Lepidosauria 
Lepidosavrria (lep'i-<lo-sa'ri ;i), ii.pl. [NL.,< 
Gr. /Ir-T/f (/(TrvfJ-), a scale, + nni/nu; n li/.ard. | In 
some systems, a subc hiss or MI! Mir.lcr.il' l!t/> him, 
including reptiles with scales ami plates, with 
limbs or without, and with the anal cleft trans- 
verse ami III' 1 ]>enis double. The group includes the 
ophidians and lacertilians, hut nut tin- rrorodilians nor 
cnclonians. Also called riti:jintrrntiitn and Stfuatnata. 
lepidosaurian (lep'i-do-sa'ri-an), a. and n. I. 
a. Pertaining to the Lepidosauria, or having 
their characters. 
II. . One of the Lfjiiiln.iiiiiriii. 
Lepidosiren (lep'i-do-si'ren), n. [NL., < Qr. 
~ 
Br 
A, paricto frontal bone ; At, alisphenoiil ; 
An, auditory chamber; /.', superorbital ; 
Rr, branchiostegal rays; C. nasal: D t pal- 
ato-pteryguid ; , votncrine teeth ; EO, 
exoccipttal bone; Etti, ethmoid; Hy, hy- 
oitl ; /, lacryma! ; MM, mandible ; N, na- 
sal sac ; ' 'A opercular plate ; Or, orbit ; PS, 
cartilaginous presphctioidal region ; /'", 
vomer; a, quadrato-mandibular articula* 
tion ; fh, notochord ; x x, parasphenoid ; j 
pharyngo-branchial ; //, Y, /'///. exits < 
optic, tngeminal, and vagus nerves ; I, : 
first and second vertebrae. 
scale (see lepis), 
+ NL. .Siren, a 
genus of am- 
phibians.] 1. 
A genus of 
dipnoan fishes, 
typical, of the 
family Lepidosi- 
renida; and sub- 
family Lepido- 
sirenince, of an 
elongate form, 
as in the am- 
phibian genus 
Skull of Mudfish (A,,****, r, *'>, Jut with a 
tens), side views, the upucr in longitudinal gCHly bOUV. For- 
vertical section. (Cartilage dottcu; mem- mrrlv tlir frntimt,- 
branes and bones shadedTn lines., SSSlS.^ 
rlca wasincluded In 
this genus, and the 
name lepidrtnren Is 
still 1m isrl v applied 
to that fish, though 
it is more properly 
restricted to the 
South American 
form for which the 
genus was original- 
ly instituted. L. 
paradoxa Is the South American mudllsh. about 3 feet 
long, found in the Amazon. Amphibichthyit is a synonym. 
2. [I. c.] A member of this genus. 
Lepidosirenidae (lep'i-do-si-ren'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Lepidosiren + -ida:.] A family of dip- 
noan fishes, typified by the genus Lepidosiren. 
The body is eel-shaped; there are teeth in each jaw, a 
pair of lateral molars with strong cusps supported by ver- 
tical ridges and on the vomer a pair of conical ones ; the 
dorsal and anal nns are long and confluent with the cau- 
dal ; and the ventral and pectoral fins are almost reduced 
to long filaments. It is a small group of two genera, the 
South American Lepidonren and the African Protopterua. 
Amphibichtliifidce and Sirenidce, 2, are synonyms. 
Lepidosirenidea (lep'i-do-si-re-nid'e-a), n. pi. 
[NL. , < Lepidosiren + -idea. ] An order referred 
by Melville to the amphibians : same as Sirenoi- 
dea. 
lepidosirenoid (lep*i-do-si're-noid), a. and n. 
[< Lepidosiren + -oid.] I. a. Pertaining to the 
Lcpidosirenida:, or having their characters. 
II. n. A fish of the family Lepidosircnida. 
lepidosist (lep-i-do'sis), n. [NL., < Or. feirif (fa- 
JT>-), a scale, + -osi.?.] In med., scaly disease: 
applied to ichtbyosis, psoriasis, and pityriasis. 
