FAMILY I. DISCOGLOSSID/E: THE DISCO- 



GLOSSOID TOADS' 



THE AMERICAN DISCOGLOSSOID TOAD 



Ascaphus iruei Stejneger 

 Identification Characteristics 



Colour: Dull reddish brown, with a few indistinct blackish 

 markings on the back. A dusky band between the eyes. The 

 top of the head in front of this band pale reddish grey narrow- 

 ing in the midline in front and bordered on each side below the 

 line of the canthus rostralis by a band of black. This black band 

 extends backward through the eye to the shoulder along the lower 

 border of the parotoid gland. A black spot below the arm in- 

 sertion. Posterior surface of arm irregularly spotted. Femur, 

 tibia, and under side of foot edged by an irregular dark band 

 which is sometimes edged with white. Underparts light, clouded 

 with dark, especially across the breast. Fingers and toes tipped 

 with light. 



Measurements: Size small ; i. e. length i ^ inches. Head slightly 

 broader than long. Nostril nearer to the eye than to the tip of 

 the muzzle. Space between eyes equal to width of eyelid. Arms 

 and legs relatively long; arm, i inch; leg (total length), 2 J 

 inches. Length of leg to heel equals length of body forward to 

 eye. Tibia longer than femur. 



Structure: Skin granular, slimy, wrinkled, and irregularly 

 warty above. Smooth and wrinkled below. Parotoid gland 

 elongated, extending from the eye backward toward the shoulder. 

 A narrow elongated gland on the side, corresponding in position 

 to the lateral fold of frogs. Head flat ; muzzle elongated, abruptly 

 descending on the sides, obtusely pointed in front. Gftnthus ros- 

 tralis prominent. Ear hidden. Fingers long and slender; three 

 palm tubercles, no tubercles under the joints. Foot but slightly 

 webbed; no tarsal fold; inner sole tubercle medium in size; no 

 tubercles under the joints. 



Range: One specimen only of Ascaphus truei has been found. 

 Humptulips, Washington, 1897. 



1 Refer to pp. 7, 8, and 43. 



SI 



