THE PHILIPPINE \ 



Journal of Science 



D. General Biology, Ethnology, 

 AND Anthropology 



Vol. XII SEPTEMBER, 1917 No. 5 



BRACHYMELES, A GENUS OF PHILIPPINE LIZARDS 



By Edward H. Taylor 



(From the Section of Ichthyology, Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, 



Manila) 



ONE PLATE AND SEVEN TEXT FIGURES 



The genus Brachymeles, as here understood, is the same as 

 defined by Boulenger ; ^ that is, it includes the genera Brachy- 

 meles Dumeril and Bibron and Senira Gray. At first glance the 

 three large pentadactyl species — B. schadenbergi, gracilis, and 

 bicolor — appear to be very different from the diminutive honifse 

 with stumplike limbs; however, the marked similarity of the 

 upper head scales and the fact that these species form a more 

 or less continuous series warrant placing them in one genus. 

 The recent discovery of two species intermediate between bicolor 

 and bonitae makes the relationship of the species appear more 

 obvious. 



Taking Brachymeles schadenbergi as the most specialized form 

 of the genus, since in this species the leg development seems 

 greatest (that is, the length of the hind leg is contained in the 

 axilla to groin distance 3.25 times, - while in B. gracilis the* 

 average is 3.6 times) , ^ it is seen that the relative length of the 

 body (axilla to groin distance) increases and the length and the 

 development of the limbs decrease proportionally in each species 

 of the series. Thus in B. bicolor the hind leg is contained in 

 the axilla to groin distance 7 times; in elerx, 9.6 times; in bonitx 

 and burksi, more than 25 times. 



'Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. (1887), 3, 386. ' 

 ' Average of 20 specimens. 

 ' Average of 27 specimens. 



150687 267 



