Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 2. (Budapest 1904)

Méhely, L.: Investigations on Paraguayan Batrachians

L. Y. MÉH ELY horny tiped.* The coloration is in both species the same, but Paludicola albifrons shows on the upper surface of the snout a triangular bright field, minutely and rather indistinctly marbled, further on the middle of the back in the anterior ring of the 8-form a distinct greyish-white round spot. Paludicola albifroas has not externally visible lumbar glands, but a section through the skin shows like glands, although not so well developed as in Paludicola fuscomaculata STDR. Above this glandulous area of the skin runs the undulated dark-brown band to thighs, without to form a black eye-shaped spot. In this respect stands Paludicola albifroas on a lower degree as Paludicola fuscomaculata and must be regarded as the phylogenetic precursor of the latter. 7. Eupemphix Nattereri STDR. (Pl. XIH, tig. 8, 0.) Eupemphi.r Nattereri STEINDACHNER, Sitzungsber. Acad. "Wien, XLVIII. 1863, p. 189, tab. I, tig. 6—9 : Verli. zool.-bot. Ges., Wien, XIV. 1864. p. 271 ; BOULENGER, Cat. Batr. Sal., 1882, p. 233 and Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) I, 1888, p. 188. Paludicola edentula BOETTGER, Zeitschr. f. Naturw., LVIII, 1885. p. 243. A young specimen (length 24 mm.i from Villa Sana, collected in April 1903, which agrees in every respect with Dr. STEINDACHNER'S description. Figure 8 (pl. XIII), based in its outlines on Dr. STEINDACHNER'S figure, because my specimen is unlit for a drawing, shows its natural colour and markings. From the great interest are the two black, white edged lumbar spots, supported with a flat oval gland. This spots certainly belong into the group of defence-markings, because the posterior end of the coccyx makes the impression of a snout, the two lumbar spots of two black eyes and the hind limbs of a moustache or the fore limbs of a much greater animal, to keep off the attacks of the enemies, if the frog sits in that way that its anterior half is conceiled among the plants. 1 am convinced that these glandulous spots, present as well in Paludicola fuscomaculata STDR. as in Pleurodema Bibroni TSCHUDI and Eupemphix Xattereri STDR. .which have no physiological sense * This second tarsal tubercle (not mentioned in literature) on SPIX'S both specimens sharply pronounced, but quite absent on my Paraguayan specimens of Paludicola fuscomaculata STDR. and also on Dr. STEINDACHNER'S type, which I had opportunity to compare from the Museum of Vienna.