A synopsis of Neotropical hylid frogs, genus Osteocephalus

lAU^D. Cuivip. ZCUL '5^(\)f\~ Wajuo^Ovj(Le3 LIBRARY JAN 21 1972 OCCASIONAL PAPERS HARVARD of the UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas NUMBER 1 APRIL 29, 1971 A SYNOPSIS OF NEOTROPICAL HYLID FROGS, GENUS OSTEOCEPHALUS ^^1 ( I; i( ^ Linda Trueb^ and William E. L^uellman^ When we initiated a study of the herpetofauna at Santa Cecilia in Amazonian Ecuador in 1966, we were immediately confronted with many kinds of animals that we could not identify with the ex-isting literature. Comparisons of our specimens with those pre-served in other museums resolved some of the problems, but many identifications could be made only after study of type specimens; even then some determinations remained questionable. We now find that in order to prepare a meaningful account of the herpeto-fauna of Santa Cecilia, we must complete several taxonomic studies, the limits of which extend far beyond eastern Ecuador. Because of our interests in hylids we have begun our studies on these frogs. One of us (Trueb, 1970a) studied the cranial osteology of casque-headed hylid frogs and redefined the genus Osteocephalus but did not deteiTnine the number of species in the genus. Our work in Amazonian Ecuador resulted in the discovery of the sympatric occurrence of three species at each of two localities; one of these species was found with a fourth species at another locality. Study of museum specimens confirmed the recognition of these four species in the Amazon Basin and lower Amazonian slopes of the Andes. A fifth species from Bolivia and Peru also is included in the genus. Examination of museum specimens has provided data on the geo-^ Research Associate, Division of Herpetology, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. " Curator, Division of Herpetology, Museum of Natural History, University ol Kansas.