94 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



collecting other reptiles, I found in a small spring nearby 

 a larva of this salamander. This specimen had good clear 

 eyes,^ not at all covered, but was of the same pale color — 

 even whiter than the adults of the cave. Not knowing any- 

 thing of the food habits of this salamander and not hav- 

 ing detected any other living creature in the cave, I think 

 their food consists of minute organisms, invisible to the 

 eye. 



Family Salamandeidae. 



Salamanders, with the vomero-palatine teeth extending far back- 

 ward in two parallel or posteriorly diverging series, are characteristic 

 of the palearctic region, especially the Mediterranean subdivision. One 

 genus, Diemictylus, extends into North America. (Stejneger.) 



Genus diemyctylus. 



Tongue small, free at the sides. Palatine teeth in two longitudinal 

 series, which diverge slightly posteriorly. Processes from the frontals 

 and tj^mpanic bones forming an arch behind the orbit. The first and 

 fifth toes rudimentary. Tail strongly compressed. Skin above the eyes 

 and on the jaws with large mucous pores. The following species is 

 the only one which occurs in the Eastern and Middle states. It is the 

 closest ally of the European tritous. 



19. Diemyctylus viridescens Rafinesque. Newt, Red-Eft, 

 Spotted Triton, Green Triton. 



Diemyctylus miniatus suhsp. viridescens, Diemyctylus miniatus mini- 

 atus, Triturus viridescens, Triturus miniatus, Salamandra stellio, 

 Salamandra dorsalis, Salamandra symmetrica, Salamandra mille- 

 punctata, Salamandra grecnii, Triton dorsalis, Triton millepunc- 

 tatus, Notophthalmus miniatus, Notophthalmtis viridescens, Triton 

 punctatissimus, Triton symmetricus, Triton viridescens, Molge viri- 

 descens. 



Description. — The snout viewed from above is truncate-rounded, and 

 projects a little over the end of the lower jaw. Two ridges on top of 

 the head, enclosing an oblong space on the front of the muzzle and on 

 the occiput. On the external side of these two ridges is a shallow 

 groove. A distinct but obtuse canthus rostralis. The loral region 

 is slightly concave. Eyes rather large. Nostrils in front of the mouth 



* Adolf Alt. On the histology of the eye of Typhlotriton spelaeus from 

 Marble Cave, Mo. Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis. 19: 83-96. pi. xxvi.- 

 xxxiv. 1910. 



