_Auribus margine anteriore dentato; collo non plicato; squamis dorsi
magnis, rhombeis; acutè carinatis; serie unicâ squamarum
supralabialium._
_Calotes Chilensis_, Less, et Garn. Voy. de la Coquille, Zool. Rep. t.
i. f. 2.
_Tropidurus Chilensis_, Weigm. Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Carol. Nat. cur.
xvii. pp. 233. 268.
_Proctotretus Chilensis_, Bibr. Hist. Nat. des Rep. IV. p. 269.
Sun. _Tropidurus nitidus_, Weigm. l. c. p. 234, t. xvii. f. 2.
Var. _Tr. olivaceus_, Ib. l. c. p. 268.
Habitat, Guasco in Northern Chile.
DESCRIPTION.—Head short and broad, rostrum rounded, obtuse. Scales of
the head large, and slightly raised, separated by distinct
grooves. Superciliary ridge strongly marked, forming a distinct
carina, composed of five or six narrow, elongated, obliquely
imbricated scales. Nostrils large, nearly round. A single series
of narrow scales between those of the upper lip and the orbit.
Scales of the temples imbricated, rhomboidal and carinated. The
opening of the ear oval, rather large, furnished anteriorly with
three or four projecting scales, of which the upper one is the
largest. The neck is short, robust and round, and without any
lateral fold; in which it differs from every other species of the
genus. The trunk is thick, rounded on the back and sides,
flattened beneath, diminishing toward either extremity. The tail
is ordinarily almost twice as long as the body, thick at its
origin, and tapering regularly to the extremity, nearly round,
excepting near the base, where it is slightly quadrilateral. The
anterior feet when placed against the sides, extend backwards
little more than mid-way between the shoulder and the groin; the
posterior ones, stretched forward, reach the arm-pit.
The scales of the whole upper and lateral parts of the body, tail,
and limbs, are loosely imbricated, large, rhomboidal, and
furnished with an elevated carina, terminating in an acute point:
those of the under parts are large, smooth, and obtuse.
This is one of the most beautiful species of the genus. The
general form is robust and solid, forming a remarkable contrast
with most other species of the genus. The surface is beautifully
relieved by the fine, large and prominent scales, which are ranged
in rows of perfect regularity, of which there are about eighteen
on the back and side.
In colour and markings the individuals differ considerably; so as
to have given rise to the opinion that they form three distinct
species. Monsieur Bibron mentions two principal varieties,
constituting the _Tropidurus olivaceus_ and _Tr. Chilensis_ of
Weigmann. In the former, the colour is of a more or less bronzed
bright green, or yellowish, according as the green or yellow
colour prevails on the scales, each of which is green, with a
border of yellow on each side: this border, according to M.
Bibron, in some individuals of a blood-red colour. In some,
especially in young individuals, there are several waved bands
running transversely across the back.
In the second variety, says M. Bibron, the upper parts are either
of an olive colour, with a golden glance in certain lights, or
fulvous, with more or less of a yellow tint; and these have always
four brown bands running the length of the body, appearing as if
formed of a series of large spots united together. “The temples
are marked with a black line, which extends from the posterior
angle of the eye to the ear; another divides behind the occiput
into two branches, which pass to the neck there to join the dorsal
bands.” There are other variations of colour, but scarcely
deserving to be considered as constituting permanent or fixed
varieties; the largest and finest specimen I have seen, which I
received from Chile, is almost uniformly of a fine metallic green,
without any markings.
DIMENSIONS.
Inches. Lines.
Length of the head 0 9
of the body 3 5
of the tail 6 0
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Total length 10 4
Length of anterior extremity 2 0
of posterior extremity 1 2
This species would appear to be very common in Chile, from the numerous
specimens from that country in the museum in Paris, which were brought
by M. Gay, and by M. D’Orbigny. I have also received specimens from
Capt. King. I find only one or two specimens in Mr. Darwin’s collection,
which he found at Guasco in Chile.