542 



LACERTAE 



CHAP, 



other in the Sarawak Museum, was described by Steindachner as 

 the type of a distinct family, near the Helodermatidae. Boulenger, 1 

 after examination of the Sarawak specimen by means of a sciagraph, 

 has come to the conclusion " that the affinity of Lanthanotus to 

 the Helodermatidae is fully confirmed." The teeth of Lanthanotus 

 show, however, no traces of grooves ; poison-glands are probably 

 absent, and there are no osteoderms. The skin is covered with 

 wart-like tubercles, each with a horny, peeled scale. The eyes 

 are very small, the ears are concealed. The general colour is 

 reddish brown above, yellowish, with brownish bands, below. 

 Total length about one foot, a little more than half of which 

 belongs to the roundish tail. 



Fam. 8. Varanidae. Pleurodont Old- World Lizards, with a 



FIG. 138. A, Ventral, B, dorsal view of the skull of Varanus griseus. x 1. B.O, Basi- 

 occipital ; B. S, basisphenoid ; Col, columella auris or stapedial rod ; E.P, ecto- 

 pterygoid ; fr, frontal ; Jug, jugal ; Lac, lacrymal ; JV, nasals ; Pal, palatine ; Par, 

 parietals ; Pr.f, prefrontal ; Pt.f, postfrontal, fused with postorbital ; Ptg, pterygoid 

 (enclopterygoid) ; Q, quadrate ; Tb, turbinal ; Vo, vomer. 



long, deeply bifid and protractile smooth tongue. They reach a 

 large size, and the neck is relatively much longer than that of 

 other lizards. The limbs are well developed. The skin is 



1 P.Z.S. 1899, p. 596. 



