43. TARENIOLA. 195 



43. TARENTOLA*. 



Platydactyles, part., Cuv. Regne Anim. ii. p. 46. 



Tarentola, Gray, Ann. Phil. (2) x. 1825, p. 199, and Cat. Liz. p. 164. 



Platydactylus, part., Wagler, Syst. Amph. p. 142 ; Dum. 8f Bihr. 



Erp. Gen. iii. p. 290, 

 Ascalabotes, Bonap. Amph. Eur. p. 13 ; Fitzing. Syst. Rept. p. 102. 



Digits strongly dilated, free, with undivided lamellae below and 

 a flat nail-like scute on their upper surface near the tip ; third and 

 fourth clawed, others clawless. Pupil vertical. No femoral or 

 prseanal pores. 



W. Africa and borders of Mediterranean ; one species in the 

 West Indies (and another stated to be from the United States). 



All the species agree in the following characters : — The snout is 

 obtuse and convex ; the circular lid is well developed, most so 

 superiorly and anteriorly ; the ear-opening is narrow and vertical. 

 The limbs are stout, the digits short and subequal. The body is 

 depressed. The tail when not reproduced is depressed and formed 

 of distinct annuli ; its length equals about the distance between 

 the eye and the vent. Behind the latter are two small transverse 

 slits, but there are neither praeanal nor femoral pores. The head 

 is covered with polygonal convex scales, larger than the granules 

 on the body ; the nostril is pierced between the first labial and two 

 small shields ; a trace of median cleft is seen in the upper part 

 of the rostral ; the mental is large, wedge-shaped, and separates 

 entirely the chin -shields. The upper surfaces of the body, limbs, 



* The following species are not sufficiently well established to enter the 

 system : — 



1 . Tarentola Americana. 

 Tarentola americana, Gray, Cat. p. 165. 

 Platvdactylus (Tarentola) americanus, Gray, in Griff. A. K^ ix. Synops. 



p." 48- 

 milbertii, Bum. 8^ Bibr. iii. p. 325. 



Anterior border of ear denticulated. Back with twelve longitudinal series of 

 large, smooth, convex tubercles close together. 

 New York (?). 



2. Tarentola cubana. 

 Platydactylus (Tarentola) americanus, var. cubanus, Gundl. Sc Peters, 

 Mon. Eerl. Ac. 1864, p. 384. 

 Anterior border of ear denticulated. Back with twenty longitudinal series 

 of strongly keeled large tubercles. Back and tail with broad black transverse 

 bands ; a black streak from the eye to the shoulder. 

 Cuba. 



3. Tarentola clypeata. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 57. 

 " Head flattened and circumscribed by a cross rib behind, covered with 

 larger convex scales ; back granular with close cross ridges of tubercles; greyish 

 in spirits : limbs and tail slender." 



Hab. ? 



o2 



