PELODYTES. 179 



Family 2.— PELOBATIILE. 



Vertebras procoelous (in the European genera), with- 

 out autogenous ribs ; diapophyses of sacral vertebra 

 very strongly dilated. Upper jaw toothed. 



The PelobafidcB occupy an intermediate position 

 between the Discoglossidce and the Bufonidse. Seven 

 genera are known, inhabiting Europe and South- 

 western Asia, South-eastern Asia and New Guinea, and 

 Xorth America and Mexico.* 



The two European genera are easily distinguished : — 

 Pelodytes, slender and frog-like, with deeply cleft toes, 

 and a more or less distinct tympanum ; Pelobates, stout 

 and toad-like, with broadly webbed toes, no tympanum, 

 the skin of the head adherent to the skull, and a large, 

 sharp-edged, shovel-shaped tarsal tubercle. 



Both genera must be looked upon as highly special- 

 ised forms of a group which has, in all probability, 

 sprung up from the Discoglossidse, with which some 

 of the exotic o-enera are nearer connected through 



«... O 



a character to which great importance has been 

 attached, viz. the opisthoccelous vertebras. 



A map is here given showing the range of the three 

 European species of this family. 



4. Pelodytes. 



Fitzinger, in Bonaparte, Icon. Faun. Ital., Rett. Ant'. (1838). 



Pupil vertical. Vomerine teeth in two small groups 

 between the choanas. Tongue subcircular, entire or 

 slightly nicked, and free behind. Tympanum present, 



* Exotic genera : 



Scaphiopus, Holbr. E. and S. United States, Mexico. 



Batrachopsis, Blgr. New Guinea. 



Leptobrachium, Tsch. S. China, Further India and Malay 



Archipelago. 

 Megalophrys, Kuhl. Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 

 Asteroplnjs, Tsch. New Guinea. 

 The last two have opisthoccelous vertebrae. 



