Cope.] -'-'*^ •" [July 16, 



Habitat. This turtle occurs in some of the tributaries of the Parana 

 or Uraguay rivers, eitlier in the Argentine Confederation or the Bancla 

 Oriental, but in which, I do not know. My information is derived from 

 "W. W. Morgan, M. D., of Philadelphia, who resided many years in 

 Monte Video, where he obtained the specimen from a collector. 



This species differs from those already known, in the greater extension 

 forwards and laterally of the anterior margin of the carapace. In conse- 

 quence the forms of the vertebral, nuchal, and marginal plates are ex- 

 aggerated in form, the first in length, the last two in width. 



Chelopus eubidus. Cope. 



If this genus be regarded as co-extensive with the Geodemonys of Dr. 

 Gray, it embi'aces with the present addition, fourteen species. 



Carapace oval, moderately elevated and with obtuse median keel ; mar- 

 gin entire not recurved. Vertebral plates broader than long, with con- 

 cave posterior sutures, except the anterior, in which the length is some- 

 what in excess. Its lateral margins are parallel and the anterior angle is 

 pi'oduced, curtailing the small nuchal. Scuta concentrically grooved, 

 visible, though obsolete in the old individual. Plastron rather plane, 

 deeijly emarginate behind ; very openly in front. Inguinal and axillary 

 scales very small. Areolae of the scuta a little above and behind their 

 centres. 



Claws short, toes much united on all the limbs. Soles and palms with 

 large scales. Foreann with six cross-rows of large scales in front, and 

 two longitudinal rows on the outer side. A cross series of three across 

 the carpus behind. Posterior foot club-shaped. Testudo-like, the heel 

 with three cross rows of shields of 1, 3, 2 respectively, the posterior of the 

 last two very large, double the next smallest. Rest of the hind limb 

 small scaled. 



Head broad plane above, muzzle and loreal region vertical. Beak ob- 

 tusely hooked, not emarginate ; alveolar faces without grooves or ridges. 



Ground color of body yellow, the limbs and throat shaded and spotted 

 with red, which is margined with black. The neck above and laterally 

 is marked with numerous black rings and lines ; below with the gular 

 region it is closely black dotted. Tail very short, even in the males, 

 yellow, with fine black longitudinal lines above. Limbs with black and 

 pink dots. A chevron shaped red band extends from the orbits round 

 the canthus nostralis and muzzle, and another wider and with narrow 

 black margin between the orbits, with the apex forwards. Two similar 

 bands extend from the orbits posteriorly to the obscure tympanum, and 

 two are concentricably arranged on the occiput, the apex of the anterior 

 being separated as a large red spot. In the male the colors are deeper 

 and brighter. Carapace yellowish brown, each costal scutum with a hori- 

 zontally oval black-edged yellow spot in its area, surrounded by yellow 

 annuli. The young shows shows that there are two such concentric 

 annuli. Marginals with alternating longitudinal yellow and black lines 

 above, brown below. In the young, the vertebrals have a marginal yel- 

 low anuulus, and median oval ring with yellow and black variations. 