Lepidosperma (lep'i-do-spe,r'mii), n. [NL. (La 
Bmardiere, 1804), < Gr. fojr/f (^CTTH!-), a scale, + 
oirtpfia, seed.] A genus of sedges of the tribe 
lihynchosporete, distinguished by having sub- 
distichous glumes and nard eroded seeds. There 
are about 40 species, inhabiting Australia, New Zealand, 
341:; 
system, a suborder of ganoid fishes having 
rhombic scales, generally fulcrate tins, numer- 
ous branchiostegals, and no gular plate. It em- 
braces the Lc]>idosteid<e and numerous extinct 
forms. 
Lepidosteus (lep-i-dos'te-us), n. [XL., < Gr. '/>. 
jrif (tand-). a scale, + ixrrtov, a bone.] A genus 
of fishes with rhomboid scales as hard as bone, 
whence the name. The genus Include* the North 
American garpikea or Ixiuy pikes, as L. rmna, the com- 
mon lone-nosed, and L. ptatystomut, the short- nosed gar- 
pike. The alligator gar, /, triituecJum, represents a section 
of the genus called Atraetattau. The genus is typical of 
the faintly I^indttsteidaK. Originally spelled Lepuofteut 
(Laeffedf, 1803). 
lepidostrobus (lep-i-dos'tro-bns), .; pi. lepi- 
dostrobi (-bi ) . [NL. , < Or. Xfjr/f ('/if mi-), a scale, 
+ oTpo,?of, a twisting or whirling round: see 
strobile.] The fruit-cone of plants of the ge- 
nus Lepidodendron. It corresponds closely In struc- 
ture with the fertile spike of the living SclagtiuUa. The 
, 
the Malay archipelago, and southern China. /. . gladiatum , 
the sword-sedge of the sea-coast of extratropical Australia, 
is an important plant for binding sea-sand, and also yields 
a paper-material said to be as good as esparto. 
Lepidostei (lep-i-dos'te-i), n.pl. [NL., pi. of 
Lepidosteus.'] A group of ganoid fishes, founded 
by Agassiz in 1833 : same as Lepidoidei. 
lepidosteid (lep-i-dos'te-id), . A fish of the 
family Ltpldothida. Also lepidonteoid. 
Lepidosteidae (lep'i-dos-te'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Lepidosteus + -Ida;.'] 1. A family of rhomboga- 
noid fishes. They have lozenge-shaped scales, and fins 
with fulcra. The dorsal and anal tins are placed far back, 
close to the caudal. The abdominal part of the spinal r,.i 
umn is longer than the caudal part. Opercular gills or 
pseudobranchia? are present. The Lepfdosttida are char- 
acteristic of the fresh waters of North America, and are 
popularly known as parjitthea, garjrikfs, bony pticeg, and alii- 
iialnr-imrs. They are noteworthy for many anatomical 
peculiarities, ami as being the only living representatives 
of a once large and widely diffused order of fishes. One 
species has been reported from China. 
2. In Huxley's and Zittel's systems, a suborder 
or order of ganoid fishes, containing the above 
family, then called Lcpidoxti-ini or Hingli/moili. 
lepidosteoid (lep-i-dos'te-oid), . and n. [NL.. 
< Lepidosteoidei^] I. a. Pertaining to the Lcpi- 
ilnnti'idii; or having their characters. 
II. n. Same as lejndosifiil. 
Lepidosteoidei(lep-i-dos-te-oi'de-I), n.pl. [NL., 
+ Gr. rWof, form.] In GUnther's 
~- IstitiattrottHi fiat- 
Littdoslrolmt marrtltfutotHi. lalut : a, an entire 
(From Weiss's " Flora der Steinkohlen- strobile ; p, a single 
formation.") scale. 
spore-bearing leaves are attached to a central axis in a 
crowded spiral arrangement and their outer ends curve 
over so as to form an imbricated, diagonally arranged pat- 
tern, resembling that of the stem Itself, 
lepidote (lep i-dot), a. [< Gr. iWfooror, scaly, 
< /ridovv, make scaly, < /IfTrif (fami-), a scale : 
see lepis."] In bot., covered with scurfy scales 
or scaly spots; leprous. 
lepidoted (lep'i-do-ted), a. [< lepidote + -ed 2 .] 
Same as lepidote. 
LepidUTUS (lep-i-du'rus), n. [NL., < Gr. ?.ir/<; 
(fer5-), a scale, + ovpA, a tail.] A genus of 
phyllopods of the family Apodida 1 
(or Apunidte), related to Apus, but 
having a spa dilate telson; the 
spoontails. L. couesi is a species 
abounding in pools in Montana, 
Utah, and elsewhere. 
