A Review of the Frogs of the Hyla bistincta GroupDuellman, William Edward
Science
A Review of the Frogs of the Hyla bistincta Group
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Hyla
elongate; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; subarticular tubercles
moderately large, round; supernumerary tubercles small, in single rows
on proximal segments of digits; toes moderately short; length of toes
from shortest to longest, 1-2-3-5-4, third and fifth toes about equal
in length; toes about two-thirds webbed; web extending to middle of
antepenultimate phalanx of fourth toe, to discs of first, second, and
fifth toes, and to base of penultimate phalanx of third toe; discs
rather small, about two-thirds size of those on fingers. Anal opening
at level of lower edge of thighs; anal sheath elongate, deeply creased
medially; transverse dermal fold above anus. Skin of dorsal surfaces
of head, body, and limbs faintly areolate; skin of chin, belly, and
ventral surfaces of thighs granular, that of ventral surfaces of
limbs, except thighs, areolate; thoracic fold absent. Tongue nearly
round, slightly longer than wide, shallowly notched behind and barely
free posteriorly. Vomerine teeth 4-4, situated on rounded vomerine
ridges between rather small ovoid inner nares; vocal slits present,
situated along posterior edge of each ramus.
Color (in alcohol) pale brown on dorsal surfaces of head, body, and
limbs; flanks and anterior surfaces of thighs creamy white with dark
brown reticulations; posterior surfaces of thighs tan with creamy
white spots; belly cream-color; anal stripe absent.
Color (in life) pale tan on dorsal surfaces; flanks and anterior
surfaces of thighs pale creamy yellow with purplish brown
reticulations; posterior surfaces of thighs tan with yellow spots;
ventral surfaces yellow; iris pale copper-color.
_Variation._--There is little variation in structure. The total number
of vomerine teeth varies from 6 to 14. In some individuals the
supratympanic fold covers the upper part of the tympanum, but at least
the lower part of the tympanum is always visible. The extent of the
webbing between the toes varies from three-fourths to two-thirds
complete. Usually the web extends to some point on the antepenultimate
phalanx of the fourth toe, but in some specimens the web extends to
the base of the penultimate phalanx.
In the large series of specimens from Uruapan, Michoacán, the
coloration of the flanks and anterior surfaces of the thighs varies
from nearly uniform creamy yellow with only fine dark reticulations to
bold reticulations enclosing yellow spots. Some specimens from Oaxaca
and Veracruz have slightly different markings on the flanks; in these
the dark pigment is in the form of irregular spots or dashes, instead
of reticulations.
There is considerable variation in color in the living frogs. The
dorsum varies from greenish tan and pale yellowish tan to reddish
brown, and some individuals are dark chocolate brown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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