CLASS IF ICA 71 ON OF VER TEBRA TA 56 



NOTOGAEA 



Characterised by Dipnoi; Cystignathidae, 

 Chelydidae, Iguanidae. 



Galli peristeropodes. 

 Diprotodont marsupials. 

 Absence of Ganoids, Cyprinidae, Viperidae, Vulturidae. 



I. AUSTRALIAN REGION. Characteristic features : 



All the Anura are " arcifera," with the exception of a few 

 species of Rana in New Guinea and the Cape York peninsula. 



All the Chelonians are " pleurodira," viz. Chelydidae. 



All the poisonous snakes are Elapidae. 



Casuarii, Triehoglossidae, Cacatuinae, Podarginae, Meli- 

 phaginae, Paradiseinae, Suboscines. Absence of Pici and 

 Fringillinae. 



Monotremata and Marsupialia. Extreme scarcity of placen- 

 tal Mammals ; entire absence of Edentata, Insectivora, and 

 Primates ; of Ungulata only one species of Sua in New Guinea. 

 Concerning Celebes see p. 57. 



1. New Zealand sub-region. Characterised by Sphcno- 

 don. Aptcryx, Dinomithidae, Stringops, Xenicirfar. 



Sole representative of Amphibia is Liopehna. 



Of Eeptilia only Geckos and Sphenodon. 



Absence of Mammalia, excluding one Bat and Mus maorium. 



2. Australian sub-region. Characterised by Ceratodus ; 

 Monotremata (Echidna and Ornithorhynchus), Macropodidae, 

 Notoryctes. 



Casuarii, Megapodiidae, Meliphagidae, Paradiseinae, Sub- 

 osrines (Menura and Atrichia). 



Of placental mammals occur only : Canis dingo, half a 

 dozen genera of Rodents, e.g. Hydromys, Xeromys, Mus, and 

 numerous Chiroptera. 



3. Papuasian or Austro - Malayan sub - region. In 

 reality a transitional district of debatable extent between the 

 Oriental and Australian regions. " Wallace's line," between 

 Borneo and Celebes, Java and Lombok, is of little significance. 



Note. — Italic type indicates animals which are peculiar to the respective regions 

 or sub-regions. 



