5 
In the use of terminology we have used both a mixture of technical and vernacular terms. This is 
not inconsistent with modern descriptive zoology. Terms such as verrucose and warty are 
synonymous and either word may appear in a description. Sometimes our Latin dictionaries do 
not reveal all of the meanings or connotations that might apply to a word, especially as used in 
specialty taxonomy. This is where our collaboration has been an essential tool, Kitchell to 
translate the Latin, Dundee to determine how words of phrases might actually be stated by a 
zoologist. Each of us has thus contributed to the endnotes in discussing the innuendos of the 
text. 
Certain terms used by Linnaeus may not be everyday terms to specialists (e.g., muricate, which 
refers to a spinose appearance seen in sea shells of the genus Murex, is used frequently in 
application to reptiles, but it is not a term that modern day herpetologists, or for that matter even 
sea shell specialists, employ). If the user of our translations encounters a problem of this nature, 
we recommend seeking definition in an unabridged dictionary. Many geographic names that were 
in use in Linnaeus’ s time are now supplanted by newer names. In our appended list of current 
names for Linnaean species the approximate geographic ranges are given, thus preempting 
Linnaeus's often inaccurately stated distributions. Finally, we include a complete list of all the 
literature cited by Linnaeus. 
Readers of this translation should be aware that Latin punctuation does not correspond to 
modern English punctuation, thus an exact translation phrase by phrase is not presented. In 
many cases we have modified Linnaeus's statements by using the telegraphic style of description 
so often used in taxonomic writings, but the meanings should be the same. But we have at least 
noted the original pagination and have tried to stay with the original paragraphing, thus 
comparison of Latin and English text is facilitated. 
Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page as originally placed in Systema Naturae. Our own 
commentaries, represented by superscript numbers, appear at the end of the translated text. 
The following is actual text translation. The term Indiis, which refers to the West Indies, appears 
to be a persistent error in Linnaeus's geography. The species alleged to live there usually are 
South American. We were also struck by the frequency of color references to white or whitish and 
are guessing that the preservation process of that day was of poor quality, thus resulting in 
considerable fading. Beginning on page 214 of the original text, readers will discover the male 
sign Cf below the number (which is total of ventral + subcaudal scutes) for many snake species. 
This is not, however, intended to indicate sex, instead Linnaeus stated on p. 221 of the original 
text that it indicates that the species is venomous (see also our footnote 46). Re the ventral + 
subcaudal count, see also our footnote 45). The f is nowhere defined in Systema Naturae, but in 
the Ray Society's 1957 facsimile of Linnaeus's1753 Species Plantarum, in which the binomial 
system is introduced for plants, W.T. Stearn states in the introduction that the sign meant an 
imperfectly known species or some doubt or obscurity. Stearn also states that Linnaeus's 1754 
Genera Plantarum used the sign for a genus that he had seen only as herbarium material. We can 
only surmise that in Systema Naturae he perhaps meant it to mean that he was unsure. For a 
comment on terms relating to epidermal scutes, see footnote 8. 
Original page 194 
CLASS III 
Amphibians 
These most terrible and vile animals are distinguished by their unilocular and single chambered 
heart, arbitrary lungs, and a divided penis. 
