SPHENOMORPHUS 



185 



tact with rostral ; prefrontals large, broadly in contact medially ; 

 frontal elongate, drawn to a slender point behind, narrower than 

 supraocular region; seven supraoculars, last very small, second 

 and third widest; three supraoculars in contact with frontal; 

 frontoparietals distinct; interparietal small; parietals forming 

 a suture behind it ; no nuchals ; nostril pierced in a single nasal ; 

 latter followed by two superimposed frenals, the lower largest; 

 these followed by a large frenal separated from orbit by three 

 superimposed preoculars; eleven superciliaries, first very large; 

 several enlarged temporals and several smaller ones ; seven upper 

 labials, fifth and sixth below eye; six lower labials; mental 

 narrow, followed by an azygos postmental ; this followed by four 

 paired chin shields, only one pair of which is in contact; forty 



Fig. 24. Svhenomorj)hus variegatus (Peters) ; a, head, dorsal view; b, 



c, chin ; X 2. 



head, lateral view ; 



rows of smooth scales about body, dorsals only slightly smaller 

 than ventrals; scales under tail not enlarged; eye equidistant 

 from tip of snout and ear opening; latter vertically elongate, 

 much smaller than eye, nearer foreleg than end of snout; 

 legs strong, adpressed hind leg reaches shoulder; digits slender, 

 compressed, with twenty-three' unicarinate lamellae below fourth 

 toe; preanals somewhat enlarged; tail much broadened at base', 

 but tapering quickly to one-half its basal width, then gradually 

 to a fine point. 



Color in life. — Above yellowish brown with two more or less 

 distinct rows of irregular, dark brown spots medially; laterally 

 with a distinct dark spot on neck, and a broken, irregular, dark 

 stripe along side of body and neck (sometimes dim or wanting) ; 

 below yellowish to pinkish white; labials with dark and light 



