432 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 88 



times that of the upper eyelid in the former, and equal to it in the 

 latter. The tympanum in latidiscus is small, being only one-fifth the 

 eye diameter, but in vertebralis it is one-half the eye diameter. While 

 some of these proportions vary in the large series of vertebralis at hand, 

 there can be no doubt that this species is distinct from latidiscus. 



In many young specimens of vertebralis from Colombia the head 

 ridges are scarcely raised above the skin, but the interorbital area 

 beneath the transparent skin appears bony or granular. This area 

 extends well behind the level of the eyes in an elongated shield shape, 

 and it is sometimes bordered posteriorly by a curved ridge. More 

 material from the known localities is needed to ascertain the degree of 

 development in the head ridges. The presence of faint dorsolateral 

 folds distinguishes vertebralis from most other Colombian species of 

 Eleutherodactylus. Many examples have a single heavy tubercle above 

 the shoulder. The pattern is varied, some being dark above with a 

 darker W between the shoulders and a light-spotted middorsal area 

 which in a few examples becomes the wide sharp stripe that gives the 

 species its name. The sides are mottled with dark brown, often with 

 light diagonal lines or irregular patches becoming more definite in 

 front of the groin. The belly may be pale and unspotted, or with small 

 dark spots and reticulations, or with light spots on a black background. 



Specimens Examined 



COLOMBIA 



Antioquia: Angel6polis, MLS 167; Jeric6, MCZ 24896-7; Medellin, AMNH 



38830-1, 38833; Medellin Valley, AMNH 38784, 38787; Sampedro, north 



of Medellm, CNHM 63861-70, 30566, AMNH 38757, 38759, 38763-4, 



USNM 118191, 147245-6, 146966, 150647-8, MCZ 24903-8, MLS 350; 



Urrao, Paramo Frontino, CNHM 69719-20; Ventanas, 50 km. northwest 



of Yarumal, USNM 150647-8, 150651. 

 Boyaca: Paramo Vijogual, 20 km. north of Pajarito, USNM 151871-2; 



Peligro on Ramiriqui-Rond6n road, USNM 150652-5. 

 Caldas: La Selva, Pueblo Rico, CNHM 55329, 54331, 54358; 19-20 km. 



south-southeast of Manizales, 2,700-2,860 m., USNM 146363-5; 40 km. 



east of Manizales, MLS 318a-b, 320; Montanita, USNM 150671-2; San 



Felix, MLS 366 (2). 

 Cauca: Three km. south of Popayan, 1,800 m., USNM 151278-9 (juv.); 



one-half km. north of Purace, USNM 151183-263, 151267-70, 151938-9; 



Quintana, near Popayan, CNHM 43999, 44116, 44118-20, 44124-5, 54327, 



54312-3, 54413, USNM 147247-7. 

 Huila: San Adolf o, Acevedo, CNHM 69737. 

 Magdalena: Finca La Granja, road to San Lorenzo, 2,300-2,700 m., USNM 



150873-7. 

 Putumayo: Santiago, CAS 85157. 

 Tolima: Out of Manizales on old road to Nevada de Ruiz, USNM 151504-5, 



151977-80; Quindio Mountains, CNHM 7893. 

 ECUADOR: Intac, BM 78.1.25.15 (syntype). 



