STUDIES ON THE FAUNA OF CURAÇAO, ARUBA, BONAIRE AND THE VENEZUELAN ISLANDS: No. 16

Frogs from the Leeward group,

Venezuela and eastern

by

Dr. L.D. Brongersma

(Rijksmuseum van NatuurlijkeHistorie, Leiden)

The deal with small collection of present notes a frogs that was made by Dr. P. WAGENAAR HUMMELINCK during his visits to the islands of the Leeward Group, and Eastern Colombia. I have included in this study the specimens of Pleurodema brachyops

(Cope) already present in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie,

Leiden, and in the Zoologisch Museum, Amsterdam.

The fauna of the Dutch Leeward Islands is amphibian very poor

It indeed. consists of a single species Pleurodema brachyops (Cope)) that in Bonaire and Klein occurs Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire. Bufo marinus (L.) has apparently been introduced into Aruba within the last few H. R. NEERVOORT DE years (cf. p. 91). J. VAN POLL, who visited Aruba in took of 1885, a specimen a Leptodactylus species. This has been mentioned by VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE (1887,

of G. p. 134) as ? Rana copii Blgr.” On the authority Dr. A.

the identification albi- BOULENGERLeptodactyluswas changed into labris and such it has been mentioned (Gthr.), as recently by

BOSCHMA (1947, p. 42).

From , off the Venezuelan coast, MEEK (1910, p. 415) recorded Pleurodema brachyops (Cope). To this now may be added Bufo granulosus Spix and Hyla rubra Daud.

On Coche Island, and on the South American mainland Dr. HUM-

of MELINCK collected a number of tadpoles. As descriptions larvae from these in literature, I have not been regions are very scarce able to identify these specimens.

of the localities in which collected The majority frogs were are 90

mentioned in the lists of collecting stations given by HUMMELINCK

and indicated the (1940a, pp. 29-37; 1940b, pp. 22-42), they are on

maps published by that author (HUMMELINCK, 1933, 1940a). For

of the localities where larvae HUMMELINCK many were collected,

has the the (1940a, p. 28) given water analyses, recording content

hardness of CI' and HCCV in mg per litre, as well as the of the water.

Unless otherwise stated the specimens have been collected by Dr. P. WAGENAAR

HUMMELINCK. The majority of the specimens collected by him are in the collections

in the of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie; duplicates are museum of

the Zoological Institute of Utrecht University and in the Museum in Curafao.

The text-figures have been drawn by Mr. G. W. M. KBRPERSHOEK.

Bufo granulosus Spix

[Fig. 30]

NIEDEN, Anura I, 46, Mem Bufo granulosus, Tierreich, pt. 1923, p. 145; LUTZ,

Inst. Osw. Cruz, vol. 20, 1927, pp. 38, 42, 54, 57, pi. 8 figs. 5, 6; PARKER, Bull

Mus. Hist. Nat. vol. 1. Roy. Belg., 12, p.

Inst. Osw. vol. Bufo globulosus, LUTZ, Mem. Cruz, 28, 1934, p. 149, pi. 25, pi. 27

fig. 6.

MARGARITA: Guatamare, 24.V. 1936, 16 specimens; Porlamar, 25. V.1936, 10

28,V. 28 4 specimens; Porlamar, 1936, specimens; Porlamar, 29.V.1936, spec-

imens; Porlamar, 30.V.1936, 2 specimens; Laguna Honda (Stat. 18), 16.V.

1936, 1 juvenile.

