Etymologies of Brazilian Amphibians

Herpetologia Brasileira - Suplemento 1
spanios: G. spanios (σπανίως), scarce, rare. Eleutherodactylus spanios Heyer,
1985. (“... in allusion to its rarity of collection ...”). Today Ischnocnema
spanios (Heyer, 1985).
spectabilis: L. spectabilis, noteworthy, outstanding. (1) Melanophryniscus spectabilis
Caramaschi & Cruz, 2002. (“... The specific name is a Latin adjective
meaning notable or showy, in reference to the remarkable color pattern
of this species ...”). (2) Phasmahyla spectabilis Cruz et al., 2008. (“... The
specific Latin name spectabilis is an adjective related to the beauty, elegance,
and conspicuous coloration of the specimens ...”).
spectrum: L. spectrum, specter, apparition. Hyla spectrum Reinhardt & Lütken,
1862 “1861”. (?). Also Hypsiboas spectrum — Cope, 1867. In the synonymy
of Boana albopunctata (Spix, 1824).
spegazzinii: Spegazzini + L. -i, suffix indicating the genitive of masculine names
and nouns. Honouring Carlos Luis Spegazzini (1858-1926), Italo-Argentinian
botanist. Hyla spegazzinii Boulenger, 1889. In the synonymy of Boana
raniceps (Cope, 1862).
Spelerpes: G. speos or speios (σπέος or σπεΐος), cave, cavern, grotto + G. erpeton
(έρπετόν), creature that moves or crawls (on the ground). Spelerpes Rafinesque,
1822. (“... In 1821 I discovered a new Salamander, dwelling permanently
in the dark caves of limestone near Lexington ...”). In the synonymy
of Bolitoglossa Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854.
Sphaenorhynchus: G. sphinos (σφηνός), wedge + G. rhynchos (ρόγχος), snout.
Sphaenorhynchus Tschudi, 1838. (“... caput minimum, trigonum ...”).
Sphoenohyla: G. sphinos (σφήνός), wedge + L. Hyla (see), a name that is traditionally
associated with tree frogs. Sphoenohyla A. Lutz & B. Lutz, 1938.
(“... caput minimum, trigonum ...”). In the synonymy of Sphaenorhynchus
Tschudi, 1838.
spiniger: L spiniger, thorn-bearing, thorny. Engystomops spinigera Miranda-Ribeiro,
1926. Interestingly, the description of this species, attributed to Boulenger,
does not refer to the presence of spines. Also Physalaemus spiniger
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