The Anatomy of Heloderma

Abstract

THE number of NATURE for July 30, which I have only just seen, contains (p. 295) a criticism of a statement of mine, to which I have to answer. It is stated in my paper on the osteology of Heloderma that there are eight or nine premaxillary teeth in H. horridum, and only six in H. suspectum, because such is the number in the specimens examined by me. As Dr. Shufeldt has, on re-examination, found eight teeth in a specimen of the latter species, I admit that the distinction, as a specific character, does not hold good. It is just because my figures are not diagrammatic that they represent fewer teeth than are mentioned in the text; to anyone familiar with the dentition of lizards and snakes, it is clear enough that some of the teeth have been lost, and they were therefore not represented in the figures, which are faithful representations (in outline) of the objects from which they are drawn. I am much surprised at Dr. Shufeldt's statement, that he “cannot conceive of any lizard normally having but nine teeth in its premaxillary bone; it should at least be an even number.” I could refer him to no end of examples of premaxillary teeth normally in odd number among lizards with single premaxillary; perhaps the best known is afforded by the family Amphisbænidaæ. I must again correct Dr. Shufeldt on a matter of fact: my figure of H. horridum shows seven teeth, not six, as he states in his letter; and that of H. suspectum five, not four.