GONATODES. 73 



covered with polygonal convex scales ; the remainder of the head, 

 the body, and the limbs covered with small granules ; those on the 

 belly larger, though smaller than the scales on the snout. Eostral 

 more than twice as broad as deep, with median cleft above ; nostril 

 pierced between the rostral and two or three nasals ; 7 or 8 upper 

 and 5 or 6 lower labials ; mental very large, truncate posteriorly ; 

 no regular chin-shields. Tail longer than head and body, slender, 

 strongly compressed, keeled above and beneath; the two keels 

 denticulate, the upper most strongly, especially in males, in which 

 it forms a regular crest, which, however, never extends to the 

 body. Grey-brown or olive above, clouded with darker, and 

 frequently with round lighter spots ; a dark streak passing through 

 the eye ; small bright red dots may be present on the sides of the 

 body ; sometimes a light reddish vertebral band. 



From snout to vent 1-25 inches ; tail 2-1. 



Hob. Sind (Karachi), according to Murray ; also islands in 

 Persian Gulf, Muscat, and Socotra. 



Genus GONATODES, 

 Fitzing. Syst. Kept. p. 91, 1843. 



Digits slender, clawed, cylindrical or depressed at the base (in 

 one species dilated) ; the distal phalanges compressed, forming an 

 angle with the basal portion of the digits, the lower surface of 

 which has a row of plates. Body more or less depressed, granular 

 or tubercular above. Tail not compressed. Pupil circular ; 

 eyelid distinct all round the eye. Males with or without praeanal 

 or femoral pores. 



Of the 18 species of this genus, 6 occur in Tropical America, 2 

 in the Malay subregion, the rest in India and Ceylon. Diurnal. 



Synopsis of Indian and Ceylonese Species. 



A. Digits not dilated. 



a. Flanks without spine-like projecting tuber- 

 cles. 



a'. Males with femoral pores, without prae- 

 anal pores. 

 ". Back with uniform keeled granules ; 



4 or 5 pores on each side G. indicus, p. 74. 



b". Back with uniform or heterogenous 

 round granules, each with a raised 

 central point or short keel ; 4 to 6 



pores on each side G. wynadensis, p. 75. 



c". Back with uniform round granules ; 



8 pores on each side G. sixparensis, p. 75. 



b'. Males without femoral pores, with prae- 

 anal pores. 



a". Back with small smooth granules 

 irregularly intermixed with small 

 smooth or slightly keeled tubercles ; 

 ventral scales smooth ; 6 to 9 pores. G. ornatus, p. 75. 



