CHAM.ELE0NTID.T5. 437 



Suborder 11. RHIPTOGLOSSA. 



Khiptoglossi, Wiegmann, Hvrp. Me.v. ]83J:. 

 Deinh-t)siaura, Orm/, Cut. Liz. 1845. 

 Clianifeleoiiidea, >Sfan)iui.s, Zovt. Amph. I806. 

 lihiptdplossa, Cope, Vroo.. Ac. Pliihtd. 1804. 

 Chaiui^lednuidea, Giinther, I'hil. Trun.i. clviii. 1867. 

 Ilhiptoglossa, Boulenger, Ann. §• Mag. N. H. (5} xiv. 1884. 



Fam. 21. CHAM^LEONTID^. 



Cam^leoniens, Cuvier, Hegne Anim. ii. 1817. 



Prenclentia, Merrem., Tent. Sgst. Amph. 1820. 



Chaiufeleonidie, Gray, Ann. rial. ('2) x. 1825. 



Chamseleonoidea, Fitzinger, Keue Classif. Itept. 1826. 



Thecoglossse, part., Wayler, Sgst. Amph. IB-'JU. 



Chamseleontes, Wiegmanyi, Ilerp. Me.v. 1834. 



Cam^leonien.s on Clielopodes, DumerilS) Bibron, Erp. Gen. iii. 1836. 



Cliamseleontes, FUzinger, Sgst. liept. 1843. 



Chanifeleouidfe, Gi-ag, Cat. Liz. 1845. 



Chamfeleoutidte, Cope, Troc. Ac. Philacl. 1864. 



The characters in which Chameleons difter from all other Lacer- 

 tilia are of such importance as to require their separation as a Sub- 

 order. The principal of these characters are : — External nasal 

 openings hounded hy the maxillary and the pro'frontal, the nasal 

 bones being exchided from their border ; vomer single ; pteryrioids 

 not reaching quadrate ; a sujyratcrnjioral bone present. Clavicles and 

 interclavicle abserit, the limbs being well developed. Digits arranged in 

 two hxindles, forming grasjnng-organs. Tongue cylindrical., extremely 

 extensile and projectile, sheathed at the base, club-shaped and vi.'icose 

 at the end, with an exceedingly elongate glossohyul bone. 



The head usually forms a bony casque, ornate with crests or 

 tubercles. The interorbital septum is present, and a small columella 

 cranii distinguishable. Priemaxillary extremely small, edentulous ; 

 orbit bony aU round, the prte- and postfroutals often joining to form 

 a supraorbital roof ; a pair of supranasal fontanelles, bordered by 

 the nasals, the prtefrontals, and the frontal ; latter bone single ; 

 " parietal " foramei], if present, pierced in the frontal ; parietal 

 single, often much narrowed and compressed, forming a crest, and 

 meeting posteriorly the extremities of a pair of bones, the supra- 

 temporals, which, on each side, connect it with the squamosal In 

 some species the parietal in the adult may be much expanded and 

 form a bony slab from which the supratemporals are no longer to be 



