10 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS FROM MT. MURUD. 



8. Philautus petersi Bouleng. 



Ixalus petersi Boulenger, P. Z. S. London, 1900, p. 185, fig. 



Philautus petersi. Van Kami^en, Amphib. Indo-Austral. Archipel., 1923, 

 p. 276. 



Ixalus castanoiiierus Boulenger, Journ. F.M.S. Mus. 1905, i, p. 39, 

 fig. — id. Kept, and Batr. Malay Penin. 1912, p. 254. — Male. Smith, Journ. 

 F.M.S. Mus. 1922, X, p. 280."' 



12 examples from near tlie top of the mountain. Philautus 

 petersi was described by Boulenger on specimens from Bor- 

 neo (Mt. Penrissen, Mt. Dulit and Mt. Kinabalu) and Great 

 Natuna. He distinguished it from Ph. aurifasciatus (Schlegel) 

 by the larger and more distinct tympanum, the longer digits 

 and duller colouration. A an Kampen in recently discussing 

 these two forms (1923, l.c.s.) remarks that "the size of the 

 tympanum and the colouration, however, are very variable in 

 Ph. aurifasciatus and therefore the differences between the 

 two species are very slight, if at all present. Perhaps the 

 shape of the snout and the position of the nostrils are more 

 valuable characters in distinguishing both species." With 

 these remarks I fully agree. The ditterence between the 

 two forms is certainly very small but with a good series of the 

 frog from one of the type localities (Mt. Penrissen) available 

 and some examples of aurifasciatus from Java, I maintain 

 Boulenger 's separation, on the following grounds : — 



Ph. petersi. Ph. aurifasciatus. 



Snout more pointed, canthus ros- Snout less pointed, can thus ros- 



tralis more prominent and con- trails less prominent and less 



vergent anteriorly towards its convergent towards its fellow, 

 fellow. 



Interorbital space not broader Interorbital space usually broader 



than upper eyelid. than upper eyelid. 



Heel to tip of snout or beyond. Heel to between nostril and tip 



of snout. 



Length of head and body 40 mm. Length of head and body 31 mm. 



If, however, Boulenger is right in distinguishing the Bor- 

 nean from the Javan frog, I do not concur in his separation of 

 Ph. castanomerus (type locality Selangor, Mala}^ Peninsula) 

 from Ph. petersi. The only difference in the descriptions of 

 the two species is a slight one in respect to the size of the 

 digital discs as compared with the tympanum, while specimens 

 - in my collection from the Cameron Highlands on the Pahang- 

 Selangor boundary agree with the Bornean examples in every 

 particular. 



