Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca — John Shaqi
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus SmiliscaDuellman, William Edward
Science
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Frogs; Smilisca
Recently metamorphosed young have pale tan flanks, and the posterior
surfaces of the thighs are orange-yellow; pale spots are absent. A
juvenile (KU 55935) from Chinaja, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, having a
snout-vent length of 35.0 mm. was pale yellowish tan above with
olive-green markings; the flanks were dark brown with pale blue spots,
and the anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs were uniform
bright tomato red. A juvenile (UMMZ 121298), 18.6 mm. in snout-vent
length, from the southeast slope of Volcan San Martin, Veracruz, Mexico,
had pale tan flanks lacking blue spots, but had red thighs. Apparently
the ontogenetic changes in coloration proceed as follows: (1) flanks
pale tan and thighs orange-yellow, both lacking spots, (2) flanks pale
tan and thighs red, both lacking spots, (3) flanks dark brown with blue
spots and thighs red, lacking spots, and (4) flanks and thighs dark
brown, both having pale blue spots.
_Natural History._--_Smilisca cyanosticta_ inhabits humid tropical
forest and cloud forest from the lowlands to elevations of about 1200
meters in Los Tuxtlas and to about 900 meters in northern Oaxaca. In
these moist environments the frogs apparently are active throughout the
year. Active individuals have been obtained in January, July, and August
in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, in June and July in northern Oaxaca, in
February and March at Chinaja, Guatemala, and Taylor and Smith reported
(1945:589) activity in May at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Calling males
were observed as follows; in a rain barrel 11 kilometers north of Vista
Hermosa, Oaxaca, Mexico, on June 23-28, 1964; in a quiet pool in a
stream 8 kilometers south of Yetla, Oaxaca, Mexico, in July, 1963 (Dale
L. Hoyt, personal communication); in and near springs flowing into a
stream at Dos Amates, Veracruz, Mexico, on August 4, 1959 (Douglas
Robinson, personal communication); and in a water-filled depression in a
log 10 kilometers west-northwest of Chinaja, Guatemala, on March 13,
1960. Taylor and Smith (1945:589) reported that individuals were found
at night on the ground at the edge of temporary pools at Piedras Negras,
Guatemala, on May 28-29, 1939. A clasping pair was found on a rock at
the edge of a small stream on the south slope of Volcan San Martin,
Veracruz, Mexico, on July 11, 1959 (Douglas Robinson, personal
communication).
Only one individual has been observed in a tree at night. In the
daytime, individuals were found in elephant ear plants (_Xanthosoma_) at
Chinaja, Guatemala.
The breeding call consists of one or two moderately short notes that are
lower pitched than those of _S. baudini_, but higher pitched than those
of _S. phaeota_. Each note has a duration of 0.25 to 0.45 seconds and is
repeated at intervals of one-half minute to several minutes. Each note
is a vibrant "waunk," having 110 to 180 pulses per second and dominant
frequency of 1600 to 2100 cycles per second (Pl. 10B).
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