OCR Text |
Show 1887.] BATRACHIANS F R O M W E S T AFRICA. 565 is a little more than half that of the tympanum ; first finger shorter than second ; toes with a slight rudiment of web ; subarticular tubercles rather feeble, oval; a single, oval, flat, inner metatarsal tubercle. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the tip of the snout. Skin granulate above and on the sides, smooth inferiorly ; scattered larger warts on the body. Grey-brown above, with dark brown spots on the head and body and cross bands on the limbs ; a broad, dark cross band between the eyes; a dark brown streak from the nostril to the eye ; lower surfaces flesh-coloured. From snout to vent 31 millim. A single female specimen. The discovery of a species of Cornufer in Africa is particularly interesting. Peters has, it is true, previously referred a West-African frog to this genus (Petropedetes cameronensis, Reich.) ; but on examination of the type specimens in the Berlin Museum I find that that species may best be referred to Rana, so far as I can judge without examining the pectoral arch. The toes are half-webbed and the web widely separates the outer metatarsals. 5. BUFO TUBEROSUS, Gthr. 6. BUFO SUPERCILIARIS, sp. n. Crown without bony ridges ; sides of head nearly vertical; snout very short; upper eyelid with projecting angular edge, with a tendency towards developing a horn as in B. ceratophrys, Blgr.; interorbital space flat, a little narrower than the upper eyelid ; tympanum small and very indistinct. First finger longer than second; toes short, with a very short basal web ; subarticular tubercles simple ; two moderate metatarsal tubercles ; a tarsal fold. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the angle of the mouth. Upper parts smooth or with very small warts; parotoids narrow and prominent, about as long as their distance from the nostril, tapering posteriorly to a point continuous with a dorso-lateral glandular ridge which is lost halfway down the side. Back and upper surface of head pale brownish, yellowish, or pink ; a dark, usually deep black, chevron-shaped marking between the eyes, pointing backwards ; sometimes one or two pairs of black spots on the back; sometimes a very fine lighter vertebral line; sides of head and body dark, grey or brown, forming a sharp contrast with the light colour of the upper parts ; the boundary between the two colours runs along the canthus rostralis, the edge of the upper eyelid, the parotoid, and the lateral fold ; limbs above grey or brown, with well-defined darker cross bands, which, on the foot, tarsus, inner side of tibia aud front side of thigh, alternate with a whitish ground-colour * hinder side of thighs, and sometimes also the flanks, bright crimson. Lower parts greyish, speckled with whitish ; lower jaw white-edged. Many young specimens ; the largest measures 39 millim. from snout to vent. |