The series of 60 adult and halfgrown specimens agrees well with the description of this NIEDEN that the toads species as given by (1923, p. 145), except Margarita reach a size larger than that indicated by NIEDEN. This author gives the length of head and 41 while LUTZ states that the attains body as mm, (1934, p. 149) species a length of 5-5.5 cm. Of the sixty adult and halfgrownspecimens examined by me only five specimens remain below the length mentioned by NIEDEN, while eighteen specimens even exceed the length given by LUTZ. The largest male has a head and

the body length of 59 mm, largest female measures 71 mm.

number Instead of a distinct single parietal ridge, these specimens show a of very

the at the where the narrow bony ridges radiating from supraorbital ridge, point latter curves outwards towards the tympanum. These narrow ridges are covered with elongate warts of the skin, and thereby the ridges themselves become more

less In few of or obscured. a specimens one these radiating ridges has developed somewhat better than the others, and in these specimens it may be said that a weak

is In of the is parietal ridge present. 3 out 60 specimens first finger very slightly

than the in all other the first and second of longer second; fpecimens finger are

In the first bears equal length. fully adult males the finger a weakly developed nuptial callosity.

Coloration (in alcohol). The general colour is greyish brown, with markings of 91

blackish brown. The latter consist of blackish brown longitudinal bands and of spots. In fig. 30 a schematic drawing is given of these bands and spots. The region

the of the the between cranial ridges and that on the anterior part back between inner pair of dark bands is pale greyish and somewhat lighter than the rest of the

Fig. 30. Bufo granulosus Spix. Schematic drawing to show the

position of the dark bands and spots (natural size).

of back; thus a more or less panduriform pale marking is formed. The inner pair

bands with dark may be discontinuous, and in some specimens they are connected

other to each across the back, so as form a lyriform dark border to the pale panduri-

the reaches from the to the form patch. Along sides a dark band tympanum groin;

it is interrupted in many specimens.

the In males the throat region close to the chest is somewhat more brownish

than in the females.

Bufo marinus (L.)

ARUBA: 1945, 1 specimen, leg. Brother Antoon

The species has not been recorded previously from the island and it probably has been introduced recently.

Hyla rubra Daud

Hyla rubra, BOETTGER, Katalog Batr. Samml. Mus. Senckenb. Natf. Ges., 1892,

Anura p. 45; NIEDEN, I, Tierreich, pt. 46, 1923, p. 311; LUTZ, Mem. Inst.

vol. Osw. Cruz, 20, 1927, pp. 39, 43, 54, 59.

MARGARITA: Guatamare, 24.V. 1936, 1 specimen. 92

Hyla rubra Daud. has been recorded from Venezuela (Caracas) by BOETTGER

but LUTZ doubts this identification. As far I (1892, p. 45), (1927, pp. 39, 54) as

conclusions from this I believe it with can draw single specimen, that agrees better

Hyla rubra Daud. than with H. acuminata Cope. To enable other authors to make

further of comparisons I give a description this specimen.

notch Tongue about circular, with a small behind, free posteriorly. Vomerine

teeth in small between the close the level of two straight groups choanae, to the

anterior borders of the choanae. Head the snout times as long as broad; nearly 11/2

the the orbit. as long as diameter of Canthus rostralis indistinct, rounded. Interor-

bital broader than the its space slightly upper eyelid. Tympanum very distinct, about that of the orbit. much the of greatest diameter J/ 4 Nostrils very nearer tip

the snout than to the orbit.

with trace of web at their base. First than Fingers a mere a finger shorter second,

which is shorter than fourth. Toes not about of the slightly quite J/ 4 webbed; half

first toe free of web; the web reaches the disc of the 2nd toe, and almost that of the

5th toe; of the 3rd toe only one phalanx and of the 4th toe 2 phalanges are free.

No pollex rudiment. Discs of fingers smaller than tympanum, those of toes smaller

than those of fingers. Subarticular tubercles well developed. The tibio-tarsal articu-

of tibia of lation reaches the eye. Length i/ 2 that head and body; breadth of tibia

its Heel with dermal !/4 length. a transverse fold, not with a triangular appendage.

with Head smooth, back faintly granulate. Lower surface a strong fold across

the breast. Belly and lower surface of thighs granulate.

