﻿PELODYTES. 
  179 
  

  

  FamUy 
  2.— 
  PELOBATID^. 
  

  

  Vertebrae 
  procoelous 
  (in 
  tlie 
  European 
  genera), 
  with- 
  

   out 
  autogenous 
  ribs 
  ; 
  cliapophyses 
  of 
  sacral 
  vertebra 
  

   very 
  strongly 
  dilated. 
  Upper 
  jaw 
  toothed. 
  

  

  The 
  Pelohatidse 
  occupy 
  an 
  intermediate 
  position 
  

   between 
  the 
  Discoglossiclds 
  and 
  the 
  Bufonidde. 
  Seven 
  

   genera 
  are 
  known, 
  inhabiting 
  Europe 
  and 
  South- 
  

   western 
  Asia, 
  South-eastern 
  Asia 
  and 
  New 
  Guinea, 
  and 
  

   North 
  America 
  and 
  Mexico.* 
  

  

  The 
  two 
  European 
  genera 
  are 
  easily 
  distinguished 
  : 
  — 
  

   Pelodijtes, 
  slender 
  and 
  frog-like, 
  with 
  deeply 
  cleft 
  toes, 
  

   and 
  a 
  more 
  or 
  less 
  distinct 
  tympanum 
  ; 
  Felohates, 
  stout 
  

   and 
  toad-like, 
  with 
  broadly 
  webbed 
  toes, 
  no 
  tympanum, 
  

   the 
  skin 
  of 
  the 
  head 
  adherent 
  to 
  the 
  skull, 
  and 
  a 
  large, 
  

   sharp-edged, 
  shovel-shaped 
  tarsal 
  tubercle. 
  

  

  Both 
  genera 
  must 
  be 
  looked 
  upon 
  as 
  highly 
  special- 
  

   ised 
  forms 
  of 
  a 
  group 
  which 
  has, 
  in 
  all 
  probability, 
  

   sprung 
  up 
  from 
  the 
  Discoglossidde, 
  with 
  which 
  some 
  

   of 
  the 
  exotic 
  genera 
  are 
  nearer 
  connected 
  through 
  

   a 
  character 
  to 
  which 
  great 
  importance 
  has 
  been 
  

   attached, 
  viz. 
  the 
  opisthocoelous 
  vertebrae. 
  

  

  A 
  map 
  is 
  here 
  given 
  showing 
  the 
  range 
  of 
  the 
  three 
  

   European 
  species 
  of 
  this 
  family. 
  

  

  4. 
  Peludytes. 
  

  

  Fitzinger, 
  in 
  Bonaparte, 
  Icon. 
  Faun. 
  ItaL, 
  Rett. 
  Anf. 
  (1838). 
  

  

  Pupil 
  vertical. 
  Vomerine 
  teeth 
  in 
  two 
  small 
  groups 
  

   between 
  the 
  choanaa. 
  Tongue 
  subcircular, 
  entire 
  or 
  

   slightly 
  nicked, 
  and 
  free 
  behind. 
  Tympanum 
  present, 
  

  

  * 
  Exotic 
  genera 
  : 
  

  

  Scaphiopus, 
  Holhr. 
  E. 
  and 
  S. 
  United 
  States, 
  Mexico. 
  

  

  Batrachopsis, 
  Blgr. 
  New 
  Guinea. 
  

  

  Leptobrachium, 
  Tscli. 
  S. 
  China, 
  Further 
  India 
  and 
  Malay 
  

  

  Archipelago. 
  

   Megalophrys, 
  Kuhl. 
  Malay 
  Peninsula 
  and 
  Archipelago. 
  

   Aster 
  ophys, 
  Tsch. 
  New 
  Guinea. 
  

   The 
  last 
  two 
  have 
  opisthocoelous 
  vertebrae. 
  

  

  