1920.] G. A. BouLENGER : Frogs of the Genus Rana. 87 



40. Rana esculenta. 



Raiia escttlenfa. I, inn., Sysi. Xat. I. p. 357 1 1766) : Bouleng., Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1S91. p. 604, and Ann. and Mag. X.H. (91 II, 1918. p. 241, figs. 

 This widely distributed species, of which the typical form is 

 exclusively European, is represented within the limits assigned to 

 this monograph by two varieties, the most remote from each other 

 in the series, and easily defined when the Euiopean forms are left 

 out of consideration. 



Var. ridibunda. 



Ra72a ridibunda, Pallas. Reise. I. p. 45S \ lyyi). 

 Rana esculenta, Blanf.. Zool. E. Pers. p. 432 (1876). 



Rana esculenta, var. ridibujida, Bouleng., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1885, p. 066. 

 pi xl. and Taill. Batr. Eur. p. 2711, pi. xvi (189S): Nikolsky. 

 Fetschenko's Reise. Zool. II, vii, p. 71 riS99l. 

 Rana esculenta, var. susana. Bouleng., Ann. and Mag. X.H. 171 X\ I. 

 1905. F- 55-'- 



Vomerine teeth in short transverse or more or less oblique 

 series between the choanae or extending slightly beyond their pos- 

 terior borders, close together or nearer to eacu other than to the 

 latter, rarely equall}* distant from both. 



Head as long as broad or, usually, a little broader than long, 

 rather strongly depressed ; snout rounded or obtusely pointed, as 

 long as or longer than the e^-e, more or less projecting beyond the 

 mouth ; canthus rostralis obtuse or very indistinct ; loreal region 

 ven,- oblique ; nostril equally distant from the eye and from the 

 end of the snout, or nearer the former; distance between the 

 nostrils greater than the interorbital width, which is 5 to f that of 

 the upper eyelid; tympanum very distinct, f to 2 the diameter 

 of the eye. 



Fingers obtusely pointed, first as long as or a Uttle longer than 

 the second, third longer than the snout ; second and third fingers 

 with a more or less distinct dermal border ; subarticular tubercles 

 small, moderately prominent. 



Hind limb moderately long, the tibio-tarsal articulation reach- 

 ing the tympanum, the eye, or between the eye and the tip of the 

 snout, the heels usually overlapping when the Umbs are folded 3t 

 right angles to the bodj- ; tibia 3 to 4 times as long as broad, 

 li to sUghtly over twice in the length from snout to vent, a little 

 shorter than the foot. Toes obtuse, usually nearly entireh' webbed, 

 rarely only f ; outer metatarsals separated nearlj- to the base; 

 subarticular tubercles small ; iimer metatarsal tubercle moderateh^ 

 prominent, oval or elliptical, ^ to nearly J the length of the inner 

 toe ; a small outer tubercle ; tarsal fold feeble or absent. 



Skin of back smooth or more or less warty ; a glandular dorso- 

 lateral fold from above the tympanum to the hip, sometimes inter- 

 rupted posteriorly, sometimes verj- feebly prominent, its width 



I I have examined several specimens, from Wadi-Snkerier, Palestine, in the 

 Indian Museum, the two last phalanges of the fourth toe of which are free from 

 the web. 



