PELOMEDUSID.&. 191 
Fam, 8. PRLOMEDUSIDZ. 
Emydide, part., Gray, Ann. Phil. (2) x. 1825. 
Emydide, part., Bell, Zool. Jowrn. 111. 1828. 
Steganopodes, part., Wagler, Syst. Amph. 1830. 
Chelyde, part., Gray, Syn. Rept. 1851. 
Elodites Pleurodéres, part., Duméril § Bibron, Erp. Gén. ii. 1835, 
Chelydidee, part., Gray, Cat. Tort. 1844, and Sh. Rept. i. 1855. 
Hydraspididee, part., Agassiz, Contr. N. H. U.S. i. 1857, 
Chelyda, part., Strauch, Chelon. Stud. 1862. 
Pelomedusidve, Sternotheridze, Podocnemididee, Cope, Proc. Ac. 
Phailad. 1868, pp. 119, 282. 
Pelomedusidee, Peltocephalidie, Gray, Suppl. Cat. Sh. Rept. i. 1870. 
Pelomedusidie, Bouwlenger, Ann. § Mag. N. H. (6) i. p. 847 (1888). 
Sternotheridee, Pelomeduside, Baur, Zool. Anz. 1888, p. 420. 
Plastral bones eleven, mesoplastra being present. Shell covered 
with epidermal shields. Neck completely retractile within the 
shell ; second cervical vertebra biconvex. A bony temporal arch ; 
no parieto-squamosal arch ; palatine bones in contact; no nasals ; 
prefrontals in contact; dentary single. Digits moderately elon- 
gate; claws four or five. 
Africa, Madagascar, South America. 
> 
Synopsis of the Genera. 
No bony temporal roof; mesoplastra extending right across the 
plastron ; front lobe of plastron movable in the adult; both pairs 
of limbs with five claws......... ... 1. Sternotherus, p. 191. 
No bony temporal roof; mesoplastra small and lateral ; both pairs 
of limbs with five claws............ 2. Pelomedusa, p. 197. 
A bony temporal roof, the quadratojugal forming a suture with the 
parictal ; mesoplastra small and lateral. 3. Podocnemis, p. 200. 
1. STERNOTHAERUS. 
Sternotherus, part., Bell, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 805 (1825). 
Pelusios, Wagler, Syst. Amph. p. 187 (18530). 
Sternotherus, Gray, Syn. Rept. p. 87 (1831); Dum. § Bibr. ii. 
p- 396 (1835); Gray, Cat. Tort. p. 37 (1844), and Sh. Rept. i. 
p. 51 (1855) ; Strauch, Chelon, Stud. p. 45 (1862); Gray, Proce. 
Zool. Soe. 1863, p. 192, and Suppl. Cat. Sh, Rept, i. p. 78 (1870). 
Tanoa, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1863, p. 193. 
Notoa, Gray, l. c. p. 195. 
Anota (non Hallow.), Gray, l. c. p. 196. 
Mesoplastral bones extending right across the plastron ; plastron 
large, front lobe movable in the adult, a hinge being present 
between the hyoplastra and the mesoplastra. Skull without supra- 
temporal roof, the quadratojugal widely separated irom the parietal; 