Colour Brownish with a dark bar between the that is (in alcohol). above, eyes,

continued backwards in dark median band. A dark band from the a upper eyelid

to the but the on the back; these bands diverge posteriorly (behind shoulders), on

other hand they tend to anastomose with each other and with the median band.

Two short bands the the back. irregular longitudinal on posterior half of A small

white in front of the with dark border in the spot groin, and a larger whitish spot a

groin. Posterior surface of thigh whitish with a brownish marmoration.

Colour in life, from the collector's field notes. Above greyish with a somewhat

network of this network is The irregular brownish; not very distinct. greyish ground

colour with a greenishtinge. Eye goldenbrown with venation. Lower surface yellow,

especially the chest and throat (creamish yellow). Discs of fingers pink. Groins and

surface of with Inner posterior thighs orange yellow a brownish network. surface

of tibia yellow. Axilla yellow.

Pleurodema brachyops (Cope)

[Fig. 31]

Paludicola COPE, Proc. Am. Phil. vol. 22, 1884, 180; HARTERT, brachyops Soc., p.

Novit. Publ. Field Mus. Zool. Zool., vol. 9, 1902, p. 288; MEEK, (no. 148),

vol. 415; DE Ser., 7, no. 12, p. ROOIJ, Bijdr. Dierk., pt. 22, 1922, pp.248,

253; VAN DER HORST, Bijdr. Dierk., pt. 23, 1924, p. 3; WERNER, Zeitschr.

wiss. Zool., vol. HUMMELINCK, Zool. Jahrb., vol. 125, 1925, p. 544; Syst., 64,

321. 1933, p.

Anura Pleurodema brachyops, NIEDEN, I, Tierreich, pt. 46, 1923, p. 499; PARKER,

Fauna Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9, vol. 20, 1927, p. 473; HUMMELINCK, Studies

etc., BOSCHMA, in: Ons in Ame- Curafao, no. 3, 1940, pp. 114, 115; Koninkrijk

West rika, Indie, 1947, p. 42 (reprint, p. 5). 93

? Rana VAN LIDTH Notes vol. 134 copii, DE JEUDE, Leyden Museum, 9, 1887, p.

HARTERT, Novit. vol. 1902, 288 (part.: larvae); Zool., 9, p. (part.).

ARUBA: Hofje Westpunt (Stat. 274), 9.XII. 1936, 8 juvs.; Tanki Leendert,

(Stat. 100), 16.XII.1936, 13 larvae + 1 juv.; Fontein, 31.1.1885, 7 larvae,

R. leg. J. H. NEERVOORT VAN DE POLL, Mus. Leiden, reg. no. 8812; Aruba,

1 from W. F. H. ROSENBERG, Mus. specimen, purchased Leiden, reg. no.

4520; Aruba, 3 specimens, don. J. TH. TER HORST, MUS. Leiden, reg. no. 8618;

4 Dr. G. Aruba, 1933, specimens, leg. W. N. VAN DER SLEEN, MUS. Amst.

Fig. 31. Pleurodema brachyops (Cope). Larvae from Tanki Leendert,

Aruba, Mouth (x 28).

CURA9A0: Willemstad about III. 1934, 1 specimen; near Willemstad?, 14.

5 don. Thomas VIII.1930, specimens, St. College; near Willemstad, 1936, 13

don. 1.IX. specimens, St. Thomas College; Piscadera, 1936, 1 specimen; Hato,

1 28.IV.1920, specimen, leg. Dr. C. J. VAN DER HORST, MUS. Amst.; Hato,

freshwater well, VI.1931, 2 specimens, leg. V. H. VAN DEN BERG, MUS. Amst.;

Santa 2 H. W. Rosa, 11.11.1939, specimens, leg. C. COSSEE, MUS. Leiden, reg.

no. 8811; Pos Sorsaka, Zevenbergen (Stat. 86), 10.XI. 1936, 2 larvae; Curagao,

2 P. C. received 2.V. Mus. specimens, leg. DE RUYTER, 1934, Amst.; Cura9ao,

III.1941, 1 specimen, don. St. Thomas College; Cura9ao, 1941, many larvae,

don. St. Thomas College; Curasao, 1945, 2 specimens, don. St. Thomas College.

