19. B-ESMOGNATHUS. 77 



19. DESMOGNATHUS. 



Desmognathus, Baird, Journ. Ac. PMlad. (2) i. p. 282 ; Gray, Cat. 



p. 40 ; Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1869, p. 112 ; IStrauch, Salam. 



p. 72. 

 tUylindrosoma, part., Dum. ^ Bibr. ix. p. 76. 

 Plethodon, part., Hum. ^ Bibr. p. 82 ; HaMow. Journ. Ac. Philad. 



(2) iii. p. 342. 



Tongue free laterally and posteriorly. Palatine teeth forming a 

 very open chevon directed posteriorly, occasionally missing ; para- 

 sphenoid teeth in two elongate patches. Toes five. 



North America. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



14 costal grooves; tail rounded; male 



with posterior half of mandible concave 



and edentulous 1. ochrophmus, p. 77. 



13 or 14 costal grooves; tail compressed, 



keeled 2. fuscus, p. 77. 



12 costal grooves ; tail compressed, finned 



above ; black above and below 3. niger, p. 79. 



1. Desmognathus ochrophseus. 



Desmognathus ochrophsea. Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1859, p. 124, aud 



1869, p. 113. 

 haldemanni, Strauch, Salam. p. 74. 



Palatine teeth very small and few when present, often wanting ; 

 their basal line on a ridge which is convex backwards, nearly con- 

 tinuous medially ; parasphenoid teeth on two narrow plates well 

 separated from each other, especially behind, and from palatine 

 teeth. Male with posterior half of mandible concave and edentulous, 

 this structure being much like that of the genus Anaides. Tongue 

 an elongate oval, considerably free behind. Head oval, with rounded 

 depressed snout ; the commissure of the mouth slightly flexuous. 

 Body rather elongate. Limbs rather weak, not meeting when laid 

 against the body ; fingers and toes moderate, free. Tail quite slender, 

 rounded, onlj' compressed at the tip, about as long as head and body. 

 Skin smooth ; gular fold distinct ; a more or less distinct groove 

 from latter to eye ; fourteen costal grooves. Bright brownish yellow, 

 darker in the male, fading to dirty white below ; a dark lateral band 

 from the eye to the end of the tail ; belly immaculate. Total length 

 75 millim. 



Alleghany Mountains, from New York to Georgia. 



2. Desmognathus fuscus. 



Desmognathus fuscus. Gray, Cat. p. 40. 

 Triturus fuscus, Safin. Annals of Nature, 1820 (fide Baird). 

 Salamandra intewnixta, Green, Cord. Mad. Lye. i. p. 827. 



picta, Harlan, Journ. Ac. Philad. v. p. 138. 



q^^uadrimaculata, Hottn: N. Amer. Herp. v. p. 49, pi. 13. 



