CLA SSIFICA TION OF VER TEBRA TA 27 



nicked feebly. No lateral fold. Limbs variable. Eyelids 

 well developed. Cosmopolitan. 



Cyclodus (Tiliqua), Scincus, Trachysaurus, etc. 

 The following five families are composed of degraded forms 

 of various descent, leading mostly a burrowing, subterraneous 

 life. Limbs entirely absent, or the posterior pair reduced to 

 small flaps ; girdles correspondingly reduced. Without post- 

 orbital, postfronto-squamosal, and supratemporal arches. Body 

 snake-shaped or worm-like. 



13. Anelytropidae. Degraded Skinks. Teeth hook-shaped. 

 Osteoderms present. Eyes and ears concealed. No limbs. 

 Premaxilla single. 



Africa and Mexico. 



Anelytropsis in Mexico. Feylinia and Typhlosaurus in 

 Africa. 



1 4. Dibamidae. Degraded Skinks. Premaxilla double. No 

 columella cranii. No limbs, except the males, in which the 

 hind-limbs are represented by a pair of flaps on the side of the 

 anus. Eyes and ears concealed. Teeth hook-shaped. Body 

 worm-like. With cycloid imbricating scales. 



Dibamus in New Guinea, Moluccas, Celebes, Nicobars. 



15. Aniellidae. Degraded Anguidae ; see Family No. 5. 

 No limbs. Premaxilla single. No squamosal bone. No 

 columella cranii. Eyes and ears concealed. Body snake-like. 



Amelia in California. 



16. Amphisbaenidae. Fore-limbs only or no limbs at all. 

 No columella cranii. Eyes and ears concealed. Pleuro- or 

 acrodont. Worm-like with annular skin-segments. 



America including Antilles, Africa, Mediterranean countries. 

 Chirotes, Blanus, Amphisbaena, Trogonophis, etc. 



1 7. Pygopodidae. Pleurodont. Premaxilla single. Hind- 

 limbs reduced to short pentadactyle flaps ; fore-limbs absent. 

 Body scaly without osteoderms. Eyes open, without movable lids. 



Australia and New Guinea. 

 Pygopus, Lialis, etc. 



3. Sub-order CHAMAELEONTES, Wiegmann. Stereo- 

 spondylous. Precocious. Without columella cranii. No 

 tympanum. Acrodont. Limbs well developed, fingers and 

 toes arranged in opposing, grasping bundles of two and three. 



