EUPLEPHARID-E. 



229 



Fam. 2. EUBLEPHARID^. 



Geckonidae, part., omn. auct. 



Eublepharidae, Boulenger, Ann. Mag. N. H. (5) xii. 1883, p. 808, and 

 eod. loc. (5) xiv. 1884, p. 119. 



Except in the procoelian vertebrae and the single parietal bone, 

 the skeleton is similar to that of the preceding family, to which the 

 Euhlepharidce are closely affined. The teguments are also very similar, 

 and of a soft kind ; the upper surfaces are covered with small scales 

 or granules, which are usually intermixed with enlarged tubercles, 

 and the lower surface of the body with small, cycloid, imbricated 

 scales. The skin of the head is free from the skull. The eyes are 

 moderately large, with elliptico-vertical pu])il, and are protected by 

 thick, movable, connivent lids. The nostril is rather large, directed 

 slightly upwards, though lateral, and separated from the rostral and 

 labial plates. The tympanum is exposed. The limbs are weak and 

 the digits short and cylindrical ; they are all provided with a small, 

 sharp, retractile claw which, in Coleonyx, is entirely concealed in 

 a much-developed compressed sheath; this sheath, which differs 

 only in size according to the genera, is composed of two lateral 

 plates, the superior suture of which is covered by a third narrower 

 one, a structure which we have already met with in the Geckoid 

 genus ^lurosaurus. As in the Geckos, the tail is extremely fragile. 

 Males have a few prseanal pores, forming an angular series. 



Three species are natives of Central America, one of the southern 

 parts of the United States, two of Southern Asia, and one of 

 West Africa ; the genus Euhlepharis occurs in America as well as 

 in Asia. This extraordinary distribution seems to indicate that 

 the few representatives of this smaU family are the remnants of 

 some ancient, more generally dispersed, group; it nevertheless remains 

 a macter of wonder how forms, now so widely separated, have re- 

 tained so great a resemblance, not only in structure, but also in the 

 pattern of coloration. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Claws partly exposed ; lower surface of digits granular. 



1. Psilodactylus, p. 229. 



Claws partly exposed ; lower surface of digits lamellar. 



2. Eublepharis, p. 230. 



Claws entirely concealed into a large compressed sheath ; lower sur- 

 face of digits lameUar 3. Coleonyx, p. 234. 



1. PSILODACTYLUS. / 



Psilodactylus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1864, p. 61. 



Digits granular inferiorly ; claw-sheath small, the claws only 

 partially retractile. 

 West Africa. 



