CYSTIGNATHUS SENE GALEN SI S.
■; Tvepti lia., Plate • 62'
CYSTAGNATHUS SENEGALENSIS.—D um and B ib .
R e p t il ia .— P la te LXII.
C. superne flavus, dorso fascia longitudinal! brunneo-rubra variegafco; lateribus extremitatibusque
externe maculia oblongis brunneo-rubris notatis; maculo ejusdem coloris ante etiamque post oculum ;
partibus inferioribus subochreis, et subgranulatis.
Oystagnathus Senegalensis, Dam et Bib.; Herpet Goner., tom. viii. p. 418.
C olour.—The upper and lateral parts of the head and body, and the outer
and hinder parts of the extremities, gamboge-yellow, variegated with light
umber-brown ; the variegations are a dorsal band, a number of longitudinal
blotches on the sides, an oblong spot, extending from the eye to the nose,
and irregular-shaped spots on the extremities. The dorsal band commences
a little behind the nose, and terminates on the sacrum, is pointed at its
origin, and increases in width as it proceeds backwards. The longitudinal
blotches on the sides are six or nine, generally arranged in two irregular rows,
one spot always situated immediately behind the outer canthus of the eye,
and close to the tympanetic membrane, which is likewise dark coloured;
another spot generally at the base of each hinder leg : the spots on the extremities
are smaller, and are freely scattered over the outer and hinder
parts, those that occur near to and on the toes being very small : all the spots,
as well as the dorsal band, are edged narrowly with a darker tint of the same
colour. The lower portion of each side of the body, below the longitudinal
blotches, is finely mottled with small umber-brown freckles. The under
parts of the head and body, and the inner surface of the extremities, intermediate
between sienna-yellow and ochre-yellow. Eyes pale bottle-green,
finely freckled with yellow, the freckles with a strong metallic lustre.
F orm , &c.—Figure ovate, sides bulged, extremities short; head depressed,
broad behind, narrower anteriorly, the nose obtuse and rounded ; the central
portion of the upper surface of the head, between nose and eyes, triangular,
the apex slightly blunt; sides of the head divergent. Eyes prominent,
situated nearly over the angle of the mouth; pupil vertically ovate; tympanum
small and oval, or subcircular. External nostrils small, situated one
on each side of the tip of the nose; internal ones considerably larger, and
subcircular. Two small groups of teeth on the vomer, near the middle of the
palate, directly between the inner nostrils, and nearly parallel to each other.
Tongue oblong, cordiform (fig. V), its sides and hinder third free, its centre and
point adherent to the parts beneath it. Anterior extremities slender, and the
longest toe extends a little behind the anterior edge of the thigh at its base ;