BONAIRE; Kralendijk, 17.X.1930, 1 specimen, Mus. Amst.; Kralendijk, 31.

1 Mus. in X.1930, specimen, Amst.; Kralendijk, 5.XII.1930 (swimming sea,

5 m from shore), 1 specimen, Mus. Amst.; Tanki Onima (Stat. 46), 13.XI.1936, 94

1 6 larvae; Tanki Onima (Stat. 194), 13.XI. 1936, 16 larvae and juvs.; Tanki d

Nene George (Stat. 50), 25.111.1937, 1 juv.; Pos Ichi (Stat. 52), 14.XI.1936'

190 larvae; Pos Baca Chikitoe (Stat. 54), 14.XI.1936, 40 larvae; Bonaire, 1930,

Amst. 1 specimen, Mus. KLEIN BONAIRE: Tanki Calbas (Stat. 63), 15.XI. 1936,

1 larva. 27.V. MARGARITA: near Porlamar, 1936, 3 halfgrown; near Porlamar,

29.V. 1936, 1 ad., 3 halfgrown, 8 juvs.; Porlama'-, patio of Hotel Central, l.VI.

and 27.VI.1936, 2 specimens; , -1. VII. 1936, 7 specimens; Laguna

Honda (Stat. 18), 16.V.1936, 10 juvs. VENEZUELAN MAINLAND: Poza de Cha-

copata, Araya (Stat. 7), 27.VI. 1936, 5 larvae. LA GOAJIRA (COLOMBIA): Pozo

de Macaralpao, Castilletes (Stat. Ill), 14.1.1937, 2 juvs; Sirimana, E. of

Ipapure, 16.1.1937, 1 specimen.

Nom. indig.: Dori (Dutch Leeward Islands), Warikki (Margarita).

In the Dutch islands of the Leeward Group this species originally was known

from Aruba Thus VAN mentions its in only. KOOLWIJK (1882, p. 224) occurrence

Aruba, and its absence in Curasao and Bonaire. About 1910Pleurodema brachyops

has been into Aruban introduced inadvertently Cura9ao, when sand was transported

Bonaire there. In 1928 specimens were brought to (HUMMELINCK, 1940a, p. 115),

and at the is in all three it also in Klein present species common islands; occurs

Bonaire. It further the it has been is found on mainland, and recorded from Marga- rita MEEK Id. by (1910, p. 415).

VAN remarks that this is often the KOOLWIJK (1882, p. 224) frog figured on pot-

tery of the Indians; the figures given by this author (VAN KOOLWIJK, 1882, pi.

not 11 be crude of figs. 11, 12, 13) are very convincing. Fig. may a very drawing a

but 12 the frog, fig. is that of head of a mammal, while fig. 13 shows a human face.

of Besides a number adult and halfgrownspecimens, that do not call for further

number that at comment, the collection contains a of larvae, may be described some

length.

2 Larvae. Head and times as as the body 1.4—1.8 long broad; about / 3 length of

tail. Nostrils the than to the of the their distance the nearer to eyes tip snout, i.e.,

from the about times in from the snout. eyes is contained 1.3—1.7 their distance

The distance between the is about 1.6-1.8 times that between the eyes nostrils,

and to the breadth of the mouth. distance between the is to 3/„ once The nostrils 3/ 4

the distance from the nostril to the once eye.

Spiraculum sinistral, directed obliquely upwards; its horizontal distance from the

the is times in the from the posterior border of eye contained 2.9-3.4 distance spira-

culum to the vent. Vent median, its opening at the lower border of the lower tail

2.1-3.2 times the of its muscular membrane. Tail as long as high; height part con-

tained 2.1-2.9 times in its total height. The tail remains of about equal height in

its basal but its towards the which is half, margins gradually converge tip, pointed. is and in ihese In a great number of larvae the original tail tip apparently lost,

the tail The not to has a broadly rounded tip. dorsal fin does extend on the back.

