Middle American Frogs of the Hyla microcephala Group — John Shaqi
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
_Specimens examined._--190, as follows: +México+: Guerrero: 5 km. E
Acapulco, AMNH 54611-2; 23.2 km. N Acapulco, UIMNH 26404-7; Colonia
Buenas Aires, 23 km. E Tecpán de Galeana, UMMZ 119223 (7); *El
Limoncito, FMNH 75785, 100390-402, 104631, 104633, UMMZ 117250, USNM
134266; El Treinte, FMNH 100403, UIMNH 20935-7; Laguna Coyuca, AMNH
59686; La Venta, MCZ 29635; *Morjonares, UIMNH 26392-402; 1.6 km.
N Organos, FMNH 100404-5, UIMNH 20933-4; 19.2 km. S Petaquillas,
UIMNH 26408; 6.1 km. E. Tecpán de Galeana, TNHC 23396-408; *11.2 km.
N Tierra Colorada, UIMNH 26403; 11.8 km. WNW Tierra Colorada, UMMZ
119225 (51), S-2677-9 (skeletons); Zacualpán, UMMZ 119224 (6). Jalisco:
6.4 km. NE La Resolana, KU 67853-69; 24 km NE La Resolana, KU 67870-3.
Oaxaca: 3 km. N Pochutla, KU 57539; 13.4 km. N Pochutla, UMMZ
123495 (40).
CRANIAL OSTEOLOGY
The frogs of the _Hyla microcephala_ group have a minimal amount
of cranial ossification as compared to more generalized hylid skulls,
such as _Smilisca_ (Duellman and Trueb, 1966). In the _Hyla
microcephala_ group the sphenethmoid is small and short, and a large
frontoparietal fontanelle is present. The quadratojugal exists only
as a small spur and is not in contact with the maxillary. The proötics
are poorly developed. The anterior and posterior arms of the squamosal
are short; the anterior arm extends no more than one-fourth of the
distance to the maxillary, and the posterior arm does not have a bony
connection with the proötic. The nasal lacks a maxillary process, and
the medial ramus of the pterygoid lacks a bony connection to the
proötic.
Teeth are absent on the parasphenoid and palatines, but present on the
maxillaries, premaxillaries, and prevomers. The teeth are simple,
pointed, and slightly curved. Although the number of teeth varies
(Table 3), no consistent differences between the species are apparent.
Table 3.--Variation in the Number of Teeth in the Species of the Hyla
Microcephala Group. (N=Number of Jaws, or Twice the Number of
Individuals; Means are Given in Parentheses After the Observed
Ranges).
========================+====+=============+==============+==========
Species | N | Maxillary | Premaxillary | Prevomer
------------------------+----+-------------+--------------+----------
_H. microcephala_ | 32 | 31-47(37.8) | 4-13(8.9) | 2-4(3.2)
| | | |
_H. phlebodes_ | 10 | 38-45(40.1) | 8-13(10.3) | 2-5(3.9)
| | | |
_H. robertmertensi_ | 6 | 23-43(32.8) | 7-12(10.5) | 2-3(2.7)
| | | |
_H. sartori_ | 6 | 27-43(38.2) | 9-10(9.3) | 3-4(3.7)
------------------------+----+-------------+--------------+----------
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