434 4. ANGUIDJE 



Genus 14. Gerrhonotus 



Qerrhonotus WIEGMANN, Isis, 1828, p. 379 (type, tessellatus^liocefhalus), 

 Abronia GRAY, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., I, 1838, p. 389. 

 Elgaria GRAY, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., I, 1838, p. 390. 



There are four pentadactyle limbs. The head and body 

 are elongate, but shorter than the tail. The head-plates 

 are rather large, and change gradually to those of the neck. 

 Azygous interoccipital and prefrontal plates are present. 

 The dorsal, caudal, and ventral scales are large, rhomboidal, 

 and arranged in transverse as well as longitudinal series. A 

 band of granules along each side of the body is usually hid- 

 den by a dermal fold. The eye is large, with round pupil 

 and well-developed lids. The ear-opening is distinct. 

 There is no transverse gular fold. Femoral and preanal 

 pores are absent. 



The species of this genus often may be recognized at a 

 glance, but the amount of individual variation is so great 

 that it is very difficult to express their characteristics in a 

 key which will serve to distinguish all specimens. It should 

 be remembered that single specimens may vary in one or 

 more of the characters given (except the position of the dark 

 ventral lines), which are based upon the examination of 

 more than five hundred specimens. The variation in these 

 characters in these specimens is shown in the following table: 



