176 BATllACHIA : URODELA.. — XXVI. 



This jTTOup is divided by Cojje into 7 families, all but one of these 

 (^Sal(i>iunt(lriil<r) beinjj represeuled in our fauna. These families 

 are based chiefly on leehnieal eharaeters, most of whieh can be 

 ascertained only by a careful study of the osteology. '* It may be 

 stated as characteristic of the Hatrachia in ^^eiieral that their char- 

 acters cannot be determined without a study of the skeleton." 

 {Cope.) (oi/)d, tail; 8^\os, visible.) 



Families of TJrodela. 



a. Side of neck with a spiracle or rounded opening; no eyelids; vcrtebroB 

 anipliicu-liau; teeth on front or outer edge of palatines. 



b. Limbs rudimentary ; body eel-shaped AMriiiUMin.K, 99. 



bb. Limbs well-developed; body not eel-shaped. CRYPTonuANriiiD.K, 100.- 

 aa. Side of neck without spiracle in the adult; limbs well developed; eyelids 

 present; teeth on posterior or inner edge of palatines, 

 c. Palatine teeth in a transverse (or posteriorly converging) series, in- 

 serted on posterior portion of vomer. 

 d. Vertebra- amphica-lian (double concave). 



e. I'arasphonoid (behind vomer) without teeth; carpus and tarsus 

 ossilied ; tongue (in our species) large, thick, with radiafilig folds, 

 its margin little free; digits 4-5. . A.MnLV.sT()M«rii>.K, lOL 

 ee. Parasphenoid with teeth; tongue small, and largely free. 



PLETIIOUONTm.K, 102. 



dd. Vertebra; opisthocoelian (concave behind only) ; teeth on parasphe- 

 noid; palatine teeth often wanting; tongue moderate, largely 



free ; toesV^^^.^. Desmoonathid.k. 103. 



cc. Palatine teeth in two longitudinal series diverging behind, inserted on 

 inner nuirgin of two palatine processes; parasphenoid toothless; 

 vertebra* opisthocu'lian ; skull with a bony post-fronto-squamosal 

 arch; tongue small, laterally free. . . . Pleckodeliu.k, 104. 



Family XCIX. AMPHIUMID^. (Thk Congo Snakks.) 



Body elongate, eel-shaped ; limbs rudimentary, with 2 or 3 toes 

 each; a sjjiracle on each side of neck; tongue indistinct, wholly 

 adherent; a strong series of vomerine teeth parallel with the teeth 

 in jaws. Tail short, compressed. One species, inhabiting the 

 ditches and streams of the S. U. S. 



252. AMPHIUMA Garden. (Name unexplained.) 



4f)0. A. means (ranlen. Coxco Snake. Bhu-kish. L. S feet. 

 Ark. to X. C. and S. (Lat., swift-moving.) 



Family C. CRYPTOBRANCHID^. (The Giant 

 Sala.mandeks.) 



Body robust, with well-<lcvelojied limbs ; an orifice on each side 

 of neck usually persistent throujihont life ; tongue covering fliKir of 

 mouth ; vomerine teeth strong ; nostrils very small ; no external 



