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Show 1895.] BATRACHIANS PROM ADEN. 661 external. O n the mucous membrane inside the internal row of lower teeth there is a horny black area parallel to it, but interrupted in the mesial line. A more or less double papillary fold begins immediately above the angle of the mouth and curves downwards and forwards to near the mesial line of the lower lip, where it becomes interrupted, the folds of the two sides being-separated from one another by a non-papillary interspace. The papillae are arranged on the margins of the fold, and those near the mesial line of the mouth are generally the longest. The muciferous crypts cannot be traced, but the lachrymal gland is well developed. The upper surface of the body is pale yellowish olive and somewhat leaden coloured on the sides aud is finely spotted with black. The sides of the tail are pale greyish yellow, covered with large black spots, sparse proximally, but numerous distally and invading the crests. The upper surface of the limbs is yellowish olive spotted with black. The under surface yellowish white, with obscure small black spots on the sides of the belly and of the throat. Measurements of largest tadpole :-Total length 107; length of body 40; width of body 27?; length of tail 67; depth of tail 24. Length of largest mature female :-Snout to vent 97. These specimens agree exactly with tadpoles of R. cyanophlyctis from Ceylon. In the latter the horny-like line within the mouth is not so markedly developed as in the Aden larvae. In the European species of the genus Rana the upper teeth are never less than in two lines and the lower teeth in three series, so that this Asiatic form differs very materially in possessing only one row above and two below. In the tadpoles of European frogs of the genus Rana the buccal papillary fold is always continuous round the lower lip, whereas, as has been shown, it is interrupted in Rana cyanophlyctis. The beak also is larger, stronger, and more hooked than in the European species. The extent to which the dorsal caudal crest is prolonged on to the body in the Asiatic frog more recalls the tadpole of a Hyla than that of a Rana. Many years ago Dr. Giinther : stated that Rana tigrina " when frightened jumps over the surface of the water, much the same way as it does on land," and Mr. Boulenger 2 also mentions that " it is said " to have this habit. Mr. Blanford,3 however, has pointed out " that the species so well known by this habit in India had never been satisfactorily determined, but thought that it was Rana cyanophlyctis, and that probably Rana hexadactyla had a similar habit." I a m indebted to Sir William Elower for permission to quote the following passage from a letter from his son which seems fully to establish that M r . Blanford was right in his supposition, 1 Rept. of Brit. India, 1864, p. 407. 2 Fauna of Brie. India, Rept. & Batr. 1890, p. 450. 3 Fauna Brit. Ind., Rept, &Batr. 1890. p. 450 footnote. |
