32 



Bibliography 



Balletto and Cherchi (1973), Barbault et al. (1979), Forge 

 and Barbault (1977), Francillon et al. (1984), Guibe (1950), 

 Joger (1981) . 



Family Ranidae 



A large anuran family containing more than 625 species that 

 live on every continent. For the most part, they are aquatic 

 and have long hindlimbs with extensive webs. They usually 

 deposit their eggs in still waters. 



In North Africa, Rana saharica is an endemic species. 

 Eastern Libyan records of R. saharica could belong to Rana 

 levantina Schneider, Sinsch, and Nevo 1992, recorded from the 

 Nile delta. Two Ethiopian species also live in the area: 

 Hoplobatrachus occipitalis and Tomopterna cryptotis . The first 

 has the appearance of a frog and is aquatic whereas the second 

 resembles a toad and is fossorial. 



Rana saharica Boulenger, 1913 (Figs. 27-28) 



Rana esculenta : Boulenger, 1891:157. 



Rana esculenta var. saharica Boulenger, 1913. Novit. Zool . , 



20:84. 



Rana esculenta ridibunda: Doumergue, 1901:332. Scortecci, 



1936:131. Pasteur and Bons 1959:188. 



Rana zavattarii Scortecci, 1936. Atti Soc . Ital. Sci . Nat., 



75:135. 



Rana ridibunda riodeoroi Salvador and Peris, 1975. Bol . Est. 



Centr. Ecol . , 8:49. 



Diagnosis 



Frog with dorsolateral glandular folds and strongly webbed 

 hindf eet . Single subarticular tubercles. 



Size 



Snout-vent lengths to 86 mm in males and to 105 mm in 

 females . 



Description 



Head as wide as long, with oval snout. Eyes big and 

 projecting, dorsally placed. Tympanum circular, with diameter 

 0.7-0.9 that of the eye. Adpressed hindlimb to tympanum or 

 snout. Internal metatarsal tubercle on heel, not projecting 

 beyond base of first toe. Sometimes there is a small tarsal 

 tubercle on the prolongation of the fourth toe. Subarticular 

 tubercles small and single. Webbing between toes. Skin shiny; 

 dorsum somewhat warty, venter smooth. Glandular dorsolateral 

 fold well-developed. Coloration variable; dorsum green, brown, 

 or grey; dark spots on dorsum and limbs. Venter whitish with 

 dark spots. Iris yellowish copper or metallic yellowish green. 



