Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 16. (Budapest 1918)

Fejérváry, G.J.: Contributions to a Monography on fossil Varanidae and on Megalanidae 16

of its vertebrae is entirely Varanus-l ike; the latter are considerably larger than in any recent Varanus species and most resemble the vertebra of t V. maratlionensis although thicker and a good deal larger and differing in the shape of the cup as well as that of the ball. This species is placed by LYDEKKER (Catal. p. 283)—together with OWEN'S Australian Megalania, also considered by him as Varanus — in the genus Varanus^ «group B.», the latter accompanied by the following key; «The dorsal vertebrae short and wide, with narrow neural spines. Both species

1 of large size. (Megalania OWEN).» Only a v e r y superficial comparison however would allow a certain conformity

— of which kind, I cannot even tell

— to be found between V. sivalensis and Megalania. It is true that the vertebras of V. sivalensis are somewhat shorter and, especially on account of the protruding proc. trans versi, wider than in other Monitors. Nevertheless V. sivalensis has nothing in common with Megalania, w h i c h I do not regard as belonging to the Varans at all. whilst V. sivalensis cannotbe distinguished from the other M o n i t o r s as a group representing a special vertebra-type, as the transition between it and other Varanus-xertebrae shows a b s ol u t e continuity, the type itself being identical in everyone of them. As regards the other fossil Varanus of India mentioned by LYDEKKER as probably agreeing with V. bengalensis DAUD. (opp. ccit.), the examination of the systematic position of these remains has enabled me to provisionally maintain the possibility of their agreement with this species, for which reason I inscribe them under the name of V. cf.? bengalensis DAUD. foss. C) Varanidae of Australia. The first fossil Lizard known from Australia and ranged with Varanus is Megalania prisca OWEN, which has been first dealt with by Prof. OWEN in his «Description of some Remains of the Gigantic Land-Lizard (Megalania prisca OWEN) from Australia)) published in I860

2 and completed by two masterly plates. Later on, in 1881 this same reptile is again examined by OWEN

3 in connexion with material newly obtained, in Part II of the treatise already mentioned. In the first part of this paper he compares the particularly large vertebrae to those of the Australian Varanus giganteus GRAY defining Megalania as a Vara noid genus, or eventually as a subgenus of Varanus (p. 47). In the second part of his work however, 1 The other species would be Megalania prisca OWES. Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, Vol. 149, Part II, p. 43-48, Pi. 7 A 8. s Op. cit., Vol. 171, p. 1037-1054, PI. 34-38.