94 



nops in having a series of secondary folds. It differs from 

 Siphonops annulatus, which also has an extremely low count of 

 folds, in lacking the bare region anterior to the anus. In habitus 

 it differs from any described species of the order. 



Among the specimens collected in the Canal Zone by Dr. 

 Thomas Barbour's party during the last winter (1924) is a small 

 salamander which seems to be new. It may be called 



Oedipus complex, new species. 



Type. — No. 9408, Museum of Comparative Zoology, a young male, from 

 Las Cascadas, near Gamboa, Canal Zone. 



Range. — Known only from type locality. 



Diagnosis. -^K worm-like Oedipus with reduced limbs, toes fully webbed, 17 

 costal grooves, maxillary teeth present, snout short and blunt, eye as long as 

 its distance from tip of snout. 



Description. — The type is a young male, 17 costal grooves; 9 costal folds 

 between appressed toes; head width 7| in length from snout to vent; head 

 length 5 1 in length of body; head a blunt oval as seen from above; eye longer 

 than its distance from tip of snout; angle of jaw back of upper angle of eye; 

 outline of upper jaw convex as seen from side; both eyelids fitting under a fold 

 of skin behind ; a groove from eye to gular fold ; a groove from this down behind 

 angle of jaw; tail longer than head and body, constricted off at base, terete; lips 

 of vent papillate. Limbs weak; fingers 3, 2, 4, 1, in order of length, com- 

 pletely webbed, tip of 3 projecting slightly; toes 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, in order of length, 

 completely webbed, tip of 3 projecting slightly; vomerine teeth 8-9 in series, 

 beginning beyond outer border of nares, curving in and back, each group 

 separated from its fellow by width of nares and from parasphenoids by twice 

 that distance; latter in a single patch, beginning opposite anterior fourth' of 

 eye-socket; maxillary completely toothed. Brownish black, with brown 

 flecks above; these are most concentrated on the dorsum of the tail and in a 

 dorsolateral line on each side of the body; leaden below with light flecks. 



Total length 67 mm., head 5, body 27, tail 35. 



Habits. — The type was taken while a termite's nest was being 

 cut from a log. 



Remarks. — Probably most nearly allied to Oedipus uniformis 

 from which it differs mainly in having 17 rather than 19 costal 

 grooves. From the other form with 17 costal grooves, Oedipus 

 parvipes, it differs widely in shape of head, size of eye, maxillary 

 dentition, and, to a less extent, in the amount of webbing of the 

 toes. 



The worm-hke forms of Oedipus, frequently known as Oedipina, 

 fall into two rather natural groups, which are distinguished by 

 the shape of the head or rather of the snout. Some forms have a 

 short, rounded snout and large eyes, while others have a long, 

 narrow snout and small eyes. 



Short 



Long 



Number of 



unt snout. 



sharp snout. 



costal grooves. 



lineolus 





• 14 



infuscatus 





? 



complex 



parvipes 



17 



uniformis 



collaris 



19 





alfaroi 



20 



