ZOOLOGICAL 



4i 



CLASS AMPHIBIA (Amphibians). 



OEDER ANURA (Frogs and Toads ; 

 1503 Species). 



DENDROBATID-E (Solid-chested Tree-Frogs; 26 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map i. 



Were it not for important differences in their internal structure, these 

 little arboreal frogs might very well be taken as Tree-Frogs of the family 

 Hylidce, which they much resemble in external appearance as well as in 

 habits. Some four genera have been described, whose distribution is some- 

 what remarkable. The typical genus Dendrobates contains 14 species 

 •confined to tropical America, one occurring in the island of San Domingo. 

 Mantella, with eight species, and Stump ffia with two, are confined to Mada- 

 gascar ; while Cardioglossa, recently described, has two species found in the 

 Cameroons and the Gaboon. 



RANID.S (Typical Frogs; 440 Species). Plate 21, Map i. 



This vast assemblage of Frogs has a world-wide distribution, being 

 absent only from Australia, New Zealand, and the greater part of South 

 America. Over 40 genera have been differentiated, while the species are 

 most numerous in the Oriental and Ethiopian regions. The typical genus 

 Rana contains no fewer than 131 species, and eight of these occur in 

 Europe. The Common Frog {Rana temporaria) is a familiar and abundant 

 member of the British fauna, while the Edible Frog (R. esculenta) is still 

 found in a few places in the eastern counties of England, where it was 

 evidently introduced many years ago. The genus Rhacophorus, containing 

 about 50 species, is interesting, containing as it does the so-called "Flyin^ 

 Frogs " of the Malay Archipelago. The feats performed by these frogs as 

 they leap from the trees into the water have been much exaggerated; 

 nevertheless the large webbed feet are undoubtedly used as parachutes, and 

 are remarkable enough on this account alone. 



CERATOBATRACHID.ZE (Oeratobatrachus ; 1 Species). Plate 21, 



Map i. 



This family has been formed for the reception of a single species 

 {Oeratobatrachus guentheri) recently described from the Solomon Islands. 

 It differs from typical Ranidse in having teeth in the lower jaws. 



GENYOPHRYNID^E (Genyophryne ; 1 Species). Plate 21, Map i. 



The only member of this family is a frog known as Genyophryne thomsoni, 

 recently found in Sudest Island, between New Guinea and the Louisiade 

 Archipelago. It is distinguished from its closest allies, the Dyscophidse. and 

 Engystomatidse by having very small teeth on the front portion of the lower 

 jaw. 



DYSCOPHID.E (Dyscophus, &c. ; 22 Species). Plate 21, Map ii. 



This small family, whose members are distinguished from the 

 Engystomatidse by the presence of teeth in the upper jaw, has a curious 

 distribution. About a dozen genera have been differentiated, eight of which 

 are confined to the island of Madagascar, one to Pegu and Burma, and one 

 to Sarawak in Borneo. Red or pink is characteristic in the coloration of 

 these frogs. 



ENGYSTOMATID.^ (Narrow-mouthed Toads; 141 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map ii. 



This is a large group of Frogs or Toads, containing no fewer than 43 genera, 

 and distributed over the tropical regions of both Old and New Worlds. 

 They are usually stout-bodied, those of the genus Breviceps (confined to 

 Africa) excelling in this respect and assuming an almost globular shape. 



DENDROPHRYNISCID^E (Dendrophryniscus and Batrachophrynus ; 

 4 Species). Plate 21, Map ii. 



This small group is entirely Neotropical. Dendrophryniscus contains a 

 single species found in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, while the other 

 genus, Batrachophrynus, has three species confined to the Andes of Peru. 

 These frogs are entirely without teeth. 



CYSTIGNATHID,E (Leptodactylus and Allies; 342 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map ii. 



Next to the Ranidse this is the largest family of Frogs, although its 

 distribution is somewhat restricted. It is practically confined to the Neo- 

 tropical region and to Australia and Tasmania. Some 36 genera have been 

 differentiated, 10 of which are Australian with about 30 species. Ceratophrys 

 is probably the best-known genus, containing 16 species known as Horned 

 Frogs or Toads. They have enormous mouths, and their habits are some- 

 what fierce. Important genera also are Leptodactylus, with 36 species called 

 Piping Frogs, and Hylodes, with 107 species. 



HEMIPHRACTID^ (Hemiphractus, &c; 8 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map iii. 



This is a purely Neotropical family, with three genera. Hemiphractus 

 ■contains two species which range from Colombia to Para; Ceratohyla has 

 five, which live only in Ecuador ; while Amphodus is represented by a sino-le 

 species which is found in the neighbourhood of Bahia. In these creatures 

 both jaws are toothed. 



