PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH. 95(4), 1982, pp. 688-693 TAXONOMY OF BUFO VENUSTUS PHILIPPI, 1899 (ANURA: LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM CENTRAL CHILE J. R. Formas and Alberto Veloso Abstract. — The frog Bufo venustus Philippi, 1899, is shown to be a species of the genus Telmatobufo but not conspecific with T. bullocki. The species is re-described, and some notes on its natural history are presented. Philippi (1899) described Bufo venustus on the basis of three frogs collected in Cordillera de Chilian (Andes Range, Chilian Province), and one frog from San Ignacio de Pemehue (Cautin Province), Chile. Donoso-Barros (1972) without os-teological analysis of the holotype suggested that this species should be trans-ferred to the genus Aruncus Philippi, 1902, and considered Telmatobufo bullocki Schmidt, 1952, conspecific with A. venustus. Lynch (1978) placed the species in the genus Telmatobufo, but the frogs (KU 15981 1 and 161439) analyzed by Lynch were true T. bullocki rather than venustus. Recently one frog with external similarity (habitus and color pattern) to Philip-pi's description of Bufo venustus was collected in Alto Vilches, Chile (Talca Province, 1280 m). The color of the holotype could not be checked by Donoso-Barros (1972) because its original color is lost (it is whitish in alcohol). In order to establish the taxonomic status of B. venustus we analyzed the osteology (skull and pectoral girdle) of the holotype (MUZUC 205051) and the Alto de Vilches' specimen (DBG 0784) as well as the external morphology of both frogs. Characteristics were compared with those of Telmatobufo bullocki and with Telmatobufo australis Formas, 1972. As result of the study we concluded that Bufo venustus belongs to the genus Telmatobufo because the paratoid glands are well developed, the pectoral girdle is arciferal with the omosternum short and the sternum broad. The frontoparietals are nearly meeting at the midline, the nasal bones are medium-sized and broadly separated. The maxillary arch is complete and the cultriform process of the para-sphenoid reaches the prevomerine teeth. Telmatobufo bullocki Schmidt, 1952, is not conspecific with Philippi 's species, differing in color pattern and morphology of the foot. Telmatobufo venustus (Philippi, 1899) Fig. 1 Bufo venustus. — Philippi, 1899:723. Chile: Cordillera de Chilian. Aruncus venustus. — Donoso-Barros, 1972:109-116. Telmatobufo venustus. — Lynch, 1978:24-27. Holotype.— WJZXJC 205051, an adult female from Cordillera de Chilian, Chil-ian Province, Chile, approximately 1200 m, collected in January 1897 by Germain. Diagnosis. — Telmatobufo venustus is a moderate size frog that is distinguished from its congeners in having dorsal and ventral areas black, the dorsum, head,
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