114 ON THE BATRACHIA AND REPTILIA OF COSTA RICA. 



RANIFORMIA. 



35. TRYPHERorsis chrysoprasintjs, Cope, Proc. Acad. Pliilada., 18G8, p. 117. Ranula, do., Cope, 



1. c. I860, p. 130. 



From Uren, 2500 feet. 



In examining a collection sent to the Smithsonian Institution from Costa Rica, 

 from Charles N. Riotte, I was much surprised to notice what was apparently a 

 Hylorana near H. erythrcea. Doubting the correctness of the locality, I laid the frog 

 away. Having since seen other and allied species from Tropical America, I recog- 

 nize the existence of a genus representing Hylorana, but differing in the important 

 particular of the incompleteness of the ethmoid arch, its superior plate being 

 represented by cartilage. In the present species the terminal phalanges are slender, 

 and furnished with a transverse limb, though the dilatations are small ; the latter 

 are distinct in the Rana casrulcopunctata, Steindachner ; in an undescribed species 

 from Vera Paz the transverse limb is very small, but present. 



The generic characters then are — 



Ethmoid arch superiorly cartilaginous; prefontals narrow, longitudinal, widely 

 separated. Distal phalanges slender, with transverse limb ; no metatarsal shovel ; 

 tongue bifurcate. 



The species is allied to the above named, but has a relatively shorter muzzle and 

 limbs. Nosti'il nearer end of muzzle than orbit (equidistant in cceruleopunctata) ; 

 muzzle 1 and l-5th orbit (1 and 2-5ths Steind.). Under jaw anteriorly abruptly 

 truncate. Canthus rostralis straight, strong, muzzle acuminate from its extremity, 

 projecting; loreal region vertical. Tympanum elliptic, two-thirds orbit. Vomerine 

 teeth weak, in convergent fasciculi behind opposite nares. Skin shagreened above, 

 a glandular fold on each side. The longest finger cannot be extended to vent ; 

 heel to middle loreal region. Toes fully and widely palmate, three distal phalanges 

 of fourth free ; one minute metatarsal tubercle. 



Color brilliant leek-green, the groin and belly approaching golden ; a golden 

 band from lip to shoulder, and a faint one on each side of back. Limbs above, 

 and tarsus and forearm below, black, the femur with a few golden spots on black 

 ground behind. Head dark above, from eye to shoulder black ; below pale yel- 

 lowish-green, immaculate, except some dark shades on sternal regions. 



Length of head and body 1 in. 91.; of fore limb 1 in ; of hind limb 2 in. 7.5 1. 



36. Ranula brevipalmata, Cope, loe. cit. 1874, p. 131. 



The upper lip and lower surfaces brown spotted. From Pico Blanco. 



