Skip to main content

Full text of "Batrachians and reptiles from British East Africa"

See other formats


•#• 


t  -    , 

y  '- 


* 


M  r.  «>  a 
-j 


v  cy 


THE   UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 


Return  this  book  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below.  A 
charge  is  made  on  all  overdue 
books. 

U.  of  I.  Library 


EC  1  2  ib;t 
BEC2iVj 


AUG3 


1 


- 


MM  2  3 


17625-S 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

PUBLICATION   147. 
ZOOLOGICAL  SERIES.  VOL.  VII,  No.  11 


BATRACHIANS   AND    REPTILES 
FROM  BRITISH  EAST  AFRICA 


BY 

SETH  EUGENE  MEEK, 

Assistant  Curator  of  Department. 


CHARLES  B.  CORY, 
Curator  of  Department  of  Zoology. 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 


October,  1910 


0  ,  5 

FT. 


\  \ 


BATRACHIANS  AND  REPTILES  FROM  BRITISH 
EAST  AFRICA. 


BY  SETH  EUGENE  MEEK. 


The  batrachians  and  reptiles  listed  in  this  paper  were  collected  in 
1905-7  by  the  Museum's  East  African  expedition  in  charge  of  Mr.  C. 
E.  Akeley,  assisted  by  Mr.  Edmund  Heller.  This  expedition  was 
engaged  chiefly  in  collecting  mammals  and  birds,  and  so  the  collection 
of  batrachians  and  reptiles  is  not  large  when  compared  with  the  great 
amount  of  material  obtained  belonging  to  these  two  groups.  The  new 
species  of  mammals  have  been  described  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Osgood,*  who 
has  in  preparation  a  full  account  of  the  entire  collection.  An  anno- 
tated list  of  the  birds  collected  by  this  expedition  was  prepared  by  Dr. 
N.  Dearbornf  and  published  by  the  Museum. 

I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  and  obligations  to  Dr.  G.  A.  Bou- 
lenger  for  his  kindness  and  generosity  in  identifying  most  of  the  species. 
The  British  Museum  contains  a  large  collection  of  East  African 
reptiles,  and  these  Dr.  Boulenger  knows  better  than  does  any  other 
person. 

Batrachians. 

Rana   mascariensis   Gunther. 

Nairobi.  38  mm.,  color  dark  with  marbling  on  hinder  part  of 
thighs;  38  mm.,  same  as  above  but  much  lighter  color  on  back. 

Athi  River.     35  mm.,  uniform  grayish,  no  definite  marblings. 

Lake  Elmenteita.     54  mm.,  light  band  on  back,  thighs  marbled. 

Phrynobatrachus  natalensis    (A.  Smith). 

Nairobi.  21  mm.;  Lukenya,  23  mm.  The  specimen  from  Lu- 
kenya  differs  from  the  one  from  Nairobi  in  having  a  much  smoother 
skin,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  white  dorsal  stripe. 

Arthroleptis  minutus  Boulenger. 
Nairobi-.     One  specimen,  19  mm. 


*  Field  Mus.  Nat   Hist.  Pub.  141  and  143.     Zool.  Ser.,  Vol.  X.  Nos.  2  and  3,  pp.  5-22. 
t  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Pub.  135.     Ornith,  Sen,  Vol.  I.,  No.  4,  pp.  141-190. 

403 


404     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 

Rappia  marmorata   (Rapp). 

The  specimens  of  this  species  vary  greatly  in  color.  The  general 
color  varies  from  light  gray,  the  body  being  covered  with  small  black 
dots,  to  a  dark  uniform  brown  with  the  black  dots  inconspicuous. 

Athi  Plains:  Two  specimens,  20  and  28  mm.,  cT  dark  gray,  body 
with  small  black  dots;  25  mm.,(5\  dark  gray,  body  with  small  black 
dots;  24  mm.,  d\  light  gray,  with  inconspicuous  dark  dots;  26  mm., 
d\  brownish  gray  with  dark  dots;  25  mm.,  9  ,  light  gray,  dark  dots 
not  conspicuous;  26  mm.,  9  ,  light  gray  with  very  small  black  dots. 

Lukenya.  27  mm.,  9  ,  gray,  black  dots  present;  two  specimens, 
23  and  16  mm.,  9  ,  uniform  with  fine  black  dots;  29  mm.,  cT,  very 
dark  uniform  brown. 

^ 
Rappia  cinctiventris   (Cope). 

Athi  Plains.     Two  specimens,  27  and  22  mm.,  d\ 
Lukenya.     Two  specimens,  27  and  22  mm.,  d\ 
Kijabe.     One  specimen,  22  mm.,  d\ 

Cassina  senegalensis   (Dumeril  &  Bibron). 

