University of Kansas Publications
Museum of Natural History
Volume 17, No. 11, pp. 503-515, 5 figs.
March 20, 1968
BY
JOHN D. LYNCH
University of Kansas
Lawrence
1968
University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History
Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,
Frank B. Cross
Volume 17, No. 11, pp. 503-515, 5 figs.
Published March 20, 1968
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
PRINTED BY
ROBERT R. (BOB) SANDERS, STATE PRINTER
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1968
31-9418
BY JOHN D. LYNCH
According to the most recent review of the Mexican amphibianfauna (Smith and Taylor, 1948), six genera of leptodactylid frogsoccur in México. One other genus, Pleurodema, occurs in LowerCentral America. Smith and Taylor recognized one species of Engystomops,28 of Eleutherodactylus, three of Leptodactylus, eight ofMicrobatrachylus, 12 of Syrrhophus, and five of Tomodactylus. Subsequentto the publication of their checklist of the Mexican amphibia(1948), numerous taxonomic changes have been proposed. Manyspecies of Eleutherodactylus have been added to the fauna, eitherthrough the extension of their recorded ranges into México fromGuatemala or by the recognition of species unknown in 1948,whereas some nominal species have been synonymized. Microbatrachylushas been regarded as synonymous with Eleutherodactylus(Lynch, 1965); four species of Microbatrachylus currently areregarded as valid (Duellman, 1961, Lynch, 1965). Syrrhophus wasrevised in part by Duellman (1958) and Firschein (1954), and aspecies of Tomodactylus transferred to Syrrhophus by Dixon (1957),who redefined Tomodactylus and added more species to the genus.
Since beginning my studies of the Mexican leptodactylids in 1962,I have become acutely aware of difficulties involved in defining thegenera. A revision of Eleutherodactylus and a review of Syrrhophusare nearing completion, but prior to their publication it is desirableto redefine the genera of the Mexican leptodactylids, and in so doingrecognize an heretofore unnamed genus. The definitions of Eleutherodactylusand Leptodactylus may need to be altered in the future,since both are widespread in South America and occur in theWest Indies. Their definitions as given here are as precise aspresent knowledge permits. Syrrhophus and Tomodactylus aresmall assemblages that occur only in southwestern United States,México, and Guatemala.
Taylor (1952) synonymized Engystomops with Eupemphix which,although related, should be regarded as generically distinct (Gallardo,1965). Perhaps the most conservative classification is that ofMyers (1962) who, without published evidence, combined Eleutherodactylus,[Pg 506]Syrrhophus, and the South American Lithodytes in asingle genus.
The major problem for students working with the Mexican leptodactylidshas not been the separation of Engystomops or Leptodactylusfrom other genera but the separation and definition of theeleutherodactyline