Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 4: ZoologyLinnean Society of London
Science
Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 4: Zoology
Linnean Society of London
Zoology -- Periodicals
There are twenty teeth above, and eighteen or nineteen below, on each
side; the mandibular symphysis extends to the fifteenth tooth. The
posterior teeth of the upper jaw, and almost all those of the lower jaw,
are received into interdental pits; the orbital margins are not raised;
and the premaxillæ are hardly at all expanded. The premaxillo-maxillary
suture does not reach the third tooth behind the notch.
I propose the name _Rhynchosuchus_ to indicate that generic type which
is at present represented by the solitary species called by Müller
and Schlegel _Crocodilus_ (_Gavialis_) _Schlegelii_, and admirably
described and figured by them in their essay, 'Over de Krokodilen van
der Indischen Archipel,' in the 'Verhandelingen over de natuurlijke
Gesch. der Nederl. overzee. Bezittingen,' 1839-1844. Under the title
_Crocodilus_ (_Gavialis_) _Schlegelii_ (p. 18), they say--"The Gavial
from Borneo, when compared with the Indian one, is principally
distinguished by the following characters:--
"1. By its stronger form and better developed limbs.
2. By its much less slender head and snout, which last does not narrow
so suddenly in front of the eyes as in _G. Gangeticus_.
3. By the smaller number of teeth, of which there are twenty above and
eighteen below on each side, while _G. Gangeticus_ has 28/26 or
27/25; furthermore, the teeth are stouter, less curved, and less
sharp, and are disposed more perpendicularly, and the ninth tooth of the
upper jaw (reckoning from the front) is considerably larger and stronger
than the others; whence it follows that, just as in the true Crocodiles,
the snout at the level of this tooth exhibits a lateral projection.
4. By the shorter symphysis of the under jaw.
5. By the absence of the swollen nasal prominence (neusklep), which
characterizes the Gangetic Gavial.
6. By the less expanded form of the tabular upper surface of the hinder
part of the skull.
7. By the very slight production of the edges of the orbit.
8. By the large eyes.
9. By the presence of a number of small nuchal shields, while _G.
Gangeticus_ has but one pair.
10. By the strongly developed keels of the dorsal scutes.
11. By the much larger scales on the under parts and on the legs of the
animal.
12. By the different colours with which it is variegated."
* * * * *
These authors further point out that the vomers appear for a small space
in the posterior part of the palate, that the opercular or splenial
bones join in the symphysis of the lower jaw, and that the cervical and
dorsal scutes form one continuous shield; and they represent the two
anterior mandibular teeth passing in grooves on either side of the end
of the premaxilla. In fact, they fully and completely establish the fact
that their new species belongs to the _Longirostres_ of Cuvier, or to
the Gavials of later writers.
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