A Review of the Middle American Tree Frogs of the Genus PtychohylaDuellman, William Edward
Science
A Review of the Middle American Tree Frogs of the Genus Ptychohyla
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Amphibians -- Mexico; Ptychohyla
Tongue cordiform, shallowly notched
behind and only slightly free posteriorly; vomerine teeth 0-3,
situated on rounded elevations between somewhat larger, round inner
nares; openings to vocal sac large, one situated along posterior
margin of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs dull brown with dark
brown reticulations on head and body and dark brown transverse bands
or spots on limbs; first and second fingers cream color; third and
fourth fingers dull tan; anterior surfaces of thighs pale brown;
posterior surfaces of thighs cream color with heavy suffusion of
brown; dorsal surfaces of tarsi and third, fourth, and fifth toes dull
brown with dark brown spots; first and second toes creamy white;
webbing on foot brown; axilla and groin cream color; flanks brown; no
white stripes on edge of upper lip or on flank; faint, barely
discernible tan streak above anal opening; faint creamy tan line on
ventrolateral edges of tarsi; throat, belly, ventral surfaces of
limbs, inner edges of tarsi, and first toes cream color; outer ventral
surfaces of tarsi and other toes brown; chest and throat spotted with
brown; ventrolateral and chin glands orange-brown.
In life the dorsum was uniform green (Cosse Green) becoming paler
green (Bright Green-Yellow) on flanks, later changing to paler green
(Javel Green) on dorsum with irregular darker green (Lettuce Green)
markings and greenish yellow (Green-Yellow) on flanks; anterior and
posterior surfaces of thighs, ventral surfaces of shanks, anterior
surfaces of tarsi, and upper proximal surfaces of first, second, and
third toes red (Coral Red); venter pale creamy yellow (Sulfur Yellow);
iris pale golden color (Aniline Yellow).
_Variation._--Of 13 specimens, six have a cordiform tongue; the others
have an emarginate tongue. Five specimens have round subarticular
tubercles beneath the fourth fingers; six specimens have a bifid
tubercle on one hand, and two specimens have bifid tubercles on both
hands. A round gland is present on the chin of all specimens; in some
the gland is barely visible, but in others it is large and distinct.
In two specimens the ventrolateral glands are weakly developed; in the
others the glands are well developed and orange-tan. The white anal
stripe varies from a thin line to a series of white flecks. Dark brown
or black flecks are present on the throat, chest, and flanks of all
specimens. In some the flecks are small and widely scattered; in
others the flecks are larger and more numerous. All specimens were
pale green above when calling at night; later they changed to dull
green with darker green reticulations. The flash-colors on the thighs
and in the groin vary from red to orange-red or brownish red.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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