A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus CopeLynch, John D.
Science
A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus Cope
Lynch, John D.
Frogs; Syrrhophus
_Diagnosis._--Medium-sized frogs, males 17.5-26.1 mm. snout-vent,
females 28.0-31.7 mm. snout-vent length; vocal slits in males; digital
tips slightly expanded; first finger shorter than second; skin of dorsum
pustular, that of venter areolate; snout elongate, subacuminate;
diameter of tympanum 56.1-76.7 per cent that of eye in males, 54.3-56.8
in females; in preservative, dorsum reddish brown with numerous small
black or dark brown spots (Fig. 8); venter white to cream; in life
dorsum green with darker green spots, belly white; iris gold above,
bronze below.
_Remarks._--Cope's (1885) original description was not sufficiently
clear to enable subsequent authors to recognize this species. Taylor
(1940e) described it as a _Tomodactylus_, but Dixon (1957) pointed out
that _T. macrotympanum_ differed from the other species of the genus in
having a poorly developed lumbo-inguinal (inguinal) gland, and placed
the species in the genus _Syrrhophus_. Comparison of the holotypes of
_S. verrucipes_ and _T. macrotympanum_ leaves no doubt in my mind that a
single species is involved. This same species was reported by Smith and
Taylor (1948) as _S. verruculatus_.
_Syrrhophus verrucipes_ bears resemblance to members of both the
_leprus_ and _marnockii_ groups. In snout shape it is closer to the
_leprus_ group, whereas in digital pad, the shape of the general body
form, and contiguity of habitat it is most similar to the _marnockii_
group (_S. guttilatus_).
_Etymology._--Latin, meaning warty foot, probably in reference to the
numerous plantar supernumerary tubercles.
_Distribution._--Moderate elevations in southeastern San Luis Potosi,
Queretaro, and northwestern Hidalgo, Mexico (Fig. 7).
_Specimens examined_--(43) MEXICO, _Hidalgo_: Jacala, UMMZ 106434; 9.6
km. NE Jacala, Puerto de la Zorra, 1820 m., KU 60240-41, TCWC 11090,
11147; 8 km. S Jacala, La Placita, 1850 m., FMNH 100049 (holotype of
_Tomodactylus macrotympanum_), 100791-803, 105334-35, 114287, UIMNH
15989-92, 15995-96, UMMZ 117252, USNM 137202; Tianguistengo, FMNH
113705-09, UIMNH 13328-30; near Zacualtipan, ANSP 11325 (holotype of
_Syrrhophus verrucipes_). _Queretaro_: 3.5 km. S San Juan del Rio, EAL
1343. _San Luis Potosi_: 9.6 km. W Ahuacatlan, LSUMZ 4968-70.
=Syrrhophus dennisi= new species
_Syrrhophus latodactylus_: Martin, 1958:49 (in part).
_Holotype._--UMMZ 101121, adult male from a cave near El Pachon, 8 km. N
Antiguo Morelos, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 250 m., collected on March 13,
1949, by Paul S. Martin.
_Paratopotypes._--(26). UMMZ 101122 (10), 101123 (2), 101126, 126993
(12).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account