amphisBjEnas. 69 



Fam. II. AMPHISBJENAS, (AMPHISB.ENIDiE). 



Teeth fixed on the inner side of the jaws, conical, simple and 

 pointed. Nostrils lateral, small, in the naso-rostral plate. Body 

 and chest covered with square similar sized shields, with a lateral 

 line only. Nape with a longitudinal groove. Limbs none. Pre- 

 anal pores distinct, (sometimes obliterated on one side). Tail 

 short. Primary teeth \ or only § . 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



* Nasal plates extending across the muzzle, with 2 pair of frontal 

 plates behind them ; first labial under the nasal. 



1. Amphisb^ena. Head depressed, muzzle rounded, rostral shield 

 triangular, flat, erect. Nasal 2, large, square, separate, ex- 

 tending across the muzzle. 



2. Sarea. Head depressed, muzzle elongate, rounded, rostral 

 shield triangular, inferior. Nasal 2, large, united together, 

 extending across the muzzle. 



3. Cynisca. Head flat, muzzle rather sharp, rostral shield trian- 



gular, erect. Nasal rhombic, oblique, touching above, in front. 



** Nasal plates 2, small, lateral, with a single large anterior 

 frontal plate between them. 



4. Anops. Muzzle compressed, rostral shield forming an arched 



crest to the forehead, separating the small nasal plates, which 

 are over the first labial and the anterior frontals. Tail cylin- 

 drical, truncate. 



5. Cadea. Muzzle rather compressed, acute, rostral and anterior 

 frontal shields flat, the latter moderate, elongate. Nasal plate 

 over the first labial. Tail cylindrical, truncated. 



6. Blanus. Muzzle depressed, rounded, the rostral and anterior 

 frontal shields flat, the latter very broad. Nasal plate large, 

 occupying the place of the first labial. Tail conical, acute. 



1. Amphisb^ena. 



Head depressed, broad. Muzzle rounded. Nasal plates 2, 

 large, broad, square, separate, extending across the muzzle ; ros- 

 tral triangular, flat (not soldered to the nasal) ; 2 pairs of frontal 

 shields, the first pair broadest. Eyes distinct. Tail round, trun- 

 cated. Preanal pores distinct. 



