184 PELOBATID.E. 



Skeleton. — The skull, so far as the shape and the 

 extent of ossification are concerned, is intermediate 

 between that of Discoglossus and that of Bombinator, 

 agreeing with the latter in the absence of palatine 

 bones. Ethmoid short, not extending posteriorly 

 beyond the anterior two fifths of the basisphenoid ; the 

 lower anterior lamina rounded or truncate, and extend- 

 ing nearly to the posterior border of the vomers; 

 the upper obtusely pointed and extending to between 

 the nasals. The large chondrocranial fontanelle is 

 only partially covered by the fronto-parietals, these 

 bones being in contact with each other to but a small 

 extent either behind or in the middle. Nasals mode- 

 rately large, tear-shaped, not meeting on the median 

 line. Zygomatic branch of the squamosal short. 

 Vomers moderately large, narrowly separated from 

 each other on the median line ; {pterygoids rather 

 slender, the anterior branch longest and joining 

 the maxillary; parasphenoid dagger-shaped, sharply 

 pointed in front, and extending forwards to the line 

 of the anterior borders of the orbits, separated from 

 the pterygoids. Mento-Meckelian bones distinguish- 

 able only from the inner side of the mandible. 



Hyoid a large cartilaginous plate with slender 

 postero-lateral processes ; anterior processes much 

 expanded, turned inwards and closely approximating 

 in front, and confluent with the lateral wings, enclos- 

 ing a small fenestra ; thyrohyals slender, diverging, 

 narrowly separated from each other at the base ; a 

 pair of slender ossifications in front of the thyroidals 

 on the ventral side, distinct and L-shaped or united 

 and H-shaped. Ceratohyal cornua with the posterior 

 portion detached from the hyoid plate, the anterior 

 portion being included in the hyoid plate. 



Vertebral column twice or a little less than twice as 

 long as the skull. Spine closed above ; neural arch 

 without or with a very short postero-median pro- 

 cess. First diapophysis obliquely directed forwards ; 

 second, third, and fourth horizontal ; second longest. 



