OCR Text |
Show 1891.] TADPOLES OF THE EUROPEAN BATRACHIANS. 603 ocular space not more than twice as broad as the distance between the nostrils 13. p. eultripes. b. Tail obtusely pointed, with fine black decussating lines; an inverted fold on each side of the lip, the upper edge of which bears a long series of teeth; beak white, with black edge V. PELODYTES. 14. P. punctatus. II. Spiraculum median; anus median ; tail rounded or obtuse at the end ; a papillose edge all round the lip, sometimes narrowly interrupted above; labial teeth in - series, disposed in two or three rows, at least in the second series. A. Spiraculum equally distant from the anterior and the posterior extremity of the body ; tail at least once and a half the length of the body and three and a half or four times as long as deep ; caudal crests with a polygonal network of fine black lines... VI. DISCOGLOSSUS. 15. D. pictus. B. Spiraculum nearer the posterior than the anterior extremity of the body; tail not more than once aud a half the length of the body, twice to twice and a half as long as deep ; caudal crests with fine black decussating lines VII. BOMBINATOR. Mouth trigonal 16. B. igneus. Mouth elliptical 17. B.pachypus. C. Spiraculum nearer the anterior than the posterior extremity of the body; tail at least once and a half the length of the body, twice and two thirds to thrice and a half as long as deep ; no black network. VIII. ALYTES. 18. A.obstetricans; 19. A.cistemasii. With regard to size, the European tadpoles rank as follows :- Maximum length on record. millim. 1. Pelobates fuscus 175 2. „ eultripes 120 3. Rana esculenta Ill 4. Alytes obstetricans 90 5. „ cisternasii 69 6. Pelodytes punctatus 65 7. Rana agilis , 59 8. Bombinator igneus 50 9. Hyla arborea 49 10. Rana iberica 49 11. „ grceca 48 12. „ temporaria 46 13. Bombinator pachypus 45 14. Bufo viridis 44 15. Rana latastii 44 16. „ arvalis 43 17. Discoglossus pictus 33 18. Bufo vulgaris 32 19. ,, calamita 30 |