The amount of differentiation in isolated populations of amphibians in
southern Mexico and northern Central America gives some idea of
relative lengths of time of isolation from related populations. Those
populations inhabiting high mountain environments on either side of the
isthmus are specifically distinct. Some populations inhabiting cloud
forests lower on the mountains are specifically distinct from related
populations on the other side of the isthmus; between others there is
no recognizable differentiation. Even though many populations are
isolated from other populations of the same species in the lowlands of
the isthmus, there is no apparent speciation. This indicates that the
lowland environments and their inhabitants have been isolated from one
another for a shorter time than have the highland environments and
their inhabitants.
ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES
For each species of amphibian known to occur in the lowlands of the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, localities where one or more specimens were
collected are listed, and variation, ecology, and life histories are
discussed. A total of 2833 specimens has been examined for the purposes
of this study. Individual specimens cited in the text are listed with
catalogue numbers and abbreviations of the name of the museum, as
follows:
AMNH American Museum of Natural History
KU University of Kansas Museum of Natural History
MCZ Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College
UIMNH University of Illinois Museum of Natural History
UMMZ University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
USNM United States National Museum
=Gymnopis mexicanus mexicanus= Dumeril and Bibron
_Oaxaca_: El Barrio (3); Matias Romero; Tehuantepec (2).
_Veracruz_: Cosamaloapan; Cuatotolapam (2).
The two specimens from Cuatotolapam were collected by Ruthven in an
area of mixed savanna and forest. The three specimens (USNM 30535-7)
listed above from El Barrio were collected by Sumichrast; possibly they
came from another locality. The city of Tehuantepec is divided into
seven districts called "barrios." The two specimens listed from
Tehuantepec (MCZ 1604) merely bear the data "Tehuantepec, Mexico." They
may have come from the town, the district, or from anywhere in the
isthmus. The specimen from Matias Romero has 109 primary and 67
secondary annuli, a length of 400 mm., and a diameter of 19 mm.; the
one from Cosamaloapan has 106 primary and 58 secondary annuli, a length
of 397 mm., and a diameter of 19 mm. Data on the other specimens were
recorded by Dunn (1942:475).
=Bolitoglossa occidentalis= Taylor
_Oaxaca_: Rio Sarabia (2); Ubero. _Veracruz_: La Oaxaquena;
14 km. E of Suchil.
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