Athi  Plains.  37  mm.,  cT,  dark  median  dorsal  stripe  present, 
lateral  broken  into  elongate  blotches. 

Nairobi.  32  mm.,  9  ,  color  same  as  the  preceding;  29  mm.,  9  , 
dorsal  band  broken  into  two  blotches,  each  one  shaped  like  a  figure 
eight. 

Hylambates  bocagei   (Giinther). 

Lukenya.     One  specimen,  37  mm. 

Phrynomantis  bifasciata  (A.  Smith). 

Lukenya.  One  specimen,  31  mm.,  lateral  white  bands  present, 
also  the  large  heart-shaped  white  spot  on  coccygeal  region ;  legs  with 
white  spots. 

Hemisus  marmorata  (Peters). 

Lukenya  Hills.     One  specimen,  29  mm. 

Bufo  regularis  Reuss. 

Athi  Plains.     One  specimen,  12  mm. 

Molo.     One  specimen,  90  mm. 

Lake  Elmenteita.     One  specimen,  59  mm. 


August,  1910.     BATRACHIANS  AND  REPTILES  —  MEEK.  405 


Reptilia. 

Trimerorhinus  tritaeniatus  (Gunther). 

Naivasha.     Body  225  mm.,    tail  55  mm.,    scales  17-186-68. 

Lukenya.     Body  545  mm.,  tail  149  mm.,  scales  17-185-61. 

Athi  River  Camp.  Body  490  mm.,  tail  107  mm. ,  scales  17-173-57, 
4th  and  5th  labials  enter  the  eye. 

Stripes  as  described  by  Dr.  Boulenger  are  very  distinct  on  this 
specimen,  much  more  so  than  on  the  specimens  mentioned  above. 

Molo.  Body  151  mm.,  tail  32  mm.,  scales  17-174-56;  body 
151  mm.,  tail  36  mm.,  scales  17-169-63. 

The  lines  so  distinct  on  the  larger  specimen  from  Athi  River  Camp 
are  very  faint  on  these  two  small  specimens. 

Rhamphiophis  oxyrhynchus   (Reinh.). 

Voi.  Body  615  mm.,  tail  282  mm.,  scales  17-171-116,  23  scales 
on  neck. 

Psammophis  sibilans   (Linnaeus). 

Voi.  Body  589;  scales  17-157-?  A  portion  of  the  tail  is  missing. 
The  color  of  this  specimen  is  same  as  described  in  var.  D.  by  Dr. 
Boulenger,  Cat.  Lizards,  iii,  163. 

Elapechis  guentheri   (Bocage). 

Kijabe.  One  specimen  in  poor  condition.  Length  of  body  175 
mm.,  tail  20  mm. ,  scales  13-158-32. 

Causus  resimus  (Peters). 

Nairobi.     Body  609  mm.,  tail  17  mm.,   scales  17-161-25. 

Vipera  hindii  Boulenger. 

Aberdare  Mts.  Body  249  mm.,  tail  31  mm.;  scales  27-134-31; 
body  190  mm.,  tail  25  mm.,  scales  27-144-34.  Subcaudals  in  2 
rows;  scales  all  keeled. 

Bitis  arietans   (Merr.). 

Nairobi.     Body  780  mm.,  tail  59  mm.,  scales  35-138-21. 

Lycophidium  capense  (Smith). 

Nairobi.  One  specimen  in  poor  condition.  Length  of  body 
250  mm.,  tail  40  mm,  scales  17-200-82. 


406     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 

Chlorophis  neglectus   (Peters). 

All  of  the  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  collection  are  very  much 
alike  in  color  and  appearance. 

Voi.     Body  525,  tail  204,  scales  15-170-85. 

Athi  River.  Body484,  tail  incomplete,  scales  15-171-?;  body  520, 
tail  incomplete,  scales  15-178-?,  body  435,  tail  242,  scales  13-156-120. 
Kijabe.  Body  540,  tail  241,  scales  15-175-106;  body  518,  tail 
243,  scales  15-171-110;  body  369,  tail  190,  scales  15-164-121. 

Kenya  Province.     Body  342,  tail  143,   scales  15-157-92. 

Coronella  semiornata  Peters. 

Voi.     One  small  specimen. 

Kijabe.  Body  406  mm.,  tail  127  mm.,  scales  21-195-83;  body 
147  mm.,  tail  54  mm.,  scales  21-189-90. 

