DIBAM1DA 1 . 



229 



Family VIII. DIBAMID.E. 



Tongue short, bifid posteriorly, pointed, undivided in front, 

 covered with curved lamellae or plicae. Teeth small, pointed, hooked, 

 none on palate. Skull compact ; no interorbital septum ; no 

 columella cranii ; no arches ; no infraorbital foramen ; praemaxillary 

 double. Fore limbs absent ; the hind pair represented, in the male, 

 by a pair of flaps on the sides of the anal opening ; no rudiments of 

 the sternal apparatus. Body vermiform, covered with cycloid im- 

 bricate scales. No osteodermal plates. Eyes concealed under the 

 skin. Xo ear-opening. No prseanal pores. 



A single genus and a single species, ranging from the Nicobars 

 to New Guinea. 



Fig. 64. Upper and side views of head of Dibamvs nova-guinea. 



Fig. 65. Anal region of Dibamus nova-guinea, a. Female, b. Male. 

 I. Rudimentary limbs. 



Genus DIBAMUS, 

 Dum. & Bibr. Erp. Gen. v, p. 833, 1839. 



Snout normally covered by three large shields, viz. the rostral, 

 and a labial on each side, which, however, may fuse into a single 



