DIB AM Id', 



229 



Family VIII. DIBAMID^. 



Tongue short, bifid posteriorly, pointed, undivided in front, 

 covered with curved lamelliK or plicae. Teeth small, pointed, hooked, 

 none on palate. .Skull compact ; no interorbital septum ; no 

 columella cranii ; no arches ; no infraorbital foramen ; preemaxillary 

 double. Fore limbs absent ; the hind pair represented, in the male, 

 by a pair of flaps on the sides of the anal opening ; no rudiments of 

 the sternal apparatus. Body vermiform, covered with cycloid im- 

 bricate scales. No osteodermal plates. Eyes concealed under the 

 skin. No ear-opening. Xo pneanal pores. 



A single genus and a single species, ranging I'mm tlie Nicobars 

 to New (luinoa. 



Fig. 64. — Upper and side views of liead of Dibanius novce-guinece. 



Fig. 65. — Aual region of Dihamus novcB-yuiuccB. a. Female, b, Male. 



/. Rudinientarv limbs. 



Genus DIBAMUS, 

 Dam. & Bibr. Erp. Geu. v, p. 833, 18.39. 



Snout normally covered by three large shields, viz. the rostral, 

 and a labial ou each side, ^\'hich, however, may fuse into a single 



