:* f4 ZOOLOGICAL SERIES OF iasiTY OF ILLINOIS FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume XX CHICAGO, MAY 15, 1935 No. 12 A NEW GENERIC AND FAMILY POSITION FOR BUFO BORBONICA BY D. DWIGHT DAVIS ASSISTANT, DIVISION OF OSTEOLOGY Recent studies, as yet unpublished, have revealed that Bidder's organ the small structure lying in front of the gonads in certain salientians is an organ peculiar to the Bufonidae. Among many species of bufonids and leptodactylids examined in this connection, I have found but one exception to this rule. The long-legged East Indian toad Bufo borbonica lacks both Bidder's organ and the elongation of the testes characteristic of toads. Further examina-tion reveals that these features are by no means the most extraor-dinary points in the anatomy of this animal, since in addition it is found to have a fully firmisternal pectoral girdle (fig. 8). Through the courtesy of Mr. Arthur Loveridge I have been able to examine the series of this species in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, consisting of four specimens from Kuan Nieng Province, Siam. I am also indebted to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger for the loan of five specimens from Trong, Lower Siam, in the collections of the National Museum, and for much-appreciated advice on the status of the name Hylaplesia. Mr. H. W. Parker, of the British Museum (Natural History), has been kind enough to examine specimens of Bufo borbonica for me. He confirms my findings, pointing out some additional characters, which I have incorporated in the description. A great deal of invaluable advice and criticism has been given by Mr. Karl P. Schmidt, Assistant Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Museum, and to him I am especially grateful. The taxonomic history of this toad has been decidedly erratic, and since it has resulted in some confusion in the literature, it may well be clarified here. The generic name Hylaplesia was listed by Schlegel (1826a and b) in two papers published simultaneously in German and French. 1 1 In the French edition the name appears as Hysaplesia, apparently through a misprint. No. 345 87
BioStor
