134 
Philippine Journal of Science 
1920 
prefrontals much larger than postnasals, pentagonal, forming 
a straight median suture ; azygous prefrontal hexagonal ; frontal 
large, eight-sided, with a small suture entering anteriorly, form- 
ing its longest sutures with supra-ocular, wider than long; two 
equal-sized parietals, distinctly shorter than frontal; a large 
temporal scale bordering frontal; supra-ocular and parietal on 
each side; three postocular shields entering orbit, two lower 
largest; these bordered by temporals; two upper temporal ele- 
ments larger than lower; a large elongate shield on either side 
of lower jaw; region above eye with small irregular scales; 
lower lid with tubercular scutes; carapace covered with large 
imbricating shields; five vertebral shields; four pairs of costal 
shields; eleven marginal shields on each side; a single nuchal 
shield; a pair of supracaudal shields; vertebrals with a strong 
vertebral keel; two lateral keels on upper part of costal; pos- 
terior edge of each shield with a thornlike point; posterior edge 
of carapace strongly serrate ; plastral elements normal ; a single 
azygous scute between gulars; pectoral and abdominal shields 
largest; plastron separated from carapace by a series of four 
enlarged intercalary shields ; a few small axillary shields, largest 
between humeral and first intercalary; a single small inguinal 
scale; plastron with two strong keels with a prominent depres- 
sion between them; legs paddlelike, anterior much larger than 
posterior; inner side of leg with eight shields, broader than 
long ; tip of leg with two enlarged shields, separated by a smaller 
shield ; outer side of leg with sixteen scutes, two of which bear 
distinct claws; hind legs with eleven scutes on anterior edge, 
two of which bear small claws; tail very short, not extending 
to tip of carapace. 
Color in alcohol . — Above deep brown, streaked or mottled with 
amber of varying shades; legs similar; head shields blackish 
brown, lighter on sutures; lateral shields amber, with brown 
spots ; plastron yellow to amber, with a brown spot on posterior 
part of each shield. 
Measurements of Eretmochelys imbricata {Linmeus). 
Total length 
244 
Length of carapace 
173 
Width of carapace 
130 
Length of plastron 
134 
Width of plastron, across pectorals 
81 
Length of foreleg 
98. 
Length of hind leg 
53 
Length of head 
47 
Width of head 
30 
