Part 5

The natives' name for this species and the following one is sapo.

=Bufo valliceps valliceps= Wiegmann

Chinaja, 52; Rio San Roman, 8; Sayaxche, 2; Toocog, 1.

This is one of the most abundant, or at least conspicuous, amphibians inhabiting the forest. Breeding congregations were found on February 24, March 2, March 11, and June 27. At these times the toads were congregated at temporary ponds in the forest or along small sluggish streams. Throughout the duration of both visits to Chinaja individual males called almost nightly at the permanent pond at the camp.

The variation in snout-vent length of 20 males selected at random is 56.7 to 72.5 mm. (average, 64.8 mm.). Two adult females have snout-vent lengths of 80.4 and 87.6 mm. In all specimens the parotid glands are somewhat elongated and not rounded as in Bufo valliceps wilsoni (see Baylor and Stuart, 1961:199). My observations on the condition of the cranial crests of the toads in El Peten agree with the findings of Baylor and Stuart (op. cit.:198) in that hypertrophied crests are usual in large females. In the shape of the parotids and nature of the cranial crests the specimens from El Peten are like those from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico. As I pointed out (1960:53), the validity of the subspecies Bufo valliceps macrocristatus, described from northern Chiapas by Firschein and Smith (1957:219) and supposedly characterized by hypertrophied cranial crests, is highly doubtful.

In the toads from El Peten the greatest variation is in coloration. The dorsal ground-color varies from orange and rusty tan to brown, yellowish tan, and pale gray. In some individuals the flanks and dorsum are one continuous color, whereas in others a distinct dorsolateral pale colored band separates the dorsal color from dark brown flanks. In some individuals the venter is uniform cream color, in others it bears a few scattered black spots, and in still others there are many spots, some of which are fused to form a black blotch on the chest. In breeding males the vocal sac is orange tan. All specimens have a coppery red iris.

Aside from the breeding congregations, active toads were found on the forest floor at night; a few were there by day. Some individuals were beneath logs during the day.

=Eleutherodactylus rostralis= (Werner)

Chinaja, 10.

Because of the multiplicity of names and the variation in coloration, the small terrestrial Eleutherodactylus in southern Mexico and northern Central America are in a state of taxonomic confusion. Stuart (1934:7, 1935:37, and 1958:17) referred specimens from El Peten to Eleutherodactylus rhodopis (Cope). Stuart (1941b:197) described Eleutherodactylus anzuetoi from Alta Verapaz and El Quiche, 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 Mexico, 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 Chinaja clearly show that they are related to E. gollmeri to the south and not to E. rhodopis to the north in Mexico.

At Chinaja, 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)

Chinaja, 2; 15 km. NW of Chinaja, 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 Chinaja 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.

One juvenile having a snout-vent length of 16.4 mm. was found at night beside a pond in the forest. The scarcity of the species of Leptodactylus in the southern part of El Peten probably is due to the lack of permanent marshy ponds.

=Leptodactylus melanonotus= (Hallowell)

Sayaxche, 1.

One individual was found beneath a rock beside a stream in the forest. The local name is ranita, meaning little frog.

=Syrrhophus leprus= Cope

Chinaja, 2; 15 km NW of Chinaja, 1.

An adult female having a snout-vent length of 27.5 mm. was found on the forest floor by day. Two juveniles having snout-vent lengths of 15.5 and 19.0 mm. were beneath rocks on the forest floor. The specimens are typical of the species as defined by Duellman (1958:8).