250 AGAMIB^. 



Fam. 5. AGAMIDiE. 



Iguaniens, part., Cuvier, Signe Anim. ii. 1817. 



Ascalabotse, pai-t., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. 1820. 



Stellionidse, part., &ray, Ann. Phil. (2) x. 1825. 



Pneustoidea, Draconoidea, Agamoidea, part., Fitzinger, Neue Chssif. 



Rept. 1826. 

 AgamidsB, Oray, Phil. Mag. (2) ii. 1827. 

 Pachyglossse, part., Wagler, Syst. Amph. 1830. 

 Dendrobatae emphyodontes and Humivagse emphy odontes, Wiegmann, 



Serp. Mex. 1834. 

 Iguaniens acrodontes, Dumdril Sf Bibron, E)y. OSn. iv. 1837. 

 Gonyocepliali, Oalotse, Semiophori, Otooryptss, Lophurse, Draoones, 



Trapeli, Stelliones, Leiolepides, Phrynooephali, Fitzinger, Syst. 



Rept. 1843. 

 Agamidse, Gray, Cat. Liz. 1845. 

 Agamidse, Cope, Proo. Ac. Philad. 1864. 



Agamidse aMt^Uromasticidse. Theobald, Journ. Linn. Soc. x. 1868. 

 Agamidae, Boulenger, Ann. S/- Mag. N. IT. (5) xiv. 1884. 



The oHef character by ■which the Lizards of this family are at 

 once distinguished from their allies is the acrodont dentition. The 

 teeth may usually be divided into three kinds, viz. incisors, canines, 

 and molars. The latter are more or less compressed, frequently 

 tricuspid ; regular canine teeth are present, one or two on each 

 side, in most of the genera ; in TJromastix and Ajporoscelis, however, 

 these enlarged teeth are absent, and the anterior lateral teeth wearing 

 out with age, a toothless cutting-edge is left between the molars 

 and the incisors, which, in those two genera, unite in the adult to 

 form a large single or divided cutting-tooth. 



The skull is less depressed and more strongly ossified than 

 in the preceding families, and postorbital and postfronto-squamosal 

 bone-arches are well developed ; in Lyriocephalus, as in several 

 Iguanoids, another arch is formed by processes of the prae- and 

 postfrontals which unite surrounding a large supraorbital fossa. 

 The premaxillary is single, the nasals are double, and the frontal 

 and parietal single ; the pterygoids are usually widely separated 

 and constantly toothless ; the os transversum is strongly developed ; 

 a columella cranii is present. Dermal o.ssifications on the skull 

 are constantly absent. The fore limbs are well developed, and, 

 except in Sitana, which lacks the outer toe, pentadactyle. The 

 clavicle is not dilated, and the interclavicle is X-shaped or anchor- 

 shaped, frequently smaU ; the sternum usually presents two fonta- 

 nelles, which, however, are missing in Lyriocephalus and Moloch, 

 the latter genus being especially remarkable for having the sternum 

 divided longitudinally. 



The tympanum is either exposed or concealed under the skin. 

 The eye is small and the pupil round; eyelids well developed. 

 The tongue is thick, entirely attached or slightly free in front, not 

 or but slightly nicked anteriorly ; it is more free, protractUe, and 



