Australian frogs of the leptodactylid genus Uperoleia Gray

Abstract

Uperoleia Gray is a genus of small, fossorial leptodactylid frogs inhabiting northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea. The genus is redefined here on the basis of osteological, myological, biological and external characteristics, and included are all species referred formerly to Glauertia Loveridge. The species fimbrianus Parker is resurrected from the synonymy of U. rugosa; seven species are redefined, and nine new species are described. A lectotype of U. laevigata Keferstein is designated. Particular attention is devoted to the fauna of the north-west of the continent, and a key has been prepared to assist in identification of the 13 species occurring in that area. Several species exhibit osteological and myological characters of a paedomorphic nature, for example; the exposure of the frontoparietal fontanelle and the arrested development of the intermandibularis muscle.