OCR Text |
Show 640 DR. J. ANDERSON ON REPTILES AND [June 18, on the fore and hind feet of this species as illustrated by four specimens from Aden:- Digits Digits Digits Digits 1.2.3.4.5. 1.2.3.4.5. 1.2.3.4.5. 1.2.3.4.5. Fore limb 5 6 6 6 6 56676 66675 56677 Hind limb 578 10 7 57797 66797 57798 The narrower and shorter digits, the fewer lamellae, the smaller dorsal tubercles, and the exclusion generally of the first labial from the nostril are tbe features that distinguish H. sinaitus from H. turcicus. The coloration of these Aden specimens is much paler than that of the type from Mount Sinai, and in this conforms to that generally distinctive of Geckoes from arid and desert localities. The general colour is pale olive-white, many of the tubercles being dark brown and others white. There is a broad brown band from the snout to the eye prolonged backwards along the side of the neck in a paler tint. The tail is more or less spotted with brown, the spots tending to form transverse bars. Underparts white. This is the first record of the presence of tbis species in Arabia proper. Measurements* of 4 specimens. « Snout to m •, Width of Length of Length of Length of vent. head. head. fore limb, hind limb. 2.... 52 54 9 14*5 17*5 21 2 42*2 44*5 7*2 12 13*5 17 2.... 40 44 12 10*6 12*9 14*2 cf....38 45 7 11 13*2 15 " It was very plentiful under some old matting that had been thrown down in the so-called forest, or more properly garden, at Shaikh Othman. It was generally to be found under old logs and other objects lying on the ground." 4. HEMIDACTYLUS YERBURII, n. sp. (Plate XXXVI. fig. 1.) 1 cf • Lahej. 1 cf. Haithalhim. Snout moderately long, exceeding the distance between the posterior border of the eye and the ear, and somewhat spatulate in form. Eye large, its long diameter equalling half the distance between its anterior border and the snout. Ear crescentic, half the diameter of the eye. Nostril formed by the rostral, labial, and 3 nasals2. Body covered with minute flat rounded granules with numerous large strongly trihedral tubercles intermixed and arranged in sixteen more or less longitudinal series, and the head 1 All measurements are in millimetres. 2 O n one side the first labial and lowest nasal are confluent. |