12. HTPSIPEYMNODON. 123 



12. HYPSIPKYMNODON. 



Type. 

 Hypsiprymnodon, BaTnsay, P. Linn. Sob. N. S. W. i. 



p. .3;i (1876) II. moschatus. 



Pleopus, Owen, Ann. Mag. N. H. (4) xx. p. 642 (1877) . . H. moschatus. 



Form rat-like. Ehinarium wholly naked. Ears large, thin, naked. 

 Limbs subequal, not saltatorial. Hands with five toes, the claws 

 small and delicate. Hind feet (PL XV. fig. 1) with a long oppos- 

 able clawless- hallux articulated comparatively near to the heel. 

 Fourth toe not disproportion aUy larger than the others, the fifth 

 and the combined second and third toes both strong and well- 

 developed, the claws of all four about equal. Tail cylindrical, 

 tapering, naked and scaly, its extreme base only hairy. 



Skull narrow and slender. Nasals long, slightly expanded behind. 

 Supraorbital edges square, not ridged. Anterior palatine foramina 

 of medium length, extending backwards to the level of the back of 

 the canines. Posterior palate with one large united vacuity ex- 

 tending the whole length of the molars. Bullae small, but little 

 expanded. Lower jaw slender, with a long, laterally compressed 

 symphysial portion. 



Dentition-— 1 '-^'^ C i P ''■°-^*-* M 1 ■ ^ -S- S < 2-.^! 

 jjennnon . x. yTqTo, u. g, r. ^ ^ g ^, m.. ^^^^ ^x.^ — ot. 



Upper incisors light and weak, i.' oval in section. Canine well- 

 developed, about as long as i.^ P.* (PI. XIV. fig. 11) narrow, 

 cutting, without trace of internal ledge or talon, its axis inclined 

 outwards at a sharp angle to the line of the molars. Molars small, 

 quadritubercular, evenly decreasing backwards. Lower i.' very 

 long and slender. Cheek-teeth similar to the upper ones. 



Range. Queensland. 



1. Hypsiprymnodon moschatus. 



Hypsiprymnodon moschatus, Rams. P. Linn. Sac. N. S. W. i. p. 34 

 (1876) ; Owen, Ann. Mag. N. H. (5) i. p. 103 (1878) ; id. Tr. 

 Linn. Soc. (2) i. p. 573, pis. Ixxi. & Ixxii. (animal, skull, and limb- 

 bones) (1879) ; Coll. Zool. Jahrb. ii. p. 906 (1887). 



Pleopus nudicaudatus, Owen, Ann. Mag. N. K. (4) xx. p. 642 (1877). 



Size and form very much those of a large rat. Fur close, crisp, 

 and velvety, consisting almost entirely of underfur. General colour 

 all over duU, finely grizzled rusty orange-grey, the orange deepest 

 on the back, less on the belly, scarcely perceptible on the head and 

 limbs. Ears large, rounded, laid" forward (in spirit specimens) 

 they just reach to the posterior canthus of the eye ; quite naked, 

 except at their bases behind ; their substance blackish flesh-colour. 

 Arms and hands brown, the hairs short, and only running on to the 

 metacarpus, leaving the fingers quite naked and scaly ; palms with 

 five large transversely-ridged pads. Feet brown, the hairs on the 



* The temporary presence of p.' is presumed, but has not as yet been actually 

 ascertained. 



