FROGS OF COLOMBIA — COCHRAN AND GOIN 495 



Variation. — As Ruthven (1922, p. 50) points out, there*is more 

 variation in this species than is indicated in the original description. 

 In the specimens before us the dorsum ranges from very dark gray to 

 pale reddish gray, wliile the ventral surfaces range from a pale, un- 

 unmarked gray to light yellowish gray with distinct, scattered, black 

 flecks. Two of the adult specimens at hand have fairly well marked 

 ocular vitta passing from the region of nostril through eye and termin- 

 ating on the side of the body. On the other adult specimens at hand 

 such stripes are absent. Each of the adult specimens has a very nar- 

 row, somewhat indistinct, middorsal stripe passing from top of head 

 to vent; on two of these specimens the stripe forks at the vent and 

 continues onto the posterior surfaces of the thighs. 



Dunn (1944c, p. 519) first indicated that the true relationships of 

 Geobatrachus are to members of the family Rhiuodermatidae; Goin 

 and Goin (1962, p. 241) also assign it there, but make that family a 

 subfamily of Leptodactylidae. Therefore, the relatives of Geobat- 

 rachus are Rhinoderma of Chile, Euparkerella of Peru, Noblella of 

 Brazil, and Sminthillas of Cuba. 



Tadpoles.— -Dr. Federico Medem collected a series of tadpoles 

 in the general habitat of Geobatrachus walkeri, along the new road 

 up to San Lorenzo, at an altitude of 1,500-1,700 meters. Pending con- 

 firmation of the specific identity of these tadpoles, they are here 

 described as G. walkeri on the basis of probability. 



They were collected in a small, slow-flowing stream that went along- 

 side the road and through the woods. 



These specimens have exceedingly long, wliip-like tails and rather 

 flat bodies. The eyes are dorsal in position and the spiracle is on the 

 left side of the body. The tail has a band of pigment along its dorsal 

 surface and another along each side in the region of the lateral septum. 

 The upper and lower beaks are quite black and horny and extremely 

 serrate. There is one complete and one incomplete row of teeth above 

 the beak and there are three complete rows below the beak. The lower 



Figure 48. — Mouthparts of tadpole, Geobatrachus walkeri. 



