Middle American Frogs of the Hyla microcephala GroupDuellman, William Edward
Science
Middle American Frogs of the Hyla microcephala Group
Duellman, William Edward
Frogs -- Central America; Hyla microcephala
_Diagnosis._--Dark brown lateral stripe, if present, usually extending
only to insertion of forearm, never posteriorly to sacral region;
white line above brown stripe absent or faint; dorsal pattern weak,
usually consisting of irregular dashes or interconnected lines;
interorbital dark mark present; shanks having weakly defined
transverse bars.
_Description and variation._--In the majority of specimens (70%) the
lateral dark stripe extends from the nostril to the eye and thence
above the tympanum to a point above the insertion of the arm; in 17
per cent the stripe extends to the mid-flank, whereas in 13 per cent
the stripe is absent. A narrow and faint white line is present on the
canthus in some specimens, but no distinct white stripe is present
above the lateral dark line posterior to the eye. An interorbital bar
and transverse marks on the shanks are invariably present. The dorsal
markings are variable, but in most specimens (92%) consist of either
an X- or )(-shaped mark in the scapular region; in the other specimens
the markings are irregular short lines or absent. Approximately equal
numbers of specimens have a transverse bar, chevron, or broken lines
in the sacral region, whereas about eight per cent of the specimens
lack markings in the sacral region.
When active at night, individuals are pale yellowish tan with faint
brown dorsal markings. By day they are tan with more distinct brown
markings (Pl. 14). The thighs are pale yellow; the belly is white. The
iris is pale creamy tan with brown flecks. In breeding males the vocal
sac is yellow.
_Tadpoles._--Tadpoles of this species have been found in an extensive
grassy pond at Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. The following description is
based on KU 104099, a specimen in development stage 36 (Gosner, 1960).
Total length, 21.0 mm.; body length, 6.7 mm.; body slightly wider than
deep, snout pointed; nostrils large, directed anteriorly, situated
near end of snout; eyes small, situated dorsolaterally, directed
laterally; spiracle sinistral, located just posteroventral to eye;
anal tube dextral. Tail xiphicercal; caudal musculature moderately
deep, extending far beyond posterior edge of fins; fins deepest at
about midlength; dorsal fin extending onto body, slightly deeper than
caudal musculature; ventral fin slightly shallower than musculature.
Mouth small, terminal, lacking teeth and fringing papillae, but having
finely serrate beaks. In preservative top of head olive-tan with brown
flecks; dark stripe from snout through eye to posterior edge of body;
belly white, flecked with brown anteriorly; tail creamy tan with
grayish brown blotches. In life, dorsum of body reddish tan mottled
with darker brown; lateral stripe dark brown; belly white, mottled
with brown and black; caudal musculature heavily pigmented with
grayish tan; posterior tip of tail marked with dark gray; caudal fins
heavily blotched with grayish tan; iris orange-tan peripherally, red
centrally (Pl. 15).
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