Because of the multiplicity of names and the variation in coloration,
the small terrestrial _Eleutherodactylus_ in southern México and
northern Central America are in a state of taxonomic confusion. Stuart
(1934:7, 1935:37, and 1958:17) referred specimens from El Petén to
_Eleutherodactylus rhodopis_ (Cope). Stuart (1941b:197) described
_Eleutherodactylus anzuetoi_ from Alta Verapaz and El Quiché, Guatemala,
suggested that the new species was an upland relative of
_Eleutherodactylus rostralis_ (Werner), and used that name for the frogs
that he earlier had referred to _Eleutherodactylus rhodopis_. Dunn and
Emlen (1932:24) placed _E. rostralis_ in the synonymy of _E. gollmeri_
(Peters). Examination of series of these frogs from southern México,
Guatemala, and Costa Rica causes me to think that there are four
species; these can be distinguished as follows:
_E. rhodopis._--No web between toes; one tarsal tubercle;
tibiotarsal articulation reaches to nostril; iris bronze in
life.
_E. anzuetoi._--No web between toes; a row of tarsal
tubercles; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to tip of snout;
color of iris unknown.
_E. rostralis._--A vestige of web between toes; no tarsal
tubercles; tibiotarsal articulation reaches snout or slightly
beyond; iris coppery red in life.
_E. gollmeri._--A vestige of web between toes; no tarsal
tubercles; tibiotarsal articulation reaches well beyond snout;
iris coppery red in life.
The presence of webbing between the toes, the absence of tarsal
tubercles, and the coppery red iris distinguish _E. rostralis_ and _E.
gollmeri_ from the other species. Probably _E. rostralis_ and _E.
gollmeri_ are conspecific, but additional specimens are needed from
Nicaragua and Honduras to prove conspecificity. On the other hand, the
characters of the frogs from Chinajá clearly show that they are related
to _E. gollmeri_ to the south and not to _E. rhodopis_ to the north in
México.
At Chinajá, _Eleutherodactylus rostralis_ was more abundant than the
few specimens indicate, for upon being approached the frogs moved
quickly and erratically, soon disappearing in the leaf litter on the
forest floor. Most of the specimens were seen actively moving on the
forest floor in the daytime; one was found beneath a rock, and one was
on the forest floor at night.
=Eleutherodactylus rugulosus rugulosus= (Cope)
Chinajá, 2; 15 km. NW of Chinajá, 4.
These frogs were found on the forest floor by day. With the exception of
one female having a snout-vent length of 69.5 mm., all are juveniles.
The apparent rarity of this species at Chinajá may be due to the absence
of rocky streams, a favorite habitat of this frog. The local name for
this frog is _sapito_, meaning little toad.
=Leptodactylus labialis= (Cope)
Toocog, 1.
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