988 18. TESTUDINIDA 
mens, and usually more or less rolled upward over limbs. 
Growth-center of each plate smooth, but usually surrounded 
by beautifully ribbed shell. Vertebrals five, last largest and 
widest. Costals four, first longest, second and third about 
equally high, last smallest. Nuchal not much narrower than 
long. Marginals eleven and a half on each side, last pair 
being united to form a single supracaudal plate. Plastron 
large, extending forward beyond the carapace, notched post- 
eriorly and sometimes anteriorly. Gular plates smallest, 
sometimes united, covering a narrow process of the plastron, 
which may be level or curved upward. Pectorals very much 
smaller than abdominals, with shortest median suture, except 
sometimes that of anals. Abdominals largest, with longest 
median suture. Humerals larger than femorals. Anals 
little longer than gulars. Axillary and inguinal plates well] 
developed, latter varying from two to six, not extensively 
wedged in between abdominals and marginals. Head rather 
elongate, not very wide, covered above with flat scales larger 
anteriorly than posteriorly. Upper jaw not hooked, margins 
nearly straight, irregularly but finely serrate. Skin of neck 
with flattened granules. Anterior limbs large, heavy, much 
expanded laterally, covered in front and externally with 
large, hard, smooth scales, and provided with five stout claws. 
Posterior limbs not compressed, covered around the edge of 
the circular sole with large scales, and provided with four 
stout claws. Tail very short, slender distally. 
The carapace is brown or horn-color, usually relieved, 
especially near the centers of the plates, with yellow. The 
head and limbs are brown. The plastron is yellow, shaded 
with brown along the edges of its plates. 
[enpth™of (carapace = = eee 215 260 285 310 
Length “of, plastron = = ee 210 265 285 300 
Width of carapace== 160 212 230 240 
Width: of: plastron 3 148 184 210 209 