Lepiopomus (lep'i-o-po'mus), . 
[NL., also Lepomus, prort.'Lepido- 
pomus; < Gr. Aeiris (Xtir<o.). a scale, 
+ irijfta, a lid, cover.] Same as 
I^epomis. 
lepis (le'pis), . ; pi. lepides (lep'i- 
dez). [NL.. < L. lepis, < Gr. ,' 
a scale, rind, husk, flake, < / 
peel, strip. Cf. Lepas."] 1. A 
scale, as that of a fish. 2. In 
bot., a thin flat membranous pro- 
cess or scale, attached by its mid- 
dle, and having a lacerated irregu- 
lar margin, such as covers the foliage of the 
oleaster. 
Lepisma (le-pis'mii), n. [NL. (Linneus, 1748), 
< Gr. tejnafia, that which is peeled off, peel, < 
fojnfeii>, peel, husk, < /".fjn'r, a scale, husk: see 
lepis.'] The typical genus of Lepismatida; hav- 
ing three long and four short caudal filaments, 
very long antennas, and the body flat and scaly. 
Several species of these bristletails occur about houses 'in 
warm or damp places, where they may be seen running 
swiftly when disturbed. In their movements and general 
habits they resemble cockroaches. L. gaccharina is a 
common household pest in Europe and America, in damp, 
close rooms. L. dmnestica, the fishtail, is another house- 
hold pest, L. quadrisenata is commonly observed on the 
walls of out-houses. In the t'nited .States these insects 
are commonly called fahtail, ftUtxrtaH, and sHperftsh. They 
are fond of the glazed figures in wall-paper, of photo- 
graphs, the paste of book-bindings, etc., and also Injure 
silks and silk tapestries. They are most abundant where 
It is a little damp. 
Lepismatidae (lep-is-mat'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Lepisma(t-) + -id(f.~] A family of genuine thy- 
sanurous insects of the suborder Cinura, having 
long caudal stylets or filamentous appendages, 
long filamentous antennte. well-developed jaws 
and long palps, six legs, slender cylindrio or 
flattened body covered with metallic scales, and 
ten-jointed abdomen; the bristletails proper. 
They are found running swiftly about buildings, under 
stones, etc., and somewhat resemble cockroaches, though 
not nearly related to tin w orthopterous insects. Lrpimia, 
Jjfpvnnina, ami MachUi* are the representative genera. 
Also Lfpiftnidtf. 
Lepistemon (lep-i-ste'mon), n. [NL. (C. L. 
Blume, 1826), < Gr. /.rn-i'f, a scale, + <rri/nuv, a sta- 
lepra 
men.] A genus of convolvulaceoug plants of the 
trilii- t'mu-nlriili-ii; (lijstingiiiKheil from //iivi 
liv the dilatation of the base of the filaments 
into small arched scales. There are 5 specie*, having 
cordate three-lobed leaves and small yellowish flowers* aO 
twining herbs, natives of tropical Asia, Africa, and Aus- 
tralia. 
Lepistomoneae (lep'is-te-mo'ne-c), n. pi. [NL. 
(M icjuel, 1856), < l^i>inttmon + -ttr.~] A tribe of 
plants of the order ('onrolvulacea; established 
for the reception of the genus Lepintemon. 
lepocyta (le-pos'i-ttt), . .[NL.: see lepocyte^ 
An infusorian with a cell-membrane: distin- 
guished from (/ymnocyta. 
lepocyte (lep'6-sit), n. [< NL. lepocyta, < Gr. 
P.firof, a scale, husk, + /oTof, a hollow, a cavity: 
see <//'(. | A nucleated cell with a cell-wall : 
distinguished from gumnocyte. 
