I 



The Identification of Salicntia in Oklahoma 



ARTHUR N. BRAGG 



KEYS for the identification of the fauna of each state or group of small 

 states should be available. Due to lack of knowledge of the distribu- 

 tion, habits, ecological relationships, the eggs and larvae, and in 

 several cases even the presence of many of the local forms, it has not been 

 possible previously to construct a key to the Salientia of Oklahoma that is rea- 

 sonably complete. As late as 1935, taxonomic and distributional matters were 

 in confusion, and eggs, tadpoles or both of several forms were undescribed. 



During the past ten years while concentrating on problems in ecological 

 distribution and habits of Salientia of Oklahoma, I have always had in mind 

 the construction of a key which would include eggs and larvae as well as 

 adults of our local forms, and I have consistently made observations and col- 

 lections toward this as an eventual goal. Unknown eggs and larvae have been 

 described as opportunity permitted their study and a large number of speci- 

 mens of species in Oklahoma have been preserved in my personal collection 

 and in the University of Oklahoma Museum; these together form a good basis 

 for a key because they are extensive enough to show most of the variations 

 likely to be encountered. 



In the meantime, workers in other regions have published descriptions 

 of tadpoles or eggs of some of our local forms that happen also to occur in 

 their areas of study; these serve to fill in some gaps in our knowledge, as well 

 as to indicate other possible variations within the species based on ecological 

 or zoogeographic factors. All told, therefore, there now are available basic 

 descriptions of adults, eggs, and larvae of all except a very few of the twenty- 

 seven species and subspecies known to occur in Oklahoma. 



The purpose of this paper is to bring together all available information 

 of whatever source bearing upon identification of the frogs and toads of Okla- 

 homa, including their eggs and tadpoles. The keys are constructed partly from 

 the literature and partly from my own observations, the former being used 

 only wherever the latter are still inadequate or when statements by others are 

 considered so appropriate to a given situation as to seem better than I could 

 do. In a few cases direct quotations are given; in others I have paraphrased. 

 I wish to acknowledge especially my dependence upon the works of Wright 

 (1920), Wright and Wright (1942), Smith (1934, 1946), Youngstrom and 

 Smith ( 1936) , Tanner ( 1939) , Walker ( 1946) , and Coin and Netting ( 1940) . 



The key is complete for adults; as to eggs and larvae, those of one frog 

 (Rana areolata areolata) and one tree toad (Hyla versicolor chrysoscelis) and 