In  all  the  specimens  the  subcaudals  and  anal  are  divided.  The 
larger  specimen  is  dark  olive  brown,  without  lines  or  spots;  ventrals 
dark  with  light  edges;  preorbital  and  postorbital  not  light  colored. 
Small  specimen  from  Kijabe  with  the  middle  of  each  scale  black  on 
anterior  part  of  body;  ventrals  light,  their  ends  darker,  edges  light 
colored. 

Leptodira  hotamboeia  Laur. 

Athi  River.  Body  479  mm.,>  tail  80  mm.,  scales  19-170-48,  no 
white  cross  bars. 

Lake  Elmenteita.  Body  591  mm.,  tail  84  mm.,  scales  19-179-44, 
anterior  part  of  body  with  cross  bars  made  up  of  small  white  spots. 

Mt.  Kenya.  Body  372  mm.,  tail  33  mm.,  scales  17-179-24  (?). 
The  tail  blunt,  apparently  once  broken,  no  white  cross  bars. 

Hemidactylus  brookii  Gray. 

One  specimen  taken  on  the  steamer  in  the  Red  Sea,  body  43  mm., 
tail  40  mm. 

Hemidactylus  mabouia  (Moreau). 

Voi.  Three  specimens,  body  70  mm.,  tail  63  mm.;  body  71  mm., 
tail  missing;  body  68  mm.,  tail  71  mm. 

Lygodactylus  picturatus  (Peters). 

Voi.  Body  34  mm.,  tail  31  mm.,  c? ;  body  34  mm.,  tail  35  mm., 
cT ;  body  35  mm.,  tail  42  mm.,  c? ;  two  females  with  tail  imperfect 
are  37  mm.  and  34  mm.  respectively. 


August,  1910.     BATRACHIAXS  AND  REPTILES  —  MEEK.  407 

Agama  colonorum   Baud. 

Vol.  Nine  females,  45  mm.  to  100  mm.,  and  eight  males,  50  mm. 
to  106  mm. 

Lukenya.  Eleven  females,  75  mm.  to  100  mm.,  and  seventeen 
males,  90  mm.  to  120  mm. 

Kenya  Province.     Two  females,  45  mm. 

The  tail  of  the  males  is  more  spinose  and  of  greater  diameter  than 
that  of  the  females,  the  keels  on  the  upper  row  of  scales  are  largest  and 
form  a  low  keel  which,  though  present,  is  less  prominent  in  the  males. 
In  some  of  the  larger  males  the  abdomen  is  dark,  the  portion  about 
the  groin  and  the  under  surface  of  the  head  is  nearly  uniform  brick- 
red.  In  most  specimens  of  both  sexes  the  under  surface  is  light  col- 
ored, except  the  chin,  which  is  striped  or  marbled  with  darker;  the 
tails  are  banded  on  some  specimens  to  nearly  uniform  color  on  others. 

Agama  caudospinosa  sp.  nov. 

Type  No.  2312,  P.M. N.H. ;  length,  body  91  mm.,  +tail  128  mm.= 
219  mm.;  Lake  Elmenteita,  B.E.A. 

Head  depressed;  nostril  tubular,  directed  slightly  upward  and 
backward,  pierced  in  posterior  part  of  small  nasal,  the  opening  just 
below  the  canthus  rostralis;  upper  head  scales  smooth;  a  narrow 
elongate  scale  on  the  middle  of  the  snout ;  occipital  not  enlarged ;  ten 
upper  labials;  sides  of  the  head  near  the  ear  and  neck  with  groups  of 
small  spines,  the  longest  less  than  half  the  diameter  of  the  ear  open- 
ings; ear  opening  larger  than  the  eye;  throat  plicate,  no  gular  pouch; 
body  depressed,  the  back  not  keeled;  dorsal  scales  imbricate,  with 
weak  keels  slightly  converging  towards  the  vertebral  line;  dorsal  scales 
smaller  than  the  caudals  but  larger  than  on  sides  and  ventral  surface ; 
ventral  scales  without  keels;  45  scales  between  the  origin  of  the  arms 
to  the  origin  of  the  legs ;  no  distinct  nuchal  crest ;  a  few  nuchal  scales 
with  slightly  enlarged  keels,  no  trace  of  dorsal  keel,  70  to  85  scales 
around  middle  of  body ;  the  fourth  finger  slightly  longer  than  the  third , 
tip  of  the  fifth  extending  beyond  the  first;  fourth  toe  a  little  longer 
than  the  third,  the  5th  extending  beyond  the  first;  tail  long,  covered 
with  large  strongly  keeled  spinose  scales,  forming  distinct  annuli; 
male  with  a  row  of  anal  pores;  tail  not  keeled  above. 

