CLASSIFICATION OF VERTEBRATA 56 



NOTOGAEA 



Characterised by Dipnoi ; Cystignathidae. 

 Chelydidae, Iguanidae. 

 Galli peristeropodes. 

 Diprotodont marsupials. 

 Absence of Ganoids, Cyprinidae, Viperidae, Vulturidae. 



I. AUSTEALIAN EEGION. Characteristic features : 



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

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



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



All the poisonous snakes are Elapidae. 



Casuarii, Trichoglossidae, 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 Sus in New Guinea. 

 Concerning Celebes see p. 57. 



1. NEW ZEALAND SUB-REGION. Characterised by Spheno- 

 don. Apteryx, Dinornithidae, Stringops, Xenicidae. 



Sole representative of Amphibia is Liopelma. 



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, Siib- 

 oscines (Menura and Atrichia). 



Of placental mammals occur only : Canis dingo, half a 

 dozen genera of Eodents, 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. 