Lepomis (le-po'mis), n. [NL. (Rafinesque, 
1819), also Lepomus, emend. Lepiopomus (Jor- 
dan, 1878), prop. 'Lepidopoma; < Gr. )*irlf (%r- 
nti-), a scale, + nafta, a lid, cover.] A genus 
of smiti-lies of American fresh waters, having 
the operculum ending behind in a convex black 
flap, sometimes highly developed. They belong to 
the ftunttyCentrarchidtr, and are nearly related to the black- 
bass. Upward of 20 species are described, some of them 
among the commonest and most familiar fishes of the I'nlted 
States, often called bream, as the blue or copper-nosed, L. 
rltidus. The common sunflsh, sunny, or pumpkin-seed is 
ffiblxmut, found from Maine to Florida and in the Great 
Lake region. The red-spotted sunflsh is L. Ai/mtZu, found 
from Kentucky to Kansas and Texas. L. rmnellvs of the 
Great Lake region and thence to Mexico Is the blue-spotted 
sunflsh or redeye. The two species In which the gill-flap 
is most highly developed are L. auritia and L. megaloti*, 
both called long-eared mnjwh. 
Leporidae (le-por'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Lepus 
(Lepor-) + -irfp.] A family of mammals of the 
order Sodentin or Glires and suborder Duplici- 
dentata ; the hares. The Lcporidir, together with the 
Lagomyidce, compose the suborder. The dental fonnula of 
Leporidce is : 2 incisors above and 1 below in each half -jaw, 
no canines, 3 premolars in each upper and 2 In each lower 
half-jaw, and 3 molars above and below in each half-jaw 
in all, 28. The milk-dentition is : I. j, pm. j = ! x 2 = 18. 
There are in the adult 2 pairs, and in the young 3 pairs, of 
upper front teeth, the largest number found In this order. 
The grinders are all alike rootless and mostly trilaminate ; 
the skull is large, and noted for its many vacuities or fon- 
tanelles among the bones ; clavicles are present, but rudi- 
mentary ; the scapula has a metacromion ; the tibia and 
fibula are united as In murine rodents ; the radius and 
ulna are complete, but fixed ; and the spinal column Is 
remarkably long in 
the lumbar region. 
The hind limbs are 
disproportionately 
long, and the gait is 
more or less salta- 
torial. The hind as 
well as the fore feet 
are entirely fur- 
ry, and the whole 
length of the meta- 
tarsus may be ap- 
nnd. 
Skull of Arctic Hare (lffi*r timidtts, 
Tar. arcticutl, from specimen in United 
States National Museum, Washington. 
plied to thegron: 
There are 5 digits 
on the fore feet, 4 on 
the hind. The head is full and globose, with very long 
ears, large eyes, and prominent, mobile, cleft upper lip ; 
there are no cheek-pouches, and the inside of the mouth 
is partly furry. The tail Is short and habitually recurved. 
The male organs are external ; the uterus is two-horned, 
and the mamma? are numerous about 5 pairs. There Is 
but one living genus. Lema, but there arc several extinct 
genera, as I'alinjloffut, Parwlax, and /YaotAerium. See 
hart*, rabbit. 
leporide (lep'o-rid), n. [< L. Jeptts (lepor-), a 
hare (see Leptts), + E. -ifc 2 .] A variety of the 
domesticated rabbit, supposed to be a hybrid 
between the rabbit (Lepus cvniculug) and the 
hare (L. timidus), and also known as the Belgian 
hare. 
Many of these animals were sold as Irparidesnr hybrids, 
produced by the union of the hare and rabbit ; but the 
most careful experimenters have failed to produce any 
such hybrid. Encyc. Brit., XX. 193. 
leporiform (Iep'o-ri-f6rm), a. [< L. fepua (lepor-), 
a hare, + forma, form.] Shaped like a hare ; 
resembling a leporide in form ; lagomorphic. 
leporine (lep'o-rin or -rin), a. [= OF. lepo- 
nn, < L. leporinus, of a hare, < lepw (lepor-), a 
hare: see Lepus.] Pertaining to a hare ; hav- 
ing the nature or qualities of the hare; lago- 
morphic. 
lepothrix (lep'o-thriks), . [NL., < Gr. X*Vof, 
a scale, husk, 4- Bpif, hair.] The condition of 
a hair in which the scales of the cuticle are 
loosened and partially detached. Such hairs 
are found in the axilla. 
lepped (lept). An obsolete or dialectal (Irish) 
past participle of leap 1 . Spenser. 
lepra (lep'rii), n. PL., < Gr. Mirpa, leprosy: see 
leper 1 , lepry.~] 1. In pa thai., a chronic and al- 
most uniformly incurable disease, caused by a 
well-determined bacillus. Bacillus lepra. It is 
characterized anatomically by the formation of nodules 
