484 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



DIPLOGLOSSA. 



Diploglossa COPK, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phihi., 1864, p. 227; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 No. 32, 1887, p. 25. 



Petrous bone produced anterior to anterior semicircular canal. Clav- 

 icle simple proximally. Interclavicle cruciform (with exceptions in 

 degenerate forms). Premaxillary undivided. Mandibular elements 

 distinct; dentary not produced far posteriorly. Tongue papillose, the 

 apex smooth and generally retractile into papillose portion. 



This superfamily occupies a position between tlie Pachyglossa and 

 Leptoglossa, having tbe tongue and clavicle of the former, and the 

 interclavicle and petrous bone of the latter. Its composition is some- 

 what heterogeneous, since the Zonurid;c differ in some respects from 

 the other families. 



The following' characters of the visceral anatomy are common to all 

 the families except the Zonuridie: 



Alimentary canal with a stomach and elongate rectum only differen- 

 tiated. Liver very elongate, usually two lobed posteriorly, the right 

 lobe a little longer. Gall-bladder located at the apex of the fissure 

 separating the lobes or proximad to it, exposed ififeriorly, or only covered 

 by thin tissue. Corpus adiposum not projecting freely into the body- 

 cavity (except Zonuridai). 



Peculiar modifications are exhibited by the snake-like genera, which 

 do not, however, invalidate the preceding definitions. In Pseudopns, 

 Ophisaurus, JJopasia, and Anguis, together with Celestus and Diplo- 

 glossHs [monotropis) which are not snake-like, the left lung is shorter 

 than the right. The liver is greatly elongated in the four genera first 

 named above, and in Ophisaurus {ventralis) the left lobe is absent. In 

 the other snake like genera it is present, but shorter than the right. 

 In Pseudopus, OpMsaurus, and Anguis the ventral mesentery extends 

 to the rectum. It has a similar extent in Dopasia, but seems to be 

 interrupted. In lacertiform Diploglossa the ventral mesentery is sim- 

 ple and terminates at the liver or a little beyond it. 



Zonurus differs in several respects from other Diploglossa. The liver 

 is trilobate posteriorly, but the gall-bladder has the inferior exposure 

 normal to the superfamily. The corpora adiposa project freely into the 

 body-cavity, which is not the case in other Diploglossa. 



In Xenosaurus grandis and Celestus stenurus the kidneys are larger 

 than in species of other genera examined. 



As already remarked, the hemipenis in this suiierfamily is trans- 

 versely laminate or flounced, and is never calyculate. The structures 

 differ much in detail. Thus in some of the Anguida? the organ 

 possesses osseous spines, which is unusual in Sauria, although general 

 in Ophidia. In the Xenosauridas it is remarkably papillose. In none 

 of the genera are the laminae delicate and thin as in the Teiidse, but 

 they are thick and frequently wrinkled or pocketed. 



