PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF 
BLIND CAVE SALAMANDER FROM NORTH AMERICA. 
BY 
LEONHARD STEJNEGER. 
Curator of the Department of Reptiles and Batrachians. 
(With plate 1x.) 
The discovery of a blind cave salamander on our continent is one of 
om the most important and interesting herpetological events of recent 
| years. A new genus and species of salamander may not be such a 
_ startling novelty even at this late date, but the interest is considerably 
heightened when we have to do with the first and only blind form 
among the true salamanders. 
_ The discovery is primarily due to Mr. F. AsSampson who, in July 
last year, found the adult animal as well as a larva in the Rock House 
% _ Cave, Missouri, and kindly forwarded both to our museum. I have 
} also to thank Mr. George E. Harris, who afterwards went to great 
trouble in order to procure me additional specimens. Unfortunately, 
he has only succeeded so far in obtaining larvie, but we hope to be able 
_ during the present year to secure more adults. 
A more detailed anatomical description of this interesting animal 
| will have to be postponed until then, as I have not felt justified in 
mutilating the type specimen beyond what was necessary in order to 
ascertain the character of the vertebre. The present preliminary 
description is, therefore, only prepared in order to call attention to the 
_ discovery and to supply the diagnosis by which the animal may be 
/ identified. 
1 TYPHLOTRITON, gen. nov. 
se (70MAbc, blind; rpztwr, 6, salamander.) 
__- Of the family Desmognathide : Vertebrze opistoccelous; parasphenoid 
teeth; vomerine teeth. Eyes concealed under the continuous skin of 
~ the head ; tongue attached in front and along median line, free laterally 
t = and Pasieriotly:; ; maxillar and mandibular teeth small and numerous; 
: 3 -vomerine teeth in two strongly curved series; parasphenoid patches 
_ separate; nostrils very small; toes five. 
a Type: Typhlotriton speleus ‘STEIN. 
115 
Proceedings National Museum, Vol. X V—No. 894, 
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