Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus SmiliscaDuellman, William Edward
Science
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Frogs; Smilisca
Males call from shallow water. All breeding congregations of this
species that we have found were in a grassy marsh, 7.5 kilometers west
of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. Tadpoles were found in water-filled
depressions in the marsh at night. When first observed, tadpoles were
near the surface of the water; they responded to light by quickly taking
refuge in the dense grass. No tadpoles were observed by day.
The breeding call consists of a low squawk, usually followed by a series
of one or more rattling secondary notes (duration of primary notes,
0.06-0.35 seconds; of secondary notes, 0.10 to 0.47 seconds), repeated
at intervals of 5 to 55 seconds. The primary notes have 187 to 240
pulses per second and major frequencies of about 740 to 1870 cycles per
second (Pl. 11A).
Only six tadpoles are available for study. Four of them in stage 34 of
development have body lengths of 9.0 to 9.5 mm., tail lengths of 14.0 to
15.0 mm., and total lengths of 23.0 to 24.5 mm. One tadpole in stage 38
and one in stage 40 have total lengths of 31.0 mm. A typical tadpole in
stage 34 of development (KU 91807 from 7.5 km. W Puerto Viejo, Heredia
Province, Costa Rica) has a body length of 9.5 mm., tail length of 15.0
mm., and total length of 24.5 mm.; body about three-fourths as deep as
wide; snout rounded dorsally and laterally; eyes widely separated,
directed dorsolaterally; nostril about midway between eye and tip of
snout; mouth anteroventral; spiracle sinistral, about two-thirds
distance from snout to posterior end of body and slightly below midline;
anal tube dextral; caudal musculature slender, barely curved upward
distally; dorsal fin extending onto body; at mid-length of tail, depth
of caudal musculature equal to that of dorsal fin and ventral fin; body
grayish brown, palest ventrally; caudal musculature pale creamy yellow
with bold gray reticulations; caudal fins transparent with gray
reticulations anteriorly and black flecks posteriorly on both fins (Fig.
14A). Median part of upper lip bare; rest of mouth bordered by two rows
of short blunt papillae; lateral fold present; tooth-rows 2/3; upper
rows equal in length; second upper row broadly interrupted medially;
three lower rows complete, first and second rows equal in length,
slightly shorter than upper rows; third lower row noticeably shorter;
upper beak shallow, forming broad, continuous arch with slender lateral
processes; lower beak slender, broadly V-shaped, both beaks finely
serrate (Fig. 15B).
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