Color  dark  brownish,  with  light  cross  lines  or  light  blotches  on 
rump  and  tail;  under  surface  of  males  light  to  dark  brown;  under 
surface  of  head  with  the  light  and  dark  in  slightly  irregular  longitudi- 
nal bands. 

This  species  differs  from  A.  colonorum  in  the  absence  of  a  nuchal 


408     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 


Locality 

Gilgil 

Gilgil 

Gilgil 

Lake  Elmenteita 

Length  of  body    .  . 

106 
30 
25 
24 

15 
51 

14 

70 
29 

22 

106* 

51 

108 
30 
25 
24 
14-5 
5° 

14 
74 
30 
24 

122* 

54 

114 
33 
25 
26 

15 
5i 

IS 

73 
29 

24 

120* 

52 

91 
27 
20 

2  I 
12 

45 

i4 
64 
24 

22 
128 

52 

77 
23 
18 
18 
10 
36 

ii 

57 

22 

18 
106 

55 

Length  of  head. 

Width  of  head  . 

Tip  of  snout  to  ear  

Interorbital  

Length  of  arm  

Distance  from   base  of   5th  finger  to  tip 
of  4th 

Length  of  leg  

Length  of  tibia  

Distance  from  base  of  5th  toe  to  tip  of  4th 
Length  of  tail  

Scales  around  body  . 

crest,  slightly  larger,  more  faintly  keeled  and  less  convergent  dorsal 
scales,  and  the  very  large  and  strongly  spinose  scales  on  the  tail. 
The  nostril  is  slightly  lower  and  less  directed  upward.  The  bands 
on  under  surface  of  the  head  are  much  more  conspicuous  than  on  any 
of  the  specimens  of  A.  colonorum  in  the  collection. 

All  of  the  specimens  are  males.  The  above  measurements  are 
given  in  mm. 

Agama  atricollis  A.  Smith. 

Nairobi.  Body  80  mm.,  tail  92  mm.,  9  ;  body  103  mm.,  tail 
1 10  mm.,  cJ1. 

Kijabe.     Body  35  mm.,  tail  broken. 

Gil  Gil.  Body  77  mm.,  9  ;  body  88  mm.,  tail  103  mm.,  cT  ;  body 
113  mm.,  tail  118  mm.,  cT. 

Lake  Elmenteita.  Body  75  mm.,  tail  76  mm.,  9  ;  body  100  mm., 
tail  in  mm.,  9  ;  body  87  mm.,  tail  101  mm.,  c? ;  body  99  mm.,  tail 
122  mm.,  c? ;  body  115  mm.,  tail  147  mm.,  cJ1 ;  body  88  mm.,  tail 
103  mm.,  c? ;  body  113  mm.,  tail  118  mm.,  c?. 

The  specimens  mentioned  above  show  some  variation,  the  female 
from  Nairobi  and  a  female  (loomm.)  and  a  male  (87  mm.)  from  Elmen- 
teita have  5  whitish  blotches  on  dorsal  surface  about  the  size  of  the 
eye,  and  a  few  narrow  faint  whitish  lines  across  the  back  between  these 
blotches;  the  tail  is  distinctly  barred  with  black.  On  the  female 
from  Gilgil  these  spots  and  lines  are  very  indistinct.  The  ventral 
surface  of  the  head  is  light  to  dark  brown  irregularly  spotted  with 
lighter,  to  bluish  black  on  the  old  males.  The  ground  color  of  the 


*The  tails  of  the  three  specimens  from  Gilgil  are  apparently  incomplete, 
the  ends  being  quite  blunt  but  are  scaled  over;  the  diameters  of  these  ends 
are  6,  3  and  5  mm.  respectively. 


August,  1910.     BATRACHIANS  AND  REPTILES  —  MEEK.  409 

upper  surface  is  grayish  to  nearly  uniform  brown;    the  fingers  and 
toes  are  barred. 

The  position  of  the  nostril  varies  a  little;  in  most  specimens  it  is 
slightly  below  the  canthus  rostralis.  Males  have  2  or  3  rows  of  anal 
pores. 

Varanus  niloticus  (Linnaeus). 

Kisumu.     One  specimen.     Body  100  mm.,  tail  140  mm. 

Eremias  spekii  Giinther. 

Voi.  Six  specimens  of  about  uniform  size,  the  two  perfect  speci- 
mens measure  as  follows:  Body  48  mm.,  tail  85  mm.;  body 
47  mm.,  tail  78  mm. 

Qerrhosaurus  flavigularis  Weigman. 

