Neotropical and Oriental regions; in the Ethiopian there is a considerable diminution in the number of species, and in the Palearctic they are still less numerous, being confined to the warmer parts of it, except one species which extends as far north as Hungary and Prussia. The genera are: Testudo (25 sp.), most abundant in the Ethiopian region, but also extending over the Oriental region, into South Europe, and the Eastern States of North America; Emys (64 sp.), abundant in North America and over the whole Oriental region, less so in the Neotropical and the Palæarctic regions; Cinosternon (13 sp.), United States and California, and Tropical America; Aromochelys (4 sp.), confined to the Eastern States of North America; Staurotypus (2 sp.), Guatemala and Mexico; Chelydra (1 sp.), Canada to Louisiana; Claudius (1 sp.), Mexico; Dermatemys (3 sp.), South America, Guatemala, and Yucatan; Terrapene (4 sp.), Maine to Mexico, Sumatra to New Guinea, Shanghae and Formosa-a doubtfully natural group; Cinyxis (3 sp.), Pyxis (1 sp.), Chersina (4 sp.), are all Ethiopian ; Dumerilia (1 sp.), is from Madagascar only. FAMILY 58.-CHELYDIDA. (10 Genera, 44 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALEARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS, SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. 1.2.3.4 The Chelydidæ, or fresh-water tortoises with imperfectly retractile heads, have a remarkable distribution in the three great southern continents of Africa, Australia, and South America; the largest number of species being found in the latter country. The genera are: Peltocephalus (1 sp.), Podocnemis (6 sp.), Hydromedusa (4 sp.), Chelys (1 sp.), and Platemys (16 sp.), inhabiting South America from the Orinooko to the La Plata, the latter genus occurring also in Australia and New Guinea; Chelodina (5 sp.), Chelemys (1 sp.), and Elseya (2 sp.) from Australia; while Sternotheres (6 sp.), and Pelomedusa (3 sp.), inhabit Tropical and South Africa and Madagascar. FAMILY 59.-TRIONYCHIDE. (3 Genera, 25 Species.) The distribution of the Trionychidæ, or Soft Tortoises, is very different from that of the Chelydidæ, yet is equally interesting. They abound most in the Oriental region, extending beyond it to Northern China and Japan. In the Nearctic region they are only found in the Eastern States, corresponding curiously to the distribution of plants, in which the affinity of Japan to the Eastern States is greater than to California. The Trionychidæ are also found over the Ethiopian region, but not in Madagascar. The genera are,-Trionyx (17 sp.), which extends over the whole area of the family as above indicated; Cyclodermȧ (5 sp.), peculiar to Africa; Emyda (3 sp.), the peninsula of India, Ceylon, and Africa. FAMILY 60.-CHELONIIDE. (2 Genera, 5 Species.) The Marine Turtles are almost universally distributed. Dermatochelys (1 sp.), is found in the temperate seas of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; Chelone (4 sp.), ranges over all the tropical seas-C. viridis, the epicureans' species, inhabiting the Atlantic, while C. imbricata which produces the "tortoiseshell" of commerce is found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Remarks on the Distribution of the Chelonia. The four families into which the Chelonia are classed have all of them a wide distribution, though none are universal. The Ethiopian region seems to be the richest, as it possesses 3 of the four families, while no other region has more than 2; and it also possesses 7 peculiar genera. Next comes the Neotropical region with 2 families and 6 peculiar genera; the Australian with 3, and the Nearctic with 2 peculiar genera; while the Oriental and Palæarctic regions possess none that are peculiar. There are about 30 genera and 200 species in the whole order. Fossil Chelonia.-The earliest undoubted remains of this order occur in the Upper Oolite. These belong to the Cheloniidæ and Emydidæ, which are also found in the Chalk. In the Tertiary beds Chelonia are more abundant, and the Trionychida now appear. The Testudinidæ are first met with in the Miocene formation of Europe and the Eocene of North America, the most remarkable being the gigantic Colossochelys Atlas of the Siwalik Hills. It appears, therefore, that the families of the order Chelonia were already specialised in the Secondary period, a fact which, together with their more or less aquatic habits, sufficiently accounts for their generally wide distribution. Species of Testudo, Emys, and Trionyx, are found in the Upper Miocene of the south of France. AMPHIBIA. Order I-PSEUDOPHIDIA. FAMILY 1.-CÆCILIADE. (4 Genera, 10 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIO PALEARCTIC ETHIOPIAN The Cæciliada are a curious group of worm-like Amphibia sparingly scattered over the three great tropical regions. The genera are,-Cæcilia, which inhabits West Africa, Malabar and South America; Siphonopsis, peculiar to Brazil and Mexico; Ichthyopsis, from Ceylon and the Khasya Mountains; and Rhinatrema from Cayenne. Order II-URODELA. FAMILY 2-SIRENIDÆ. (1 Genus, 3 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALEARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL AUSTRALIAN SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. SUB-REGIONS. The genus Siren, consisting of eel-like Batrachians with two anterior feet and permanent branchiæ, inhabits the SouthEastern States of North America from Texas to Carolina. FAMILY 3.-PROTEIDE. (2 Genera, 4 Species.) The Proteidæ have four feet and persistent external branchiæ. The two genera are,-Proteus (1 sp.), found only in caverns of Central Europe; and Menobranchus, which are like newts in form, and inhabit the Eastern States of North America. FAMILY 4.-AMPHIUMIDE. (1 Genus, 2 Species.) The genus Amphiuma, or Muranopsis, consists of slender eellike creatures with four rudimentary feet, and no external branchiæ. The species inhabit the Southern United States from New Orleans to Carolina. FAMILY 5.-MENOPOMIDÆ. (2 Genera, 4 Species.) GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. AUSTRALIAN NEOTROPICAL NEARCTIC PALEARCTIC ETHIOPIAN ORIENTAL The There are large Salamanders of repulsive appearance, found only in Eastern Asia and the Eastern United States. genera are,-Sieboldia (2 sp.), Japan and north-west China; Menopoma Protonopsis (2 sp.), Ohio and Alleghany rivers. = |