. Elementary text-book of zoology. Zoology. 190 AMPHIBIA. are covered by the transparent integument. The palatal teeth (Siren} are arranged in rows like the teeth of some Fishes, or form a curved arch at the anterior end of the palatine bones. The extre- mities also are weak and reduced; the anterior end with three or four digits, and the posterior with two to five jointed digits. The digits may, however, be rudimentary and be without distinct joints. Amongst the Tertiary remains of this group the gigantic Andrias Scheuchzeri, which became famous as Homo diluvii testis, is worthy of remark. Tr
. Elementary text-book of zoology. Zoology. 190 AMPHIBIA. are covered by the transparent integument. The palatal teeth (Siren} are arranged in rows like the teeth of some Fishes, or form a curved arch at the anterior end of the palatine bones. The extre- mities also are weak and reduced; the anterior end with three or four digits, and the posterior with two to five jointed digits. The digits may, however, be rudimentary and be without distinct joints. Amongst the Tertiary remains of this group the gigantic Andrias Scheuchzeri, which became famous as Homo diluvii testis, is worthy of remark. Tribe 1. Perennibraiichiata. With persistent gills, usually with- out maxillary bones. The vomer and palatine bone with rows of teeth. Fam. Sirenidae (Armmolche). With elongated eel-like body and rudimentary anterior limbs, without posterior limbs. Siren, lacertina L., South Carolina. Fam. Proteidae (Olme). Body elongated and cylindrical; anterior limbs short, with three digits; hind limbs placed far back, with two digits. Only. FIG. 629.—Ifenobranc/ius lateralis (regne animal) . t\vo gill slits on each side. Proteus anr/uiiieus Laur. Flesh-coloured and living in the subterranean waters of Carniola and Dalmatia. Fam. Menobranchidae. Body elongated, with tolerably broad head and four- toed limbs. There are four gill slits on each side. Jlenobranckus lateralis Say. Mississippi (fig. 62'J). Probably holds the same relation to the genus Batnt. cliosejjs Bonap. that tiiwflon does to Amblyxtoma (Cope). Siredon piseiformist Shaw, and maculatits Baird., Axolotl. The eggs are laid in the water either singly or in masses. The larvas, when hatched, are from fourteen to sixteen mm. long, have three pairs of gills, and are still without limbs. Under suitable conditions they lose in the course'of further development (according to Dumeril, whose observations have been several times confirmed) the gill tufts, the dorsal and caudal crests, and assume the form of Amblyxtomti (second sexual form)
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
