180 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 88 



in diameter scattered over it, above and below. On the belly the spots 

 tend to run together to form vermicnlations. 



Color of paratype in life. — Dorsal ground color inky blue, top of 

 head and entire back thickly beset with small spots and vermiculate- 

 like marks of a rich greenish gold; spots along side larger and more 

 sparsely spaced so that the ground color is more evident along the 

 side; belly surface silverish gray with thickly set spots and vermicula- 

 tions of white, these spots larger than those on the dorsal surface; 

 iris bronzy gold, tympanum bright yellow. Dorsal surfaces of arms 

 and legs with the inky blue ground color of the back but with greenish 

 gold spots larger and more sparsely spaced, thus resembling pattern 

 along sides. Concealed surfaces of thighs and axillary regions inky 

 blue with spots more whitish than they are along side of body. Under- 

 side of chin and throat bluish green with light and dark specks giving 

 a salt-and-pepper effect. Undersurfaces of hands and feet bluish gray. 



Life history. — The live female paratype was carrying eggs in her 

 pouch when she arrived in Gainesville, Florida. The night of April 5 

 she "gave birth" to approximately 70 tadpoles. The first tadpole 

 metamorphosed May 15. The tadpoles continued to metamorphose 

 until May 17 when the steam heat was inadvertently turned on in 

 the building over the week end. Presumably the temperature became 

 too high for the tadpoles and young, as they all died. 



The tadpoles fed avidly on nearly everything offered them. Pieces 

 of meat or gristle, sliced cantaloup, or spinach were all eaten with 

 equal enthusiasm. As soon as the food was put into the aquarium with 

 them, they would gather round it and start eating at any exposed 

 place not preoccupied by other tadpoles. 



Description of tadpole. — One of the newly "born" tadpoles has a 

 total length of 25.2 millimeters, of which 9.6 millimeters is head and 

 body. Hind limbs are present, each of which has three weakly 

 developed toe buds. The spiracle is on the left side of the body about 

 half-way between the head and the base of the tail. (See Fig. 15.) The 

 mouth is bordered by fleshy, finger-like projections all around except 

 for about the median third of the dorsal lip. There are two complete 

 rows of teeth dorsally and below the mouth are three rows, the bottom 

 two of which are complete, the uppermost being interrupted in the 

 middle. (See Fig. 16.) 



Figuke 15. — Tadpole, Gaslrotheca aureomaculata (X 3). 



