Acanthodactylus. 37 



A specimen labelled as from Mesopotamia is preserved in the Basle 

 Museum. 



L. cajipadocicK has much in common with Lcirerta danfordii, as 

 recognized by Werner and by Mi'hely. It is proliably derived from 

 the Podarcis group of the genus Larerta, whilst the other species of 

 Laiastlci appear to show greater affinity with Lacerta s. str. How- 

 ever, the black barring on the back and the large blue spots on the 

 sides are features also fre(|uent in Latastia loncjicaudata, and might 

 be used as au argument against the suggested diphyletic origin af the 

 genus as here understood. 



G. ACANTHODACTYLUH. 



Acaiilhodiirti/Jiix. Wiegm. Herp. Mex. p. 10 (1834) ; Dum. & 

 Bibr. Erp. Gi^n. v, p. 205 (1839) ; Gray, Cat. Liz. p. 36 (1845) ; 

 Schreib. Herp. Eur. p. 383 (1875) ; Bouleug. Bull. Soo. Zool. France, 

 1878, p. 181 ; Lataste, Ann. Mus. Genova (2) ii, 1885, pp. 125, 477 ; 

 Bouleug. Cat. Liz. iii, p. 68 (1887); Anders. Zool. Egypt, Eept. 

 p. 147 (1898) ; Bouleug. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1918, p. 143. 



Scapfeira, part.. Gray, Ann. N. H. i, 1838, p. 280. 



Ida, part.. Gray, t.c. p. 281. 



Meroles, part.. Gray, t.c. p. 282. 



Heacl-sliields normal, l)ut occipital rudiineutary or 

 absent. Nostril piej-ced Ijetween two nasals and the 

 first upper labial. Collar distinct. Dorsal scales small 

 and juxtaposed or large and imbricate; ventral plates 

 feebly inibi'icate, with truncate posterior border, smooth. 

 Digits cylindi'ical or feel)ly compressed, with keeled 

 lamellar scales inFerioi'ly and serrated or pectinate 

 laterally. Femoral pores. Tail long, cylindrical. 



Spain and Portugal, Africa north of the Ecpiator, 

 Southern Asia eastward to North-western India. 



The parietal foramen is constantly present and teeth are absent on 

 the palate. 



Although, from a morphological standpoint, Acanthodactylus is 

 connected with Lacerta through Latastia, it appears cjuite certain to 

 me that none of the species grouped under the latter genus can be 

 regarded as leading to it. The striatiou characteristic of most of the 

 Acanthodactylus m their juvenile livery is of a kind that points to 

 descent from a more primitive type, perhaps related to the genus 



