foot dark brown; the rest of the soft parts carneous white. Lds dark grey. Length of shell 165 millimetres. This species is nearest related to S. derbianus, from which it is well distinguished by the pointed and more prominent snout. |