76 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 88 



which is about two-thirds the distance between nostrils. Tympanum 

 concealed. Fingers unwebbed, fourth about equal to second, reaching 

 to base of penultimate phalanx of third; no projecting rudiment of 

 a pollex; no ulnar ridge. Toes without webs, third toe two phalanges 

 longer than fifth; a distinct but small oval inner but no apparent 

 outer metatarsal tubercle; no tarsal ridge; no dermal appendage on 

 heel. Body short, in postaxillary region at least twice the greatest 

 width of head; when hind leg is adpressed, heel reaches axilla; when 

 limbs are laid along the side, knee and elbow fail to meet; when hind 

 legs are bent at right angles to body, heels overlap appreciably. 

 Skin of upper parts smooth. A narrow fold of skin crosses back of 

 head and passes downward on each side behind eye and angle of jaw. 

 Skin of throat, chest, belly, and lower surface of thigh smooth; no 

 apparent traces of a skinfold across chest; adult female, no vocal sac. 



Dimensions. — Head and body, 33.4 mm.; head length, 8.3 mm.; 

 head width, 8.8 mm.; femur, 12.7 mm.; tibia, 12.8 mm.; heel-to-toe, 

 20 mm.; hand, 7.6 mm. 



Color in alcohol. — Top of head and dorsum uniform warm brown. 

 Undersurfaces of throat, chest, belly, and limbs, and the groin and 

 anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs distinctly marbled in 

 yellow and brown. 



Variation. — The most notable variation in the specimens at hand 

 is exemplified by the specimen (MLS 133) from Astillero. In this 

 individual the belly, instead of being conspicuously and brightly 

 marbled as it is in other specimens of Relictivomer pearsei. is nearly 

 uniformly pale yellow, with a few brownish flecks under throat and 

 on lower surfaces of thighs. The posterior surfaces of the thighs, 

 on the other hand, are rather dark with a single narrow, yellow 

 stripe running from behind the knee to the vent on each of them. 

 Structurally this specimen does not seem to be different from other 

 examples of pearsei in any way. 



Since so many species tend to show some degree of incipient speci- 

 ation in the Maracaibo Basin, it is not too surprising to find the single 

 specimen of pearsei we have from there different from other individ- 

 uals from west of the Cordillera Occidental. It may well be that 

 when sufficient material becomes available the population in the 

 Maracaibo Basin will prove to be deserving of a name. 



Except for the specimen discussed above, there seems to be no 

 significant variation in the specimens at hand. Some are darker than 

 the others, but whether this is due to preservation or individual 

 variation we do not know. Our largest specimen has a head-body 

 length of 41.5 millimeters. 



Remarks. — Since the recent monographer of this group in South 

 America (Carvalho, 1954) saw fit to place this species in the genus 



