1918.] IST. Annandale & C. R. ISakayax Rao: Tadpoles 



35 



Measurements 



Total length 



Length of head and body 

 Breadth of head and body 

 Greatest depth of tail 



R. rugidosa. 



mm. 

 62-5 

 22-5 

 14-5 



12 



R. crassa^. 



mm. 



6S-5 



24-5 



16 



11-5 



Geographical distribution of the species. — The plains of the whole of 

 Northern and Peninsular India, with the exception of a few localities 

 in Madras ; the Nepal Valley ; Assam ; Burma and Yunnan. 



Specimens of larvae in the collection of the Indian Museum : — 



17733. Siliguri, base of East Himalayas. J. B. Richardson. 



16096. Damukdia Ghat, River Ganges, Bengal. R. H. Hodgart. 

 15718. Sara Ghat, River Ganges, Bengal. R. H. Hodgart. 



16097. Khoolna, Eastern Bengal. J. W, Gaunter. 

 17162-8, 9004. Calcutta Dr. .Jerdon. 

 1080.3-10810-11. No history. 



Rana crassa, Jerdon^ 



Bonlenger - has recently shown that this frog, which he regards 

 as a variety of R. figrina. is at any rate racially distinct. It is 

 distinguished by its very short hind limbs and by the peculiar 

 structure of the internal metatarsal tubercle. 



The tadpoles differ from that of the true R. tigrina in the following 

 particulars : — 



They are larger and of stouter build, with the abdomen more convex ; 

 the dorsal surface is more densely pigmented and there is a pale band 

 extending backwards in an oblique direction from the nostril to a pale 

 space surrounding the eye. This band probably cov^ers a glandular 

 channel. 



The tadpole very closely resembles that of R. rugulosa, Wiegmann,'* 

 except that the dorsal membrane of the tail is not so elevated and that 

 the colouration of the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head and bodv 

 are less uniform. 



We have been able to examine only two tadpoles that can be as- 

 signed to this species. In one of them the hind legs are fairly well- 

 developed, while in the other the toes are already differentiated. 



Geographical distribution of the species. — The frog is said to occur to 

 the exclusion of the true Rana tigrina in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the town of Madras. Jerdon gives its distribution as '" a few tanks 

 in the Carnatic "" and Boulenger records specimens from Benares as well 

 as from various localities in South India and Ceylon. There are speci- 

 mens in the Indian Museum from Colombo. Madras. Chandballv in 

 Orissa and Agra in the United Provinces. 



Specimens of larvae in the collection of the Indian Museum : — 



17734. Madras (town). Dr. J, R. Henderson. 



^ Rana crassa, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, XXII, p. 531. 



• Ttec. Ind. Mtis., XV (1918). 



•' P. tigriiui, Flower, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 891, pi. hx, tigs. 2, 2a (1899). 