Lips with two rows of papillae, in some places reduced to a single row. The

the of the papillae are present along the lower lip, and on sides upper lip (fig. 31).

Where two rows are present the papillae are often placed alternatingly. Median

of without part upper lip papillae.

1 1 1 1 1 1 Tooth rows or , the inner row of the upper lip widely inter- 1 1 3 2 95

of lower rupted in the middle; the inner row the lip either continuous or narrowly-

The outer of the the border of the The outer interrupted. row upper lip along lip.

lower half the second The row of the lip about as long as row. edges of the horny

jaws blackish brown, finely denticulated. In the larvae with more or less developed

hindlimbs the strong metatarsal tubercle is already distinct.

The larvae the contours are transparent; in many specimens of the brain are

clearly visible through the skin; in ventral view the intestinal spiral is also clearly

visible. Head powdered with blackish brown. Body much darker, more blackish.

of head and of larvae with hindlimbs to 13 total Length body up mm, length to

about 31 mm.

which have In the very young frogs, already passed through metamorphosis, the

lumbar ocellus is represented by a black spot only; the pale centre has not yet developed.

LITERATURE CITED IN TEXT

BOETTGER, O., 1892. Katalog der Batrachier-Sammlungim Museum der Sencken-

Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Frankfurt 73 bergischen am Main, x + pp.

BOSCHMA, 1947. Fauna, in: Ons in West 38-44 H., Koninkrijk Amerika, Indie, pp.

(reprints pp. 1-5).

HUMMELINCK, P. WAGENAAR, 1933. Zoologische Ergebnisse einer Reise nach

im No. Bonaire, Cura9ao und Aruba Jahre 1930, 1. Reisebericht. Zool. Jahrb.,

1-14, 2 Syst. 64, pp. 289-326, figs. maps.

P. HUMMELINCK, WAGENAAR, 1940a. General Information. Studies on the Fauna

Aruba, Bonaire and the Venezuelan Islands No. of Curacao, 1, 1, pp. 1-57,figs.

1-19.

HUMMELINCK, P. WAGENAAR, 1940b. Description of the Localities. Studies Fauna,

No. 1-42, 1-7. Curasao 2, 4, pp. figs.

KOOLWIJK, A. J. VAN, 1882. De Indianen Caraiben van het eiland Aruba (West

Ned. Aardr. Gen. Indie). Tijdschr. 6, pp. 222—229, 1 pi.

LIDTH On collection of and the DE JEUDE, XH. W. VAN, 1887. a Reptiles Fishes from

West-Indies. Notes Leyden Mus. 9, pp. 129-139, pi. 2.

LUTZ, A., 1927. Notas sobre batrachios da Venezuela e da Ilha de Trinidad (Notes

on Batrachians from Venezuela and Trinidad). Mem. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

20, pp. 35-65,pis. 8-12.

LUTZ, A., 1934. Notas sobre especies brasileiras do genero Bufo (Zur Kenntnis der

Brasilianischen Kroeten vom Genus Bufo). Mem. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 28,

13-17. pp. 111-159, pis.

S. MEEK, E., 1910. Notes on Batrachia and Reptilia from the Islands North of

Venezuela. Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. Ser., vol. 7, no. 148, 12, pp.

415-418.

1923. Anura I. Das Tierreich xxxii + 584 380 NXEDEN, F., Amphibia. 46, pp., figs. 96

I On the bonairensis from left: Garypus bonaivensis <$ (no 15) Zuidpunt, B o- naire. On the right, withi above: Garypus bonairensis $ from Mustique Island; below Garypus bonairensis realini $ (no 89) from the Baranca Alto,

A r u b a.

II bonairensis realini from the A Garypus $ Seroe Plat, r u b a.