Descriptive catalogue of the reptiles of British India / by William Theobald.
- William Theobald
- Date:
- 1876
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Descriptive catalogue of the reptiles of British India / by William Theobald. Source: Wellcome Collection.
30/310
![( ) Var intermedia, W. Blanford. J. A. S., B., 1870, p. 830. General aspect as of typical tectum, but “ the second vertebral almost hexagonal, the breadth exceeding the length slightly, the ])Osterior margin straight, thus differing from typical tectum and tentoria in which it is convex. Fourth, diamond-shaped, not the ordinary ‘ decanter, ’ though this shape is more seen in aged specimens. The colouration also differs. Sternal plates black, the anterior and lateral margins, but not the posterior ones yellow. Iambs and head dull olive, paler below, the first unspotted ; in this differing conspicuously from Bengal specimens of tectum!' Largest specimen 4 long, 8'2 broad, 2 high. Inhabits the Hasdo River a tributary of the Mahanadi above Sambalpur. Summing up Mr. Blanford remarks : ‘‘ It is very clear these variations tend in a great measure to obliterate the distinction between P. tectum and P. tentoria, the only remaining difference being the more tumid form of the first named species, but I doubt if this be a more valid character than the form of the plates.” With this conclusion I fully agree, and am inclined to extend its application to other species of the genus besides tentoria, in spite • of the fact that they have been generically separated b}’ so gi’eat an authority as Dr. Gray. P. tentoria. Gray. Batagar tentoria. Gray. Cuchoa tentoria. Gray. Sup. Cat. S. R., p. 61. Very closely resembles tectum, but “at all ages has the median keels of the first three vertebral plates much less developed, and the form of the whole carapace is conspicuously flatter and broader. The third vertebral plate is quadrangular, longer by half than broad, with the keel quite obsolete on the anterior half and but little raised posteriorly. Nuchal plate sub-quadrangular. A narrow black line is continued along the spinal ridge of tentoria, whereas the middle of the ridge is broadly white in tectum!' Blyth. Colour above brown. Sternum blackish, brown with yellow margin. Grows to 8 25 inches. Inhabits the Indus River and the Dekkan.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28058215_0030.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
