450 On a Genus of Frogs peculiar to Madagascar. 



LII. — On a Genus of Frogs peculiar to Madagascar. 

 By G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S. 



I HAVE hitherto associated with Rana a number of species 

 previously referred to Limnodytes or Hylorana^ a group of 

 frogs which they closely resemble externally, but from which 

 they differ in a character first pointed out by Peters in other 

 Batrachians of the same family, viz. the presence of an addi- 

 tional ossification between the distal and proximal phalanges — 

 the existence of which 1 was not aware of at the time I published 

 my ' Catalogue ' in 1882. As these frogs cannot be referred to 

 the genus Rhacophorus , on account of their T-shaped distal 

 phalanges, I propose to establish for them a new genus, to be 

 named Mantidactylus. Many of the species possess, at least 

 in the male sex, the curious femoral glands to which I. have 

 previously called attention. 



This genus contains numerous species, of which a list is 

 appended. 



Mantidactylus. 



Pupil horizontal. Tongue free and deeply notched behind. 

 Vomerine teeth. Tympanum distinct or hidden. Fingers 

 free ; toes webbed ; tips of fingers and toes dilated into small 

 disks. Outer metatarsals separated by web. Omosternum 

 and sternum with a bony style. A small ossification between 

 the proximal phalanx and the distal, which is T-shaped. 



Madagascar. 



1. M. guttulatus, Blgr. 1881. 



2. M. ulcerosus, Bttgr. 1880. 



3. M. curtus, Blgr. 1882. 



4. M. betsileanus, Blgr. 1882. 



5. M. hiporus, Blgr. 1889. 



6. M. redimitus, Blgr. 1889. 



7. M.flavicrus, Blgr. 1889. 



8. M. luguhris^ A. Dum. 1853 [femoralis^ Blgr. 1882). 



9. M. albofrenatus, F. Miill. 1892. 



10. M. Cowanii, Blgr. 1882. 



11. M. inaudax, Peracca, 1893. 



12. M. opi'paris, Peracca, 1893. 



13. M. cerumnalis, Peracca, 1893. 



14. M. pliciferus, Blgr. 1882. 



15. M. asjyer, Blgr. 1882. 



The genus Rana is represented in Madagascar by R. labrosa^ 

 Cope, R. mascare?iiensis, D. & B., and R. niadagascariensis, 

 A. Dum. 



