132 THE EEPTILES OF EGYPT. 
This species is closely allied to TJ. cegyptius, so much so that it has sometimes been 
mistaken for it. It is, however, distinguished from it by its decidedly larger scales and 
by the absence of tubercles on the flanks, although a few are present above the origin 
of the hind limbs. It appears to be the western representative of TJ. cegyptius. 
M. E. Olivier, in his Catalogue of the Reptiles and Batrachia of Algeria, includes both 
species, but his description of the specimen referred to TJ. cegyptius is not sufficiently 
explicit to carry conviction that the specimen was correctly determined. 
I have never met with this species in Egypt myself, but I have examined four 
specimens in the Frankfort Museum and another in the Paris Museum, all of which 
are said to have been obtained by Eiippell in Egypt. Heyden states that the types of 
his TJ. clispar= TJ. acanthinurus, Bell, were obtained by Riippell in the desert between 
Dongola and Ambukol, where it is known as ; ' Dendene." Now that this region is once 
more under the sway of Egypt, it is to be hoped that some British officer in the service 
of H.H. the Khedive will find sufficient leisure to make known its zoological riches. 
Olivier states that this species occurs throughout the stony parts of the Sahara, 
where it lives in fissures in the rocks and in holes in the ground. 
Synopsis of African Species. 
Caudal segments in contact with each other on the upper surface. 
I. Segments forming regular annuli above and below. 
Body-scales small. 
Ear without denticulations U. ocellatus, Licht. 
Body-scales larger. 
Ear denticulated in front TJ. ornatus, Heyden. 
II. Segments not forming regular annuli above and below. 
Body-scales almost granular. 
Enlarged tubercles on the flanks TJ. cegyptius, Hasselq. & Liun. 
Body-scales well-defined. 
No enlarged tubercles on the flanks TJ. acanthinurus, Bell. 
