The septomaxillary. I. In the amphibia urodela

The septomaxillary bone is described in the various families of the urodeles in which it occurs. Its identity as a hitherto unrecognized cartilage bone of the skull is established and its close relationship with the nasal muscles followed through the group. Its presence or absence, which is found to be another criterion for the recent classification of the urodeles as proposed by Dunn and Higgins, is correlated with the development of the accessory dilatator muscle, since it occurs only in groups where this muscle attains an appreciable size.