252 ZONTJRID^. 



temporal fossa roofed over by dermo-ossificatiou ; prfemasillary, 

 frontal, and parietal single ; nasals distinct ; palatines and ptery- 

 goids -widely separated medially, both bordering the infraorbital 

 fossa ; head with dermal bony shields. Clavicle slender, not dilated 

 proximall)' ; interclavicle cruciform ; sterniim without fontanelle. 

 No abdominal ribs. Head symmetrically shielded. Eyelids well 

 developed. Scales on the body, if not granular, arranged in 

 transverse series. Osteodermal plates present in one genus, but 

 devoid of distinct tubules. 



Like the preceding, this family has points of resemblance with 

 the Iguanidce and with the Angiiidce. From the former it is distin- 

 guished by the cranial dermal ossifications and the cruciform inter- 

 clavicle ; from the latter by the tongue, which, like that of the 

 Iguanidce, is not divisible into an anterior and a posterior part, the 

 ccelodont dentition, and the structure of the bony plates of the body, 

 when present. 



Four genera are known, inhabiting South and Tropical Africa, and 

 Madagascar. 



Sgnojysis of the Genera. 



I. Limbs well developed. 



A. Back with osteodermal plates. 



Dorsal scales large 1. Zonurus, p. 252. 



B. Back without osteodermal plates. 



Dorsal lepidosis heterogeneous 2. Pseudocordyliis, p. 259. 



Dorsal lepidosis uniformly granular. . 3. Platysaiirus, p. 261. 



II. Limbs rudimentary, body serpentiform. 



Scales lanceolate, keeled 4. Chamaesaura, p. 263. 



1. ZONURUS. 



Cordylus, part., Later. Syn. Rejjt. p. 51. 



Zonurus, Merr. Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 57 ; Gray, Cat. Liz. p. 47. 

 Oordylus, Cuv. Reyne Anim. 2nd ed. ii. p. 33 ; Gray, I. c. p. 46. 

 Hemicordylus, Smith, Mag. N. H. (2) ii. 1838, p. 32 ; Gray, I. c. 



p. 48. 

 Zonurus, part., Dum, Sf JBibr. v. p. 344. 



Head and body depressed ; limbs well developed. Head-shields 

 regular ; four parietals ; nostril pierced in the nasal. Ear-opening 

 large. Eyelids weU developed. Dorsal scales large, bonj', forming 

 regular transverse series ; vcntrals large, square or subtriangular, 

 juxtaposed or imbricate, forming longitudinal and transverse series. 

 No coUar fold. Digits slightly keeled inferiorly. Tail spinose. 

 Femoral pores. 



South Africa. 