Nairobi.  Body  140  mm.,  head  26  mm.,  width  of  head  18  mm., 
arm  37  mm.,  leg  60  mm.,  tail  225  mm.  (tail  not  perfect,  and  with  a 
bud  or  branch  5  mm.  in  length  35  mm.  from  its  tip),  scales  8-20- 
56,  femoral  pores  12;  body  122  mm.,  head  24  mm.,  width  of  head 

18  mm.,  arm  37   mm.,  leg  60  mm.,   tail    292   mm.,   scales   8-22-58, 
femoral  pores  14  and  15;  body  145  mm.,  head  32  mm.,  width  of  head 
23  mm.,  arm  36   mm.,  leg   69   mm.,  tail  310  mm.,  scales  8-22-57, 
femoral  pores  16. 

The  squamation  of  the  head  of  these  three  specimens  is  the  same. 
Fronto-nasals  not  touching  rostral ;  prefrontals  forming  a  suture  about 
equal  in  length  to  fronto-nasal ;  frontal  nearly  twice  as  long  as  broad 
and  as  long  as  its  distance  to  rostral ;  fronto-parietals  forming  a  suture ; 
interparietal  very  small;  parietals  forming  a  suture  behind  inter- 
parietal  twice  the  length  of  this  scale. 

Brownish  above,  a  light  narrow  median  and  a  broader  light  black- 
edged  line  on  each  side  extending  from  nostril  and  upper  margin  of 
eye,  fading  out  near  middle  of  length  of  tail ;  sides  with  narrow  bars 
composed  of  light  and  dark  spots;  belly  light;  upper  surface  of  head 
marbled  with  darker.  In  point  of  scales  these  specimens  more  nearly 
agree  with  G.  nigrolineatus  as  described  by  Dr.  Boulenger,  which  is 
regarded  as  a  synonym  of  G.  flavigularis  by  Tornier. 

Gerrhosaurus  major  Dumeril. 

Voi.     One  specimen.   Body  88  mm.,  head  22  mm.,  width  of  head 

19  mm.,  arm  29  mm.,  leg  40  mm.,  tail  119  mm.,  scales  32  in  trans- 
verse series,  12  longitudinal  series,  ventrals  in  10  series,  13  femoral 
pores.     Scales   on   top  of  head  slightly  rugose;  fronto-nasal  broader 


410     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 

than  long,  scarcely  in  contact  with  the  rostral;  prefrontals  in  con- 
tact, forming  a  suture  about  %  length  of  fronto-nasal ;  fronto-nasal 
divided  on  its  posterior  %  by  a.  groove  in  line  with  prefrontal  suture ; 
width  of  frontal  1.6  in  its  length,  its  length  greater  than  its  distance 
from  the  tip  of  snout ;  parietals  forming  a  suture  behind  parietal ; 
fronto-parietal  suture  equals  length  of  prefrontal  suture;  a  single 
narrow  shield  in  front  of  ear  opening. 

Color  uniform  brown  above,  yellowish  beneath. 

Mabuia  brevicollis  (Wiegman). 

Voi.  Two  specimens.  Body  120  mm.,  tail  175  mm.;  body  127 
mm.,  tail  missing. 

Color  brown,  the  edges  of  the  scales  are  darker,  forming  dark  lines 
along  the  rows  of  scales.  A  few  white  spots  on  lower  portion  of  sides 
of  the  neck ;  ventral  surface  of  head  and  region  about  the  groin  dark 
blue,  the  rest  yellowish;  32  scales  around  the  middle  of  the  body; 
fingers  and  toes  overlap  when  the  limbs  are  appressed. 

Lukenya.  Two  specimens.  Body  121  mm.,  tail  missing;  body 
100  mm.,  tail  122  mm. 

In  both  of  these  specimens  the  lines  along  the  rows  of  scales  are 
well  denned.  Narrow  dark  bands  on  sides  extending  across  back ;  in 
these  are  many  white  spots.  On  the  larger  specimen  are  4  bands  be- 
tween ear  and  arm,  8  between  arm  and  leg;  ventral  surface  light,  the 
throat  black  spotted,  a  few  scattered  spots  on  sides  of  belly.  The 
smaller  specimen  resembles  the  larger  except  the  bars  across  back 
are  less  prominent;  these  bands  extend  on  tail.  The  general  color 
of  these  two  specimens  much  resembles  that  of  Cholcides  ocellatus. 

Athi  River.     One  specimen.     Body  128  mm.,  tail  150  mm. 

