TROPIDOPHORUS 235 



Leposoma (non Spix) CuviER, Reg. Anim. ed. 2 2: 38. 

 Norbea Gray, Cat. Liz. (1845) 101. 

 Aspris Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 22 (1853) 650. 

 Amphixestus Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1871) 573. 

 Enoplosaums Sauvage, Bull. Soc. Philom. VII 3 (1879) 211. 



"Palatine and pterygoid bones in contact on the middle line 

 of the palate, which is toothless. Teeth conical. Eyelids 

 well developed, scaly. Tympanum distinct, superficial. Nostril 

 pierced in a single nasal; no supranasals; prsefrontals well de- 

 veloped; frontoparietal present, single or double; interparietal 

 distinct. Limbs well developed, pentadactyle ; digits cylindrical, 

 with transverse lamellae inferiorly." (From Boulenger.) 



The species of this genus are semiaquatic and for the most 

 part are found along fresh-water streams in the low mountains. 

 When disturbed they readily take to the water and are able to 

 remain some time beneath the surface. They feed largely on 

 small insects and frequently on fresh-water crustaceans. The 

 young are born alive. Five species are known from the Philip- 

 pines. The genus is distributed from southeastern China to 

 Australia. Absent from Malay Peninsula. 



Key to the Philippine species of Tropidophorus Dumeril and Bibron. 



a\ A single frontoparietal plate ; scales smooth ; a pair of enlarged preanals. 



T. leucospilos (Peters) (p. 235). 

 a^ Frontoparietal double. 



b^ Three enlarged preanals; dorsal and lateral scales strongly keeled; 

 subdigital lamellae keeled; head shields rugose; an azygos shield 

 between the frontonasals and the prefrontals. 



T. grayi Giinther (p. 236). 

 6^ Single enlarged preanal. 



c^. Head shields smooth; dorsal and lateral body scales strongly keeled; 



tail with vertical spines T. partelloi Stejneger (p. 238). 



c\ Head shields feebly rugose; numerous small scales above anterior 



upper labials T. rivularis Taylor (p. 240). 



c'. Head shields smooth; no small scales above anterior upper labials. 



T. misaminius Stejneger (p. 242). 



TROPIDOPHORUS LEUCOSPILOS (Peters) 



Lygosoma (Hinulia) leuoospilos Peters, Mon. Berl. Ak. (1872) 684. 

 Tropidophorus leuc o spilo s Bovijenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus. 3 (1887) 

 360. 



Description of species. — Head moderately long; snout not 

 longer than diameter of eye ; head scales perfectly smooth ; ros- 

 tral large; frontonasal broader than long, in contact with 

 rostral, nasal, and anterior f renal ; prefrontals broadly in contact ; 

 frontal rhomboidal, the anterior part short, the hinder part 

 drawn out to a long, sharp angle, a little longer than fronto- 

 parietal; latter single, rather heart-shaped; interparietal of 



