Descriptions of New Hylid Frogs From Mexico and Central AmericaDuellman, William Edward
Science
Descriptions of New Hylid Frogs From Mexico and Central America
Duellman, William Edward
Frogs -- Central America; Frogs -- Mexico; Hylidae
_Remarks._--This description brings to eight the number of species now
recognized in the _Hyla bistincta_ group. _Hyla siopela_ is most closely
related to _Hyla robertsorum_ from the high mountains of the Sierra
Madre Oriental in northern Puebla and eastern Hidalgo. Possibly the four
species now recognized in the _crassa_ subgroup (_crassa_, _pachyderma_,
_robertsorum_, and _siopela_) are only subspecies of a single species,
but differences in the amount of webbing in _crassa_ and the nature of
the nuptial excrescenses in _pachyderma_ indicate that they are distinct
species.
The type locality of _Hyla siopela_ is a small stream cascading down the
western slope of Cofre de Perote; the lower reaches of the stream can be
reached by a dirt road leading east from the village of Perote for about
2 kilometers to a small park. The frogs were found in the stream at
elevations of 50 to 100 meters higher than the park. The stream flows
through a ravine supporting open, dry pine forest. Although the stream
was searched thoroughly in February, 1966, no frogs were found. In July,
1966, adults and juveniles were found in crevices and under overhanging
rocks behind small cascades and waterfalls by day and sitting on rocks
and branches in the spray of cascades at night.
The specific name _siopela_ is derived from the Greek _siopelos_,
meaning silent, and alludes to the absence of a voice in this species.
Hyla altipotens new species
Plate 19
_Holotype._--Adult male, KU 101001, from 37 kilometers (by road) north
of San Gabriel Mixtepec (kilometer post 183 on road from Oaxaca to
Puerto Escondido), Oaxaca, Mexico, elevation 1860 meters; obtained on
February 19, 1966, by William E. Duellman.
_Paratypes._--KU 101002-6 collected at the same locality on February 19
and 20, 1966, by William E. Duellman, and KU 101008 from 33 kilometers
(by road) north of San Gabriel Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, elevation 1675
meters; obtained on February 20, 1966, by Linda Trueb.
_Diagnosis._--A member of the _Hyla taeniopus_ group characterized by a
yellow venter, yellow flecks on posterior surfaces of thighs,
bronze-colored stripe from snout, along canthus and edge of upper eyelid
to point above arm, pointed snout, smooth dorsum, and no sexual
dimorphism in shape of snout.
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