Acanthodacfyhis, 103 



Var. AUREUS, Giinther. 



The specimens from the extreme west of the Sahara (Eio de Oro 

 and Cape Jubi) agree with the typical form in the longer snout,* with 

 the var. i)iornatus in the large, strongly keeled dorsal scales, and differ 

 from both in the subocular resting nearly constantly on two upper 

 labials only, the fourth and the fifth. t 



Apart from the number of labials, this form is easily distinguished 

 from the var. inornatus by the narrower snout, more suddenly con- 

 stricted from the base. The hind limb reaches the collar or between 

 the collar and the ear in males, the shoulder or the collar, rarely a 

 little beyond, in females. Tail li^ to 1^ times as long as head and 

 body. Four well-developed supraoculars ; 5 or 6, rarely 7, super- 

 ciliaries ; one series of granules between the supraoculars and the 

 superciliaries, one in front and two behind ; sometimes^ the series of 

 granules is incomplete, and the second supraocular is in contact with 

 the second, or second and third, superciliaries ; 2 or 3 (rarely 4) 

 rather large, obtusely pointed lobules in front of the ear ; third pair 

 of chin-shields sometimes§ separated in the middle. 25 to 36 gular 

 scales in a straight line. Dorsal scales flat, juxtaposed or subimbri- 

 cate, strongly keeled ; 42 to 58 scales across the middle of the body, 

 usually 46 to 55. Ventral plates in 14 (rarely 12) irregular longi- 

 tudinal and 30 to 34 transverse series, mostly as long as broad or a 

 little broader than long, or a few of them considerably broader than 

 long. Basal upper caudal scales usually a little broader than 

 long, usually without median series of small scales ; 22 to 30 scales in 

 the fourth or fifth whorl. 17 to 26 femoral pores on each side, usually 

 20 to 24. 19 to 23 lamellae under the fourth toe. 



Grey, yellow, or green above, uniform or with small or large dark 

 dots, vermiculations or reticulations ; females sometimes with six pale 

 grey longitudinal streaks bearing series of small blackish spots, or 

 with six nuclial and four dorsal series of small blackish spots. Young 

 marked as in A. valgarif!, with white streaks separated by black ones, 

 six on the nape, the median pair fusing to one on the anterior part of 

 the back, four on the posterior part of the back, and three on the base 

 of the tail ; limbs with large round white spots ; tail blue at the end. 



* The specimeu fitfured by Giinther (I.e., p. 299) as the typical form repre- 

 sents the var. inornatus, distinguished from the var. aureus by a shorter snout. 



t Two exceptions (subocuhir resting on fifth and sixth labials) among some 

 30 specimens from the Rio de Oro. 



X 9 specimens. 



§ 3 specimens. 



