ANDERSSON, BATRACHIANS FROM BOLIVIA, ARGENTINA, PERU. 3 



j 



DACHNER loc. cit.), differeiit from Cope's D. hraccatus by its 

 darker belly; but that, I suppose, none feels inclined to do, 

 knowing the great variation in colour in the species of this 

 genus. If then these two forms belong to the same species, 

 much goes to prove that they also are specifically connected 

 with the other forms, mentioned by Steindachner as colour- 

 varieties of D. nigerrimus. In his catalogue, Boulenger also 

 mentions some colour- varieties of D, trivittatus, which can 

 scarcely be specifically distinguished from this specimen. 



In his synopsis of the Dendrobatids, Werner (Joc. cit.) 

 also distinguishes D. hraccatus Cope from D. trivitiatus Spix, 

 but as chief characters between the species he only gives the 

 dissimilar size and the dissimilar length of the eye in com- 

 parison with that of the nose, these being, however, the usual 

 differences between old and young specimens. 



Regarding Boulenger's species, D. hahneli, it seems to 

 differ from this one only in the lower white line, which does 

 not reach the nose, ending instead below^ the eye, and in the 

 missing of the red spöt on the hind side of the tibia. These 

 differences, I believe, are too small to be used as specific 

 characters in a genus the species of which exhibit such a 

 colour- variation as those of Dendrobates. Cope, however, says 

 that his form, D. hraccatus, may be distinguished from D. 

 hahneli by its considerably shorter posterior limbs, but it 

 seems sttange that a specific difference should arise from the 

 fact that in Cope's form »the muzzle marks the heel of the 

 extended hind leg», while in that of Boulenger »the tarso- 

 metatarsal articulation reaches beyond the tip of the snout». 

 As far as I can judge, that is the same thing. 



Thus, I believe that my specimen as well as Boulenger's 

 D. hahyieli, Cope's D. hraccatus, and Steindachner's juvenile 

 forms belong to the same species, which, on the authority of 

 Steindachner, till further discovery proves the contrary, w^e 

 may presume to be a young colour- variation of D. trivittatus 

 Spix. 



Cope's specimen was found in Brazil, Måtto Grosso, Stein- 

 dachner's also in Brazil, and Boulenger's in Peru. This one 

 being from Bolivia, the form seems to be spread över the 

 whole middle South-America, thus having the same geografical 

 distribution as D. trivittatus, a fact tbet strengthens the 

 above suggestion. 



