SQUAMATA. 31 



Order SQTJAMATA. 



Quadrate bone free distally ; uo lower temporal arch. Ribs 

 single-headed. Teeth not implanted in sockets. Vent transverse ; 

 copulatory organ present, paired. 



The Malay representatives of this Order, which includes the 

 great bulk of living Eeptile.s, belong to two suborders : — 



I. Lacertilia, Lizards. — Mandibular rami united by suture. 

 Limbs usually present. 



II. Ophidia, Snakes. — Mandibular rami connected by ligament. 

 Limbs absent. 



Suborder LACEBTILIA. 



Externally, Lizards may be distinguished from Snakes, either 

 by the presence of limbs, or, in the hmbless forms (of which only 

 one representative, Dibamus, pertains to this fauna), by the tongue 

 not being retractile into a basal sheath. As a rule either moveable 

 eyelids or a distinct ear-opening serve to further distinguish 

 liizards from Snakes. 



Of the twenty families into which this Suborder is divided, 

 only six have representatives in the Malay Peninsula, 



Synopsis of the FamUies. 



I. Upper surface of head covered with small 

 scales or granules. 

 No moveable eyelids or pupil vertical ; dorsal scales 



granular or tubercular ; tongue short, very 



feebly nicked in front Geckonidae, p. 32. 



Moveable eyelids ; pupil round ; dorsal scales often 



imbricate; tongue short, very feebly nicked in 



front Agamidae, p, 54. 



Moveable eyelids ; pupil round ; dorsal scales 



granular ; tongue long, exsertile, bihd Varanidae, p. 74. 



II. Upper surface of head covered with large 

 symmetrical shields. 

 Large ventral shields, sharply differentiated from 

 the scales on the sides ; inguinal or femoral 



pores Lacertidse, p. 79. 



Scales on body uniform, roundish, imbricate ; eyes 



well developed : no inguinal or femoral pores . . Scincidae, p. 80. 

 Scales on body uniform, roundish, imbricate ; 



eyes rudimentary, hidden under shields Dibamidse, p. 98. 



