highland faunal assemblage have
more restricted geographic ranges. The major exceptions are those
species that are widely distributed on the Mexican Plateau, such as:
_Bufo compactilis_, _Sceloporus torquatus_, and _Salvadora bairdi_. In
the montane habitats of the Cordillera Volcanica, 45 species of
amphibians and reptiles are known; 34 species have been found in the
Sierra de Coalcoman. Fourteen species are known to occur in both ranges.
Several species are known only from the Cordillera Volcanica and
adjacent highlands, and three species are endemic to the Sierra de
Coalcoman.

ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES

In the following pages the 176 species and subspecies of amphibians and
reptiles known to occur in the state of Michoacan are discussed in
relation to their variation, life histories, ecology, and distribution
in the state. Data have been gathered from 9676 specimens. I have not
prolonged the accounts of species with information that has been
presented elsewhere. Consequently, the length and completeness of the
accounts are variable. I have given only the information that I consider
a worthwhile contribution to our knowledge of the particular species.

The synonymies given at the beginning of each account include the first
use of the trivial name by the original author, the first usage of the
combination that I am using, and, if the circumstances make it
necessary, additional names or combinations that have been proposed
since the publication of the checklists of Mexican amphibians and
reptiles by Smith and Taylor (1945, 1948, and 1950b). References cited
only in the synonymies are not listed in the Literature Cited. Preceding
the discussion of each species is an alphabetical list of the localities
in Michoacan from which specimens have been examined. The listing of a
locality means that one or more specimens, as indicated, has been
examined from that locality. Only for those specimens especially
mentioned in the text are catalogue numbers given. Abbreviations for the
various museums and scientific collections are, as follows:

AMNH American Museum of Natural History
ANSP Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
BMNH British Museum (Natural History)
CNHM Chicago Natural History Museum
EHT-HMS Edward H. Taylor-Hobart M. Smith collection
JRD James R. Dixon collection, College Station, Texas
KU University of Kansas Museum of Natural History
MCZ Mu