DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF SPINY-TAILED 

 IGTTANA FROM GUATEMALA. 



By Leonhard Ste.tneger, 



Curator, lHvisiou of ReptileH and liatrachiana. 



The U. S. National Musemu has receutly received from Mrs. K. I. P. 

 McElroy a few reptiles from (lualan, Guatemala, among which there are 

 three individuals of a very distinct species of the Central American 

 genus Gtenosaiiru. In naming this species I have mentioned the most 

 marked character by which it may be distinguished from all its con- 

 geners. 



CTENOSAURA PALEARIS, new species. 



Diagnosis. — A large dewlap hanging from the posterior part of the 

 throat; caudal whorls of spines separated by a single row of scales; 

 upper side of tibia covered with large hexagonal scales, each armed 

 with a central spine; dorsal crest high, but composed of 35 to 45 

 spines only; interrupted on rump. 



Type.—J^o. 22703, U.S.N.M. 



Habitat. — Gualan, Guatemala. 



DESCRIPTION OF TYPE SPECIMEN. 



Adult male. — Head rather short; muzzle with decurved profile, cov- 

 ered above with rather large and slightly rugose scales; supraoculars 

 small, nearly granular externally, larger, hexagonal and flat internally, 

 separated from each other by three rows of scales; parietal scales 

 slightly smaller than those on top of muzzle, tubercular; nostrils large, 

 much nearer the tip of snout than the orbit, almost tubular, opening 

 obli(piely backward; behind nostrils a large, flat scale; one or two 

 canthal scales; lores flat; temporals slightly smaller than the occipi- 

 tals, tubercular; 10 or 11 enlarged supralabials; enlarged sublabials; 

 ear opening as large as orbit; dorsal scales small, hardly more than half 

 the size of the ventral scales, gradually increasing in size posteriorly, 

 smooth; a well-developed dorsal crest, barely indicated on the rump. 

 The spines of the crest, 45 in number, all told, begin almost immediately 

 behind the head; first six spines very small, followed by two somewhat 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No. 1 151. 



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