The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 08 (of 10)Gadow, Hans
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 08 (of 10)
Gadow, Hans
Animals
II. NEOTROPICAL REGION.–Characterised by Apoda, Aglossa (_Pipa_), abundance
of Cystignathidae (Hemiphractinae,* Cystignathinae, and
Dendrophryniscinae*), Hylidae (Hylinae and Amphignathodontinae*), numerous
Bufonidae and Engystomatinae; Dendrobatinae*; the Raninae are represented
by a few peculiar genera, mostly restricted to the Andesian province; the
genus _Rana_ occurs there in a few species only.
Absence of Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae and Dyscophinae.
Several species of Urodela, of the genus _Spelerpes_, extend from Central
America into the Andesian province, one occurs in Hayti, and _Plethodon
platense_ in Argentina.
This region is by far the richest in the number of families, {75}genera and
species; the total number of the latter being, according to Boulenger,
about four-ninths of the known species. The region comprises South America,
Central America, and the West Indian islands. Central America is naturally
debatable ground; one species of _Hylodes_ and one _Engystoma_, besides
about twenty Hylidae, extend into North America proper, while possibly the
Raninae have entered the Neotropical region from the north. _Bufo_ is too
cosmopolitan to assist our conclusions. The occurrence of four species of
_Hylella_ in South America, one in Australia, and one in New Guinea
indicate that this is not a natural genus.
From the point of the Amphibia the whole region can be divided into two
sub-regions only: (1) The West Indian islands with Central America and the
north-western Andesian province; (2) the rest of South America.
ARCTOGAEA.–NORTH WORLD.
Characterised by the absence of Cystignathidae.
I. PERIARCTIC REGION.–Characterised by the Urodela, these being almost
peculiar to the region (cf. p. 96). Absence of Apoda. Presence of
Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae, Bufonidae, Raninae. Few Hylinae occur.
The whole region can be subdivided into three sub-regions.
1. Western Palaearctic.–Prevalence of Salamandrinae (_Salamandra_,*
_Chioglossa_,* _Salamandrina_,* _Triton_); Proteidae (_Proteus anguinus_*);
_Spelerpes fuscus_.*–_Discoglossus_, _Bombinator_, _Alytes_,* _Bufo_, _Hyla
arborea_, _Pelobates_,* _Pelodytes_,* _Rana_.
2. Eastern Palaearctic.–Amphiumidae (_Cryptobranchus_); Salamandrinae
(_Triton_, _Pachytriton_,* _Tylototriton_*); Amblystomatinae.–_Bombinator_,
_Bufo_, _Hyla arborea_, _Rana_, _Rhacophorus_.
3. Nearctic.–Amphiumidae (_Cryptobranchus_, _Amphiuma_*); Proteidae
(_Typhlomolge_,* _Necturus_*); Sirenidae*; Amblystomatinae; most
Plethodontinae; Desmognathinae.*–Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae
(_Scaphiopus_*); _Bufo_; Hylidae (_Hyla_, _Acris_, _Chorophilus_); _Rana_.
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