382 BULLETIN 34, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



HEMIPHRACTIDiE.* 



Cope, Jouru. Ac. Pbila. (2), vi., 18G6; Bouleuger, Cat. Batr. Sal. 

 Brit. Mus., ed. ii, 1882, p. 451. 



Three geuera represent this family, as follows : 



Vomerine, no parasplienoid teetli ; ungual phalanges acute Hemiphractus Wagl. 



Vomerine, no parasphenoid teetli ; ungual phalanges dilated Ceratoliyla Espada. 



Vomerine and paraspheuoid teeth; ungual iihalanges dilated Amphodus Peters. 



Tin; species of these genera are distributed as follows; all are of the 

 Neotropical realm. 



IlemipliraGtus, two species, Colombian region. 

 Ceratoliyla^ five species, Colombian region. 

 Amphodus, one species, eastern region. 



GASTRECHMIA Cope. 



Journ. Ac. Phila., 1867, p. 198. 



Bnt one family of this superfamily is known, and that embraces but 

 a single genus. Its range is the Ethiopian realm. 



Maxilke edentulous; vertebne procuilian ; sacrum with dilated diapophyses, at- 

 tached by condyles to a simple urostyle Hemisidw. 



HEMISID^. 



Auditory apparatus wanting; tongue posteriorly retractile into a 

 sheath; frontoparietal and prefrontal bones fully developed, the former 

 coossified, the latter separated to end of muzzle by ossified ethmoid 

 septum ; toes webbed, no cuneiform shovel ; no parotoid glands ; manu- 

 brium present Hemisus Gthr. 



HEMISUS Glinther.t 



Cat. Brit. Mus., 1858. 

 Cacojyhrijnus Steindachuer. 



This genus shows its nearest affines t© be Callula and allied genera 

 of the Engystomidte in the wide separation of the lobes of the liver for 

 the accommodation of the pericardial sac and its contents, and by the 

 posterior position of the heart. In the latter point it exceeds all other 

 genera; the heart is of relatively large size, and occupies nearly the 

 median i)ortion of the abdominal region. It would appear to be for the 

 protection of this important organ that the coracoids are extended 

 backwards. The cavity anterior to the heart is occupied by longitudi- 

 nal muscles and the largo larynx. The lobes of the liver extend each 

 to the groin, a position even more posterior than in those genera of 

 Rauiformia which are characterized by the posterior position of that 

 organ; and by the disappearance of its median lobe, and the wide sep- 

 aration of its lateral lobes for the accommodation of the heart. The 

 genera in which this relation exists, are Breviceps, Engystoma, Sys 

 toma, Callula, Phrynomantis, Atelopus, and Pipa. 



* Plate 73. t Plates 74, 76. 