Color  much  lighter  than  the  preceding,  the  stripes  along  the  rows 
of  scales  evident  but  not  conspicuous;  ventral  surface  light,  the  throat 
bluish;  no  distinct  white  spots  nor  dark  bars  anywhere;  toes  and 
fingers  scarcely  meet  when  the  limbs  are  appressed. 

Mabuia  quinquetseniata   (Licht.). 

Voi.  All  of  the  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  collection  were 
taken  at  this  place.  Six  of  the  specimens  have  the  median  dorsal 
and  the  two  lateral  bands  well  developed,  the  body  with  very 
few  of  no  white  spots  or  dots.  These  specimens  measure  as  follows: 
Body  37  mm.,  tail  broken;  body  51  mm.,  tail  76  mm.;  body  59  mm., 
tail  broken;  body  57  mm.,  tail  broken;  body  88  mm.,  tail  95  mm.; 
body  85  mm.,  tail  broken.  Three  specimens  have  faint  light  dorsal 


August,  1910.     BATRACHIANS  AND  REPTILES  —  MEEK.  411 

and  lateral  bands,  and  the  body  with  numerous  small  bluish  white 
spots.  Three  white  narrow  vertical  bars  just  back  of  the  ear,  be- 
tween these  a  black  blotch;  ventral  surface  light,  the  throat  bluish. 
These  specimens  are  males  and  the  six  mentioned  above  are  probably 
females. 

Mabuia  striata  (Peters). 

Nairobi.  Color  brown  above,  a  broad  dorso-lateral  band  on 
four  of  the  specimens;  the  color  is  uniform  on  the  other.  Body  84 
mm.,  tail  120  mm.,  the  color  is  darker,  mottled  with  dark  brown  and 
white  spots.  The  toes  of  the  appressed  leg  reaches  to  or  nearly  to 
the  elbow.  The  measurements  of  the  four  specimens  are:  Body 
6 1  mm.,  tail  68  mm.;  body  86  mm.,  tail  112  mm.;  body  86  mm.,  tail 
lost;  body  78  mm.,  tail  has  been  partly  renewed.  The  ventral  sur- 
face of  two  of  these  specimens  is  white,  the  other  two  are  the  same 
except  the  ventral  surface  of  the  head,  which  is  spotted  with  brown. 

Lukenya.  Two  specimens  uniform  brown  above  with  two  dorso- 
lateral  bands;  ventral  surface  white,  one  being  faintly  brown-spotted. 
Body  78  mm.,  tail  in  mm.;  body  65  mm.,  tail  98  mm.  The  appressed 
hind  limb  nearly  reaches  elbow. 

Lake  Elmenteita.  Three  specimens,  more  or  less  spotted  with 
brown  spots  and  small  white  spots.  Ventral  surface  bluish  white, 
the  under  surface  of  head  brown  spotted.  These  specimens  measure 
as  follows:  Body  70  mm.,  tail  85  mm.;  body  80  mm.,  tail  broken; 
body  82  mm.,  tail  120  mm.  The  appressed  leg  nearly  reaches  elbow. 

Mabuia  megalura  (Peters). 

Athi  Plains.  Body  50  mm.,  tail  missing;  body  20  mm.,  tail  38 
mm.,  a  light  lateral  band  and  3  dark  dorsal  lines.  Fingers  and  toes 
overlap  about  half  their  length  when  the  limbs  are  appressed. 

Lukenya.  Body  35  mm.,  tail  83  mm.,  white  lateral  band  promi- 
nent, the  dark  dorsal  lines  faint.  Fingers  and  toes  overlap  nearly 
their  entire  lengths  when  the  limbs  are  appressed. 

Kijabe.  Body  66  mm.,  tail  185  mm.  Color  light  brownish,  the 
dark  dorsal  lines  very  faint,  white  lateral  band  distinct.  The  tips  of 
the  fingers  and  toes  scarcely  touch  when  the  limbs  are  appressed. 

Mabuia  varia  (Peters). 

Voi.  Five  specimens,  apparently  all  females.  All  are  light 
brownish  with  small  dark  brown  spots,  no  light  spots;  ventral  sur- 
face uniform  white  to  a  light  tinge  of  brownish  in  the  female  with  four 
young.  The  lower  light  lateral  stripe  well  denned;  the  upper  one 


412     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 

very  faint  to  quite  absent;  median  dorsal  band  absent.  One  indi- 
vidual, body  56  mm.,  tail  93  mm.,  contained  6  young.  In  these  the 
lateral  stripes  are  well  defined,  the  median  dorsal  one  very  faint  or 
absent.  The  young  measured  as  follows :  Body  19  mm. ,  tail  imperfect; 
body  20  mm.,  tail  27  mm. ;  body  20  mm.,  tail  28  mm. ;  body  21  mm., 
tail  27  mm. ;  body  22  mm.,  tail  25  mm. ;  body  23  mm.,  tail  25  mm. 

