The Status of Bufo debilis and Opheodrys vernalis in Kansas

Abstract

The distributional history of Bufo debilis insidior Garman and Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi Grobman in Kansas is examined. Several records of each species are eliminated from the state. While the presence of B. debilis in the state is considered valid, the presence of 0. vernalis in Kansas is questionable. The distributional status of several of the rarer species of reptiles and amphibians in Kansas is not clearly understood (Rundquist and Collins, 1977; Rundquist, 1977; Collins, 1974). Recent information has been obtained that may further elucidate the status of two species (Bufo debilis and Opheodrys vernalis) in the state, and is presented below. Museum designations for specimens are as follows: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP), California Academy of Science (CAS), Kansas State University (KSC), University of Kansas (KU), Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (MCZ), University of Michigan (UMMZ). Bufo debilis insidior Girard Western Green Toad Smith (1932) published the first extensive account on Bufo debilis in Kansas. He listed records for Greeley, Grant, Hamilton, Logan, Morton, and Barber counties. These records were further substantiated in an unpublished distributional work by Brumwell (ca. 1933). The Barber and Hamilton county records were based on literature records by Cragin (1894). Cragin evidently preserved no specimens of this species from Kansas. His comments are as follows, 'The species was observed a few days later in great abundance and activity (during rainy weather) in Morton county, Kansas, and the southern part of Hamilton county. I have also collected a single specimen in the western part of Barber county, Kansas, also. Two of Smith's records were based on specimens that no longer exist. He based the Greeley County record on 'K.U., 1 spec. This specimen cannot be located in the herpetological collection or catalogue at the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas. The Logan County record is based on KSC 50This content downloaded from 157.55.39.27 on Wed, 07 Sep 2016 05:55:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 55. The collection at Kansas State University, Manhattan (formerly Kansas State College), no longer exists (J. T. Collins, pers. comm.). Collins (1974) lists records for Morton, Grant, Greeley, and Logan counties. Preserved specimens of B. d. insidior exist for Morton, Grant, and Logan counties. A specimen in the collection at the California Academy of Science (CAS 17266) formerly listed as B. d. insidior is actually an example of Bufo w. woodhousei. Although Collins listed a Greeley County record, this was due to a printing error, as he had previously identified that specimen (CAS 17266) as B. woodhousei. The Logan County record is based on one specimen in the University of Michigan collection (UMMZ 67442), not the KSU collection as previously reported. The exact locality and collector of this specimen are unknown. Thus, three valid county records for this toad are available from the state: Logan, Grant, and Morton counties. It is possible that the western green toad does occur in Hamilton and Greeley counties, but until voucher specimens from these counties are found, they should be considered valid rec-