MEXICAN TAILLESS AMPHIBIANS 121 



Type locality. — State of Puebla, Mexico, possibly from the vicinity 

 of Matamoros. 



Range. — Exact limits of range unknown; records of capture indicate 

 that it occurs from southern Nayarit (El Ocotillo) and Guanajuato, 

 southward through Paebla and Michoacan to central Guerrero 

 (Chilpancingo). 



Remarks. — The earliest available specific name for this small frog 

 seems to be Liuperus [sic] nitidus Peters. This name was based on a 

 specimen (M.N.B. No. 6669) that was included in a small collection 

 made by Herr Berkenbusch in Mexico. Inasmuch as the diagnostic 

 features of this species have been ignored for so many years, a short 

 description of the type of nitidus is herewith given: Head-and-body 

 length, 20 mm.; transverse diameter of tympanum, 1 mm.; transverse 

 diameter of eye, 1.8 mm.; the hind limb being carried forward along 

 the body, the tibio-tarsal joint reaches to anterior margin of tympan- 

 um; tarsal fold very indistinct, if present; large subarticular tubercles; 

 minute supernumerary tubercles on sole of foot; fore limbs slender; 

 toes slender; fourth toe considerably longer than third or fifth; skin of 

 abdomen smooth; under surface of thighs areolate; no visible vomerine 

 teeth; coloration, seemingly dark brown with light marbling; lumbar 

 gland white with wavy or zigzag dark bands; transverse dark bands on 

 hind limbs rather indistinct. 



Brocchi likewise referred nitidus to Leiuperus, while Boulenger, 

 Giinther, and Nieden interpreted the original description as indicat- 

 ing that this species should be allocated in the genus Paludicola. 

 Giinther seemingly ignored the resemblances to his Tomodadylus 

 amulae that are clearly disclosed in the pubUshed description of 

 nitidus. The obvious similarity of the specimens dealt with in these 

 two descriptions is at once apparent when they are compared side by 

 side. Parker seems to have been the first to suggest that the correct 

 relationships of nitidus are with Tomodadylus and cites as follows his 

 reasons for this allocation: 



A specimen in the British Museum which agrees with the type in all external 

 characters is scarcely distinguishable from the type-specimen of Tomodadylus 

 amulae. Like the latter it also has T-shaped terminal phalanges, cartilaginous 

 sternum and omosternum, and a lumbar gland, and so must be referred to the 

 genus Tomodadylus, at least until the position of this genus has been satisfactorily 

 determined. 



Inasmuch as it seemed improbable that nitidus and amulae were 

 distinct species, the cotypes of the latter (B.M. Nos. 1901. 12. 19. 

 9-12) have been reexamined. They comprise one adult and three 

 young. The following notes were made on the adult specimen : Head- 

 and-body length, 23.8 mm.; transverse diameter of tympanum, 0.8 

 mm.; transverse diameter of eye, 2.9 mm.; anterior edge of eye to 

 nostril, 2.4 mm.; the hind limb being carried forward along the body, 

 the tibio-tarsal joint reaches to center of tympanum; no tarsal fold; 



