VI PHANEROGLOSSA DISCOGLOSSIDAE I 53 



upper jaw and the vomers are provided with teeth. The males 

 have no vocal sac. The tadpoles are distinguished by having 

 the opercular spiracle placed in the middle of the thoracic region 

 (see general anatomical part, p. 44). 



The few members of this family have a peculiar distribution. 

 JAopelma is confined to New Zealand, where it is the solitary 

 representative of the Amphibia. AscajjJius is found in North 

 America. The other genera, Discoglossus, Bomhinator, and Alytes, 

 are typical of the Palaearctic sub-region, and are, with the excep- 

 tion of Bomhinator, confined to the Western Provinces (cf. Map, 

 Fig. 32, on p. 161). 



Discoglossus. — The tympanum is indistinct, being more or 

 less concealed by the skin. The pupil is round or triangular. 

 The omosternum is small. The vertebrae are of the epichordal 

 type. 



I). 2)icti(s, the only species, has a smooth and shiny skin, 

 provided with numerous small mucous glands. The palms of 

 the hands are provided with three tubercles, of which the inner- 

 most is the largest, and is carried by the vestige of the thuml). 

 The coloration of this species is very variable. The ground- 

 colour of the upper parts is a rich olive brown with darker, light - 

 edged patclies, which are either separate or confluent in various 

 ways, forming broad, longitudinal bands, or a few larger asym- 

 metrical patches, separated in some individuals by a broad and 

 conspicuous light brown or yellowish vertebral stripe. An 

 irregular reddish band frequently extends from the eyes back- 

 wards along the sides. The under parts are mostly yellowish 

 white. This variability is purely individual, the most differently 

 marked and variously coloured specimens being found in the same 

 locality and even amongst the members of one ajjd the same brood. 

 The male develops various nuptial excrescences, consisting of 

 minute, dark, horny spines, notably on the inner palmar pad, on 

 the inner side of the first and second finger, on the chin and 

 throat, and smaller and more scattered spicules on the belly and 

 legs. 



This pretty and extremely active little creature, which 

 measures between 2 and 3 inches in length, is confined to 

 the south-western corner of the Palaearctic sub-region, being- 

 found in Algiers and Morocco, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and the 

 southern and western parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Curiously 



