Diagnosis.—Venter areolate; interorbital light and dark bars present; ground color yellow to brownish-yellow in life ([Fig. 4b]).
Remarks.—Firschein (1954) briefly considered the status of Peters' (1871) Phyllobates verruculatus and noted that if it was a Syrrhophus it would probably be referrable to S. cystignathoides. Peters' (1871) original description corresponds well with S. cystignathoides, and the type-locality ("Huanusco" = Huatusco) is within the range of that species. Firschein (1954) expressed doubt that verruculatus was a Syrrhophus, because Peters placed it in another genus. However, Peters described verruculatus a decade before Cope diagnosed the genus Syrrhophus. Most frogs now called Syrrhophus, plus a number of lower Central American frogs now placed in a variety of genera were placed in Phyllobates by Boulenger, Cope, and Peters.
The types of Phyllobates verruculatus were destroyed during World War II (Günther Peters, in litt.); the specimens subsequently assigned to the taxon by Kellogg (1932) are Syrrhophus cystignathoides. Because the type specimens are lost and because the name antedates the more established name, cystignathoides, I favor retaining Phyllobates verruculatus Peters as a nomen dubium.
Smith and Taylor (1948) reported S. verruculatus from Tianguistengo, Hidalgo, México. These specimens are examples of verrucipes. Smith (1947) reported a specimen of verruculatus from San Lorenzo, Veracruz. Firschein (1954) referred it to cystignathoides, and Duellman (1960) concluded that both authors were in error and that the specimen (USNM 123530) was a leprus.
Etymology.—The trivial name is the diminutive of Cystignathus, a once-used generic name for several leptodactylid frogs.
Distribution.—Low and moderate elevations in the foothills along the Sierra Madre Oriental from eastern San Luis Potosí to Central Veracruz, México ([Fig. 5]).
Specimens examined.—(130), MÉXICO, Puebla: Necaxa, UMMZ 69519-20. San Luis Potosí: 5 km. W Aguismón, LSUMZ 4962-63; along Río Axtla, road to Xilitla, UMMZ 105500; Tamazunchale, UIMNH 3199; 6.5 km. N Tamazunchale, UMMZ 104039; 8 km. N Tamazunchale, UMMZ 119490. Veracruz: Coatepec, 1210 m., FMNH 704966-67; 11 km. SE Coatepec, 850 m., FMNH 70468-70; below Córdoba, FMNH 104588, UIMNH 13321; Cuautlapam, 1000 m., FMNH 106477-80, KU 100364, UIMNH 58200-03, UMMZ 105392; Fortín de las Flores, UIMNH 13322, 13339; 1.6 km. N Fortín de las Flores, UIMNH 42799-808, UMMZ 105389; 3.2 km. N Fortín de las Flores, UIMNH 26633-35; 4.8 km. N Fortín de las Flores, UIMNH 71967-68; 3.2 km. W Fortín de las Flores (Barranca Metlac), 910 m., UIMNH 49294-95, UMMZ 115444-46, 118221, 119893 (2); Huatusco, KU 100363; Jalapa, 1400 m., FMNH 70440, 70443-51, 70454-65; 16 km. NE Jalapa, 1300 m., FMNH 70452-53; 8 km. E Jalapa, UIMNH 13338; 9.5 km. S Jalapa, UMMZ 122083 (2); Mirador, KU 23967; Paraja Nuevo, El Suchil, UMMZ 85490 (7), 85491 (2), 90315; La Passa, UIMNH 49293, 49297; 1 km. E Plan del Río, 240 m., UMMZ 102067 (2); Potrero Viejo, FMNH 104583, 104586, 105326-27, KU 26789, 100357-62, UIMNH 13323, 13340-43; USNM 32402 (lectotype), 32403-04, 32406-09; 9.6 km. S Santa Rosa, TCWC 12785; 24 km. NE Tezuitlán (Puebla), UMMZ 105388; Teocelo, FMNH 70437-38, KU 26080, 26790; 3.2 km. N Teocelo, FMNH 70439, 70441-42; 9.6 km. NW Tihuatlán, UIMNH 3684-85; 15 km. ENE Tlacotepec, KU 23966; 26 km. NW Tuxpan, UMMZ 126419.
Syrrhophus leprus Cope, 1879:268-69 [Holotype.—USNM 10040, from Santa Efigena, Oaxaca, México, Francis Sumichrast collector]. Kellogg, 1932:124-5, 128. Taylor and Smith, 1945:582. Smith and Taylor, 1948:50-51. Duellman, 1958:8, pl. 1, Fig. 2; 1960:56-57. Gorham, 1966:165.
Syrrhaphus leprus: Günther, 1900:217.