DUNN: AMPHIBIA CAUDATA. 45 5 



Nikolsky's figure (Ann. Mus. zool. Acad. sci. St. Petersburg, 1896, 

 1, p. 78 reproduced in Stejneger's Herpetology of Japan, p. 24) of the 

 teeth of Onychodactylus, Salamandrella, and Geomolge, compared 

 with Boulenger's Catalogue of Batrachia Gradientia, p. 35, makes it 

 quite plain that Nikolsky has practically copied Boulenger's conven- 

 tionalized figure, and this is an inaccurate representation of the den- 

 tition of Onychodactylus japonicus. The vomerine teeth of 0. japoni- 

 cus are in all respects like Nikolsky's diagram for Geomolge fischcri, 

 and like Boulenger's figure of the same (Proc. Zool. soc. London, 1886, 

 pi. 39, fig. 6). This plate, which is part of the original description, is 

 reproduced as part of plate 5 in The herpetology of Japan. Accord- 

 ing to Stejneger, larvae, males, and breeding females of 0. japo7iicus 

 possess claws; and Thompson (Proc. Cal. acad. sci., ser. 4, 3, p. 

 183-186) in his description of Packy palaminus houlcngcri, states that 

 the young of Geomolge also possess stout claws. 



The physiognomy of Geomolge fischeri, according to Boulenger, is 

 " that of Onychodactylus japonicus. . . . Limbs in every respect similar to 

 those of Onychodactylus japonicus, save the absence of claws; the male 

 likewise with tibio-tarsal dilatation. . . . Anal opening subcruciform, 

 as in Onychodactylus. Skin smooth; fourteen or fifteen costal grooves; 

 paratoids and gular fold as in Onychodactylus . Brown above, with 

 blackish variegations, most crowded on the sides, which also bear 

 some whitish spots; lower surfaces brownish white." The measure- 

 ments given for a male are total length 163 mm., head 12 mm., tail 

 93 mm. The female measured 80 mm. from snout to vent, head 14 

 mm., tail lacking, body 66 mm. 



As the difference in dentition seems chiefly imaginary, and the pos- 

 session of claws at some stage is common not only to these forms but 

 also to others (Pachypalaminus) whose dentition is quite different, 

 the genera cannot be maintained as distinct. 



The differential characters of 0. russicus are first of all the short tail. 

 All long-tailed salamanders have short tails when they are young. 

 The proportional head-length agrees with the figure of Stejneger for 

 0. japonicus. The head is too long for Boulenger's measurements of 

 G. fischeri; but G. fischcri has a longer body than 0. japonicus. 



Compare the following measurements with those given above: — 

 Male; total length 161 mm., tail 92 mm., head 16 mm., body 53 mm. 

 Female; " " 141mm., " 72 mm., " 15 mm., " 54 mm. 



Also the head in young salamanders is alwaj's proportionally longer 

 than in the adult. The digits as given are quite similar to both 0. 

 japonicus and G. fischeri. Fourteen costal folds are given by Boulenger 

 ■ for G. fischeri. 



