| OCR Text |
Show 1895.] BATRACHIANS FROM ADEN. 641 more sparsely covered with enlarged convex granules. The granules of the head are largest between the eye and the nostril. A few enlarged tubercles on the radial portion of the fore limb, and numerous trihedral tubercles ou the hind limb, with generally a few smaller tubercles at the bases of the fourth and fifth toes. O n the tail the tubercles are larger than those on the body, acutely pointed and arranged in transverse series of six, each row separated from the one in front of and behind it by about 6 rows of granules. Scales on the under surface of the base of the tail small and imbricate, but a short way beyoud the base the mesial scales are transversely enlarged, and further on become transverse plates. A pair of large chin-shields in contact behind the pentagonal mental and broadly in contact with the first and second lower labials ; a small shield external to each chin-shield and in contact with the second and third labials, and a line of enlarged scales below the labials. Scales on the ventral surface about one fourth the size of the dorsal tubercles, cycloid and imbricate. Limbs well developed, the fore limb reaching the nostril or in advance of the snout; the hind limb falls short of the axilla. Digits well-developed, with broad lamellse, seven to eight on the pollex, eight to ten on the second to the fourth finger, and ten or eleven on the fifth; seven or eight lamellse on the hallux, nine to eleven on the second, third, and fourth toes, and eleven or twelve ou the fifth. Tail much depressed at the base and throughout its entire length, longer than the body and head, and finely pointed. Femoral pores 12 to 15. General colour grey, with an obscure dusky band before the eye and also behind it, with or without some feeble dusky markings on the head, neck, and shoulders; faint indications of dark bands on the middle of the tail towards the tip. TJnderparts white, minutely spotted with livid on the sides of the belly. „ Snout to m -, Width of Length of Length of Length of bex* vent. iaU- head. head. fore limb, hind limb. J....69 - 19-3 14-5 26-5 33 c?....67 73*5 19 14 25*5 28*9 This species is distinguished from H. turcicus, Linn., by the greater development of its digits, but more especially of their lamelbe, which by their breadth recall those of a Tarentola. The greater development of its dorsal tubercles, the flattened tail, its heavier form, greater size, and uniform coloration are all features in which it differs from that species. Its chin-shields, also, in their relations to the upper labials differ from those of H. turcicus. I have much pleasure in connecting Colonel Yerbury's name with this species. H e informs m e that he " saw this species once in Aden about halfway up Shum-Shum. The specimen was in a crevice of the rock, but it ran rapidly up the perpendicular face of the precipice when I tried to catch it. It is fairly common inland on the trunks of trees." PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1895, No. XLL 41 |
