988 18. TESTUDINIDM 



mens, and usually more or less rolled upward over limbs. 

 Growth-center of each plate smooth, but usually surrounded 

 by beautifully ribbed shell. Vertebrals five, last largest and 

 widest. Costals four, first longest, second and third about 

 equally high, last smallest. Nuchal not much narrower than 

 long. Marginals eleven and a half on each side, last pair 

 being united to form a single supracaudal plate. Plastron 

 large, extending forward beyond the carapace, notched post- 

 eriorly and sometimes anteriorly. Gular plates smallest, 

 sometimes united, covering a narrow process of the plastron, 

 which may be level or curved upward. Pectorals very much 

 smaller than abdominals, with shortest median suture, except 

 sometimes that of anals. Abdominals largest, with longest 

 median suture. Humerals larger than femorals. Anals 

 little longer than gulars. Axillary and inguinal plates well 

 developed, latter varying from two to six, not extensively 

 wedged in between abdominals and marginals. Head rather 

 elongate, not very wide, covered above with flat scales larger 

 anteriorly than posteriorly. Upper jaw not hooked, margins 

 nearly straight, irregularly but finely serrate. Skin of neck 

 with flattened granules. Anterior limbs large, heavy, much 

 expanded laterally, covered in front and externally with 

 large, hard, smooth scales, and provided with five stout claws. 

 Posterior limbs not compressed, covered around the edge of 

 the circular sole with large scales, and provided with four 

 stout claws. Tail very short, slender distally. 



The carapace is brown or horn-color, usually relieved, 

 especially near the centers of the plates, with yellow. The 

 head and limbs are brown. The plastron is yellow, shaded 

 with brown along the edges of its plates. 



Length of carapace 215 260 285 310 



Length of plastron 210 265 285 300 



Width of carapace 160 212 230 24-0 



Width of plastron 148 184 210 209 



