115 



MENOBRANCHUS LATERALIS.— %. 



Plate XXXVIII. 



Characters. Head large, flattened above, truncated at the snout; body elon- 

 gated, dusky-brown above, with a dark vitta extending from the nostrils through 

 the eye, and along the flanks to the tail, which is compressed and ancipital; 

 branchial tufts red. 



Synonymes. Triton lateralis, Say, Long's Exped. to Rock. Mount., vol. i. p. 5. 

 Menobranchus lateralis, Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res., p. 89. 



Description. The head of the Menobranchus lateralis is large, broad, flattened 

 above, truncated or almost sub-emarginate at the snout. The mouth is large, 

 reaching to the eyes, and is covered with thick fleshy lips. The tongue is broad, 

 full in front, and is free and movable at its tip, and for a short distance at its 

 anterior and lateral margins. 



The nostrils are lateral, and very near the margin of the upper lip. The eyes 

 are small and far asunder, with the pupil as well as iris dark grey. The neck is 

 contracted, with two spiracles or branchial orifices on each side, concealed by 

 three branchial tufts. 



The body is elongated, sub-cylindrical, and covered with a smooth soft skin. 

 The tail is long, laterally compressed, ancipital and rounded at the tip, like that 

 of an eel. The vent is a longitudinal fissure. 



There are four extremities; the anterior are short, placed behind and near the 



