EMERSON: ANATOMY OF TYPHLOMOLGE. 
73 
Second basibranchial slender, and 
slightly enlarged posteriorly. 
Second cerato-branchial springs from 
the anterior part of second basi¬ 
branchial. 
Nasal capsules membranous. 
Operculum free from paraquadrate. 
Otic capsule entirely bony; configu¬ 
ration of semicircular canals visi¬ 
ble externally; exoccipital, opis- 
thotic, and pro-otic elements not 
distinguishable. 
Supra-occipital arch connects middle 
third of otic capsules. 
First vertebra with three long ante¬ 
rior processes articulating with the 
skull, the median one contiguous 
ventro-laterally to the basi-occipital 
arch. 
Number of carpal pieces, 8 ; arrange¬ 
ment identical. 
Number of tarsal pieces, 8 (T) ; 9 (S). 
(In Typhlomolge, tarsale 4 and 5 
are fused, otherwise arrangement is 
identical.) 
Length of pelvis equal to breadth; 3 
very small anterior processes (1 
median and 2 lateral). 
No lungs, trachea, nor larynx, even 
in rudimentary state. 
Second basibranchial broader, less 
enlarged posteriorly. 
Second cerato-branchial springs from 
the distal end of first, cerato-branchial. 
Nasal capsules cartilaginous. 
Operculum attached to paraquadrate. 
Otic capsule partly cartilaginous ; 
configuration of semicircular canals 
not visible externally ; exoccipital, 
opisthot.ic, and pro-otic elements 
forming separate centers of ossifica¬ 
tion and therefore distinguishable. 
Supra-occipital arch connects carti¬ 
laginous part of capsules (N) ; opis- 
thotics (P). 
First vertebra without such processes.* 
Number of carpal pieces, 6 (N) ; 3 (P). 
Number of tarsal pieces, 6 (N) ; 3 (P). 
Length of pelvis much greater than 
breadth; 1 large median anterior 
process (N) ; 3 large anterior proc¬ 
esses (P), (1 median and 2 lat¬ 
eral). 
Lungs, trachea, and larynx present. 
In view of these various similarities to Spelerpes and differences 
from the Proteidae, I am strongly of the opinion that Typhlomolge 
should be classed with Spelerpes in the family Salamandridae and 
the subfamily Plethodontinae. 
The persistence of the gills and the retention of other larval 
characteristics, after the animal is sexually mature, is a phenomenon 
of rather frequent occurrence among the Urodeles (such cases have 
been reported in Triton vulgaris , Triton alpestris , Triton cristatus , 
Triton boscai , Triton waltli , and Amblystoma). According to 
Gadow, it is looked upon by some authorities as “the result of 