A  second  female,  body  55  mm.,  tail  68  mm.,  contained  4  young. 
The  colors  of  these  young  are  slightly  paler  than  those  mentioned 
above.  These  measured  as  follows:  Body  15  mm.,  tail  20  mm.; 
body  15  mm.,  tail  25  mm.;  body  17  mm.,  tail  21  mm.;  body  19  mm., 
tail  23  mm.  The  three  other  specimens  measured:  Body  50  mm., 
tail  63  mm.;  body  53  mm.,  tail  78  mm.;  body  46  mm.,  tail  missing. 

Nairobi.  Two  specimens.  The  one,  body  48  mm.,  tail  80  mm.,  is 
light  brown  with  dark  brown  spots,  no  white  spots,  the  lateral  bands 
prominent,  the  median  dorsal  one  very  faint;  the  other,  body  54  mm., 
tail  82  mm.,  is  slightly  darker  and  besides  the  dark  spots  there  are 
some  small  white  ones  on  the  back.  All  of  the  stripes  fairly  well 
defined. 

Lukenya.  One  specimen.  Body  53  mm.,  tail,  partly  missing, 
light  brownish,  with  the  dark  brown  spots  and  many  small  white 
spots;  lateral  stripes  prominent,  median  dorsal  stripe  not  present. 

Molo.  These  specimens  are  much  darker  and  more  uniformly 
colored  than  those  mentioned  above;  the  stripes  though  present  are 
very  faint.  The  ventral  surface  is  brownish  white.  On  throat  and 
ventral  surface  the  head  is  bluish  which  in  2  specimens  (probably 
males)  extends  over  most  of  the  belly.  They  measure  as  follows: 
Body  50  mm.,  tail  40  mm.  (not  perfect) ;  body  49  mm.,  tail  64  mm.; 
body  49  mm.,  tail  70  mm. ;  body  46  mm.,  tail  70  mm. ;  body  40  mm., 
tail  missing. 

Lygosoma  sundevallii  (A.  Smith). 

Kijabe.  One  specimen.  Body  75  mm.,  tail  55  mm.;  each  scale 
with  a  brown  spot;  ventral  surface  uniform  yellowish. 

Ablepharus  wahlbergii    (A.  Smith). 

Voi.  Body  41  mm.,  head  5.5  mm.,  width  of  head  4  mm.,  arm 
6.5  mm.,  leg  10  mm.,  tail  imperfect.  Broad  dark  band  on  sides  with 
yellow  line  above  it,  dorsal  region  dark  brown. 

Nairobi.  Body  46  mm.,  head  6  mm.,  width  of  head  4.5  mm., 
arm  7  mm.,  leg  10  mm.,  tail  36  mm.;  body  35  mm.,  tail  missing,  the 
specimen  in  poor  condition.  Color  same  as  specimen  from  Voi. 


August,  1910.     BATRACHIANS  AND   REPTILES  —  MEEK. 


Lukenya. 
specimen. 


Body  41  mm.,  tail  45  mm.     Color  same  as  in  above 


Chamasleon  jacksoni  Boulenger. 

Lukenya  Province.  The  collection  contains  8  females  and  7  males 
from  this  place.  The  males  are  easily  distinguished  by  having  the 
rostral  and  two  occipital  horns  of  about  equal  length.  These  cephalic 
projections  on  the  female  are  short,  the  occipital  ones  are  usually 
very  short,  in  these  specimens  never  more  than  half  the  length  of 
the  rostral  horn,  which  is  shown  in  the  following  measurements: 


Sex 

? 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

& 

dj 

tf 

C? 

Length  of  body  in  mm. 
Length  of  rostral  horn 
in  mm  

132 

I  2 

127 

I  C 

112 

C 

91 

9 

89 

4 

85 

12 

83 

8 

J33 

I  C 

J39 

27 

135 

25 

109 
19 

i°S 
17 

72 
8 

6.S 
0 

Length     of     occipital 
horns  in  mm  .  . 

I 

2  .  s 

2  .  5 

i 

2 

7 

i 

2 

29 

25 

18 

17 

8 

8 

The  three  largest  females  contained  no  eggs  or  young,  but  in  the 
remaining  ones  eggs  were  present.  The  eggs  are  spherical  and  are 
connected  in  a  string  resembling  a  string  of  beads.  The  diameter 
of  the  eggs  in  a  female  91  mm.  in  diameter,  which  contained  18  eggs, 
is  8  mm.  The  eggs  of  this  species  are  smaller  than  are  those  of  C. 
dilepis,  which  are  oval-shaped  but  which  form  a  similar  string  along 
the  line  of  the  greater  axis. 