HYLID.E (Typical Tree Frogs; 291 Species). Plate 21, Map iii, 



The distribution of this large and important family is remarkable, and 

 the mere colouring of a map might be very misleading. Although found in 

 all the zoogeographical regions except the Ethiopian, the great majority of the 

 species are Neotropical. Only two occur in the Palaaarctic region, one of 

 which is confined to Corea while the other is found throughout the warmer 

 parts of the region, and has a wider range than any other species. One 

 species occurs in the extreme north-east of India, and one in Southern China 

 and Formosa. About 60 are found in the Australian region and about 25 

 in North America. This leaves a balance of about 100 species for Central 

 and South America (including half a dozen in the West Indies), where it is 

 evident that the metropolis of the family lies. The Tree-Frogs, with their 

 peculiar finger-discs, vivid and often protective coloration, and remarkable 

 nursing habits, form altogether an unusually interesting family of Tailless 

 Amphibians. Fourteen genera are recognised, but 221 species fall into the 

 typical one, Hyla. 



AMPHIGNATHODONTID,E (Amphignathodon and Grypiscus; 

 2 Species). Plate 21, Map iii. 



The two species, one of each genus, which together constitute this family, 

 are found in Ecuador and near Rio de Janeiro respectively. Both upper 

 and lower jaws are toothed. 



BUFONDXE (Toads; 174 Species). Plate 21, Map iii. 



This, though not the most numerous in species, is by far the most widely 

 distributed family among the Amphibians, having representatives in all 

 parts of the world save Madagascar, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the 

 greater part of Polynesia. Thirteen genera have been described, but 140 

 species belong to the typical one, Bufo. This genus is cosmopolitan, except 

 that it is not represented in Australia, its place being apparently taken by 

 Pseudophryne, with seven species, and two other peculiar genera. Three 

 species of Bufo are found in Europe, namely B. vulgaris (the Common 

 Toad), B. viridis and B. calamita (the Natterjack Toad). The first and last 

 are found in Britain, the Common Toad throughout England and Scotland 

 (but not in Ireland), and the Natterjack in many English counties, on the 

 Moray Firth in Scotland, and in Ireland. 



PELOBATID.E (Spade-footed Toad and Allies; 33 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map iv. 



The Pelobatidse have an interesting distribution, occurring in three de- 

 tached areas, viz., North America and Mexico; Europe, Asia Minor and 

 Palestine ; and the East Indies from Ceylon and the Eastern Himalayas to 

 New Guinea. Nine genera have been described, the largest being Lepto- 

 brachium, with nine species occurring in the East Indies, the next Scaphiopus 

 containing all the New World species, 10 in number. Three genera, each 

 with a single species, are confined to New Guinea, while four species (two 

 Pelobates and two Pelodytes) occur in Europe. The best-known species is the 

 " Spade-footed Toad " {Pelobates fuscus) which occurs throughout the whole 

 of Central Europe. 



DISCOGLOSSID.E (Disc-tongued Frogs; 10 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map iv. 



This again is a family with a curious distribution. Five genera are 

 described, three of which are Palaaarctic, while the other two contain a single 

 species each, confined to New Zealand {Liopelma hochstetteri) and Washington 

 Territory, North America {Ascaphus truei) respectively. Five species occur 

 in Europe. These are (1) Discoglossus pictus, found only in the South ; (2) 

 the Fire-bellied Toad {Bombinator igneus) occurring in Eastern Europe ; (3) 

 the Yellow-bellied Toad {Bombinator pachypus) of Southern and Western 

 Europe; and (4 and 5) two species of "Midwife " Toad {Alytes obstetricans 

 and A. cisternasii) found in the west. 



PIPID.E (Surinam Toad, &c. ; 2 Species). Plate 21, Map iv. 



This family includes only two genera, each with a single species. The 

 better known of these is the famous Surinam Toad {Pipa americana), which 

 is a native of Northern Brazil and the Guianas. The chief peculiarities in 

 structure, both in this and the second genus, are the total absence of both 

 tongue and teeth. The Surinam Toad is a large and clumsy creature, chiefly 

 remarkable for the singular way in which the eggs are taken care of during 

 development. These are laid in the usual manner in the water and after- 

 wards transferred by the male to the back of the female. Each egg then 

 sinks into the skin and becomes afterwards covered by a flap or lid. Thus 

 the mother toad carries her whole progeny on her back, each in a separate 

 little compartment, until the time of hatching. 



Hymenochirus, the other genus, contains a single species {H. bcettgeri) 

 which has hitherto only been found in German East Africa and the French 

 Congo. 



DACTYLETHRIDuE (Clawed Toads; 6 Species). 

 Plate 21, Map iv. 



The Clawed Toads, all belonging to a single genus {Xenopus or Dacty- 

 lethra), are confined to tropical and South Africa. They are distinguished 

 from their allies, the Pipidse, by the possession of teeth in the upper jaw. 

 Xenopus Isevis is the best-known species, and ranges from the Cape to 

 Abyssinia. All these Toads are entirely aquatic in habit, even feeding 

 beneath the surface of the water. 



