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CHAP. XIX.] EEPTILES. 381
Asthenodipsas (1 sp.), Malacca ; Leptognathus (6 sp.), Central and
South America; and Anoplodipsas (1 sp.), supposed to come
from New Caledonia, and, if so, furnishing a link, though a very
imperfect one, between the disconnected halves of the family.
Family 17.—PYTHONID^. (21 Genera, 46 Species.)
Neotropical
Sub-regions.
1.2.3.4
Neakctic
Sub-regions.
General Distribution.
Pal^arctic
Sub- REGIONS.
Ethiopian
Sub-regions.
1 .2.3 .4-
Oriental
sub-kegions.
1.2.3.4
Australian
sub-eegions.
1.2.3-
The Pythonidae, comprising the Rock Snakes, Pythons, and
Boas, are confined to the tropics, with the exception of one
species in California. They are very abundant in the Neotropical
region, where nearly half the known species occur ;
the Austra-
lian region comes next, while the Oriental is the least prolific in
these large serpents. The genera which have been described
are very numerous, but they are by no means well defined.
The following are the most important :
Python is confined to the Oriental region ; Morelia, Liasis, and
Nardoa are Australian and Papuan; Enygrus is found in the
Moluccas, New Guinea and the Fiji Islands ; Hortulia is African
Sanzinia is peculiar to Madagascar; Boa, Epicrates, Corallus,
Ungalia, and Eunecies are Tropical American; Childbothrus is
and Lichanotus to California.
An extinct species belonging to this family has been found
peculiar to Jamaica and Mexico ;
in the Brown-coal formation of Germany, of Miocene age.
Neotropical
sub-begions.
Family 18.—ERYCID^. (3 Genera, 6 Species.)
Nearctic I Pal^arctic
SuB-BEGioNs. Sub-regions.
—
General Distribution.
Ethiopian
Sub-regions.
Oriental
Sub- REGIONS.
AUSTKALIAX
SUB-BEGIONS.
;