Cham.-L-leon  hoehneli  Steindachner. 

Voi.  Three  specimens,  84  mm.,  73  mm.,  and  72  mm.  The  two 
smaller  ones  gravid,  with  the  embryos  each  enclosed  in  a  thin  mem- 
branous sack;  body  of  embryos  2  mm.  in  length. 

Kijabe.     Two  specimens,  89  mm.,  and  87  mm. 

Lukenya.     Four  specimens,  65  mm.,  62  mm.,  38  mm.,  27  mm. 

The  largest  specimen  contained  7  eggs,  each  8.5  mm.  in  diameter. 
Eggs  nearly  spherical  and  connected,  appearing  like  a  string  of  beads. 
In  each  egg  the  outline  of  the  embryos  was  formed. 

Mt.  Kenya.     Two  specimens,  82  mm.  and  73  mm. 

Molo.  Six  specimens,  80  mm.  to  90  mm.  in  length.  These  con- 
tained no  eggs.  Two  other  individuals,  66  mm.  and  75  mm.,  con- 
tained eggs  with  quite  well  developed  embryos.  The  larger  individual 
contained  9  eggs,  each  of  which  was  less  than  half  absorbed  by  the 
embryo.  The  embryos  in  the  smaller  specimen  were  less  developed. 
The  eggs  are  nearly  spherical,  each  about  9  mm.  in  diameter. 


414     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  VII. 

In  addition  to  the  above  the  collection  contains  from  Molo  n 
small  (2  mm.)  specimens,  which  appear  to  be  embryos  taken  from  a 
specimen  not  in  the  collection.  From  the  above  it  appears  that  the 
breeding  time  of  the  four  species  mentioned  is  about  March  and  April. 
The  eggs  are  fully  formed  in  December,  and  the  young  are  born 
probably  between  March  and  June. 

Chairueleon  ellioti  Giinther. 

Lukenya.  Ten  specimens,  40  mm.  to  65  mm.  One  female,  63 
mm.,  contained  13  embryos,  each  one  being  contained  in  a  thin  mem- 
branous sac;  body  ofeach  embryo  20  mm.  in  length,  the  egg  being 
fully  absorbed. 

Chamseleon  dilepis  Leach. 

Voi.  One  specimen,  female,  body  122  mm.,  which  contained 
several  eggs.  The  eggs  are  oval,  the  long  diameter  of  each  is  15  mm., 
the  short  diameter  8  mm.  The  ventral  surface  was  cut  to  allow  the 
preservative  to  penetrate  better  and  some  of  the  eggs  were  probably 
lost.  These  eggs  are  very  different  in  shape  from  the  nearly  spherical 
ones  found  in  the  preceding  species. 

Molo.     One  specimen,   106.  mm. 

Machakos.     One  specimen,  90  mm. 

Kinixys  belliana  Gray. 

Nairobi.  One  specimen.  Length  of  carapace  160  mm.,  width 
(measured  at  hip)  104  mm.,  width  (measured  at  shoulder)  97  mm.; 
greatest  height  (measured  on  rump)  59  mm.,  height  (measured  at 
shoulder)  57  mm.,  length  of  plastron  136,  carapace  being  present. 

Athi  Plains.  One  specimen,  measured  like  the  above,  is,  length 
93  mm.,  width  72  mm.,  width  69  mm.,  greatest  height  39  mm., 
height  39  mm.;  length  of  plastron  85,  carapace  being  absent 

The  color  ot  these  two  specimens  is  practically  the  same,  except 
the  smaller  is  the  brighter,  and  colors  in  more  contrast.  Carapace 
with  margins  of  shields  black,  the  centers  yellow;  plastron  yellow, 
irregularly  blotched  with  darker. 

Pelomedusa  galeata  (Schoepff). 

Lukenya  Hills.  One  specimen.  Length  of  carapace  93  mm., 
width  (middle)  72  mm.,  height  (middle)  29  mm.,  length  of  plastron 
83  mm. 

Color  dark  brown  some  mottled  with  darker,  plastron  yellowish 
with  irregular  dark  markings,  these  mostly  along  sutures. 


_  V«  S.  .1     —  ..•  1 


T*»>. 


k  Jf&l, 


s*« 


-T 

r  -„><• 


*„•* 


-•*  .^'1 
^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


590  5FI  COD1 

FIELDIANA,  ZOOLOGY$CHGO 
71905 


30112009379915