. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. HYLIDAE 185 Rhinophrynus dorsalis of Mexico is remarkable for its tongue, which is elongated, subtriangular and free in front, so that it can be protruded directly—not by reversion as in other toads —and can be used for licking up the termites which seem to be its principal food. The body of this ugly creature is almost egg- shaped, and the head is merged into this mass, only the narrow truncated snout protruding. The limbs are very short and stout. The toes are more than half webbed, and there is a large oval, shovel-like metatarsal tubercle, covered
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. HYLIDAE 185 Rhinophrynus dorsalis of Mexico is remarkable for its tongue, which is elongated, subtriangular and free in front, so that it can be protruded directly—not by reversion as in other toads —and can be used for licking up the termites which seem to be its principal food. The body of this ugly creature is almost egg- shaped, and the head is merged into this mass, only the narrow truncated snout protruding. The limbs are very short and stout. The toes are more than half webbed, and there is a large oval, shovel-like metatarsal tubercle, covered with horn and used for digging. The general colour is brown, with a yellow stripe along the spine and with irregular spots and patches on the flanks and limbs. Total length 2 to 2^ inches. Fam. 4. Hylidae (Tree-frogs).—The upper jaw—in Am2}hi-. FiG. 36.—Map showing distribution of Hylidae. The vertically shaded countries are inhabited by Ilyla and by other genera of Hylidae; the horizontally shaded countries only by llyla. gnathodon the lower jaw also—and the vomers carry teeth; Triprion and Diaglena alone have teeth on the parasphenoid also, and the latter genus is further distinguished by possessing palatine teeth. The vertebrae are procoelous and have no ribs; the sacral diapophyses are dilated. The omo- and meta-sternum are cartilaginous, the latter forming a plate with scarcely any basal or style-shaped constriction. The terminal phalanges are invariably claw-shaped and swollen at the base, and carry a flattened, roundish, adhesive cushion. The tympanic disc is variable in appearance, being either free, or more or less hidden by the skin. The tongue is also variable in its shape and in the extent to which it can be Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Harmer, S. F. (Si
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