Osteology of the ranoid burrowing African anurans Breviceps and Hemisus

Abstract

To facilitate classification of isolated fossil bones, one genus of each of ten anuran African families was chosen, and criteria were sought (with two or more character states) which could be used to indicate the presence of a genus or group of genera, and the family or families it or they represent. Some of these criteria were used to compare the burrowing genera Breviceps and Hemisus. The two genera are found to have more differences than similarities. It is concluded that these two genera must represent early divergent lines from ranoid stock.

Key words: Anura, Ranoidea, Hemisus, Breviceps, osteology, burrowing.