1 1. riKMMrp. 103 



1. Clemmys caspica. 



Testudo caspica, Gmelin, Reise d. Riissl. iii. p. 59, pis. x. & xi. 



(1774) ; Schneid. Schildkr. p. 344 (1783) ; Duud. Rent. ii. p. 124 



(1802). 



gi-asca {non L.), Pall. Zooyr. Ross.-As. iii. p. 17 (1811), 



Emys caspica, Schiveiyy. Prodi: p. 37 (1814) ; Eichio. Zool. Spec. iii. 



p. 190 (1831) ; num. .$• Ribr.n. p. 2o5 (183o). 

 Clemmys 



Cauc. 



(1861 



V / ; — -J I" --- \ ->^- ^j. 



nys caspica, Wayler, Icon. Amph. (1830) ; Eichw. Faun. Cai^p.- 

 ic. p. 4;), pis. iii. .*c iv. (1841) ; Stranch, Chelon. Stud. p. 117 

 ^—62) ; Blanf. Zool. E. Persia, p. 309 (1870). 



Emys grayi, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 180!), p. 504, pi. xxxviii. 



Emmenia grayi, Gray, Suppl. Cat. Sh. Rcpt. i. p. 38 (1870). 



Carapace rather strongly depressed, with an obtuse vertebral keel 

 and a more or less distinct costal keel in the young ; in the half- 

 grown, the lateral keels disappear, but a trace of the vertebral keel 

 usually remains, even in old specimens ; posterior margin not at all 

 serrated ; vertebral shields broader than long, nearly as broad as the 

 costals ; nuchal of moderate size. Plastron large, flat or convex in 

 the female, very slightly concave in the male ; truncate anteriorly, 

 angularly notched posteriorly ; the width of the bridge a little less 

 than the length of the hind lobe ; the longest median sutures formed 

 by the abdominal and femoral shields, which are either equal or the 

 former is the longer ; axillary and inguinal shields well developed, 

 latter largest. Head moderate ; upper jaw not hooked, notched 

 in the middle ; the width of the mandible at the symphysis is less 

 than the horizontal diameter of the orbitj edge of jaws finely 

 denticulated in the halfgrown and adult. Digits webbed to the 

 claws. Tail about three fifths the length of the carapace in the 

 young, half in the males, two fifths or one third in the females. 

 Carapace olive or olive-brown above, with elegant curved yellowish 

 streaks, which form a more or less regular 00 on each costal shield 

 and a ring on each marginal ; these markings most distinct in the 

 young, especially after removal of the epidermic shields; lower 

 surface of marginals constantly yellow, with the sutures black, and 

 two oval black spots on marginals 3 to 7. Plastron yellow, 

 with large black spots, which nearly cover the whole surface in the 

 young, the border and the bridge remaining, however, constantly 

 yellow, with black sutures. Head olive ; a yellow line on the 

 canthus rostralis and supraorbital border, two or three on each side 

 of the snout, and four on each temple ; no ocelli ; neck with 

 numerous yellow, finely black-edged streaks, three of which, along 

 the nape, are broadest and extend to the occiput. Soft parts 

 streaked and handsomely marbled with dark olive on a y>llow 

 ground. 



Length of shell 18 centim. 



Southern borders of Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf. 



