76 AMPHIBIA 



CHAP. 



Absence of Urodela (except AmUystoma persimile*\ of Cystigna- 

 thidae, and practically of the Hylidae, only two of which occur 

 in the Himalayan district. But this great chain of mountains 

 should not be included within the region, while the outlying 

 spurs in Upper Burma (with AmUystoma} are debatable ground. 

 The subdivision of this widely extended region is beset with 

 difficulties, chiefly on account of Madagascar and Papuasia. The 

 fauna of Madagascar is very remarkable. All its Amphibia are 

 Firmisternal, a mixture of African and Indian forms. The island 

 agrees with Africa, in opposition to the Oriental countries, in no 

 special point ; all the Raninae, except Megalixalus, Rappia, and 

 two rather common species of Rana, belong to different genera. 

 Madagascar differs from Africa by the absence of Apoda, of 

 Aglossa, and Buforiidae. On the other hand, it agrees with India 

 or with the Malay islands, in opposition to Africa, by the possession 

 of Dyscophinae, of the Kanine genus Rhacophorus, and the Engy- 

 stomatine genus Calophrynus. 



Africa and India agree with each other, and differ from 

 Madagascar by the possession of Apoda, the genera Bufo and 

 Nectophryne, and by the close resemblance of several genera of 

 Raninae. 



India, the Malay islands, and Papuasia with Melanesia 

 possess Pelobatidae (Z/eptobrachium* Batrachopsis* Asterophrys*\ 

 and thereby differ considerably from Africa and Madagascar. 

 Batrachylodes* of the Solomon Islands has unmistakable affinities 

 with Phrynoderma* of Karen, between Burma and Siam ; Oreo- 

 batrachus* of Borneo much resembles Phrynobatrachus* of West 

 Africa ; and Cormtfer, typical of the Malay and Melanesian 

 islands, occurs also in West Africa. All these Raninae indicate 

 that the Austro-Malayan and Melanesian islands belong to the 

 Palaeotropical region. Ceratobatrachus* type of a sub-family, is 

 peculiar to Melanesia. 



There are consequently several possible modes of subdivision, 

 all with a different result, according to the group of Amphibia, 

 which we may select as of leading importance, e.g. Apoda or 

 Pelobatidae, or Dyscophinae and Rhacophorus. The Engy- 

 stomatinae and Raninae are to be eliminated, since they occur in 

 all the countries in question. We have either to leave the 

 whole region undivided and it is a significant fact that the 



* indicates Amphibia which are peculiar to the respective regions or sub-regions. 



