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
The coloration in life is as variable as it is in preservative. In life
the holotype had a tan dorsum with dark olive-green irregular markings
and small green flecks. The limbs were tan with dark brown transverse
bars. The flanks were grayish tan anteriorly; the inguinal region and
posterior surfaces of thighs were blue with black mottling. The belly
was creamy white, and the throat was brown with creamy yellow flecks.
The iris was a dull bronze color. Among the paratypes, some individuals
had green flecks, others did not. The inguinal region and posterior
surfaces of the thighs were pale blue, pale yellowish green, or grayish
tan with black mottling. The blue was most noticeable in females.
Colors of a male from Finca La Sumbadora, Panama, were described as
follows: "Dorsum olive-brown; irregular dark brown blotches, pale green
flecks, and raised creamy yellow spots on dorsal surfaces; belly creamy
white; throat grayish brown; undersides of limbs grayish tan; groin,
anterior and posterior surface of thigh, inner surface of shank,
anterior edge of tarsus, and proximal parts of third and fourth toes
pale blue marbled with dark brown and black; webbing brown; iris pale
bronze, finely reticulated with black." (Duellman, field notes, January
28, 1964.)
A female (now KU 91894) from Altos de Pacora, Panama, was described as
follows: "An irregular dark brown, green-bordered figure on head and
back; dark brown, green-bordered bands on limbs--all on a lighter brown
and heavily green-spotted background. These markings are more vivid at
night than during the day. Lower sides, from midbody onto front of
thighs and rear of thighs onto venter of shanks to heels and thence
dorsally onto basal portions of toes heavily blue spotted on a light
brown (front of thighs and venter of shanks) to blackish brown
background. Venter cream. Iris gray-brown, finely veined with dark
brown." (Charles W. Myers, field notes, December 14, 1964.) Note that in
the earlier discussion of coloration of preserved specimens, the green
spots and borders have changed to pale blue after six months in
alcohol.
In living individuals from Costa Rica and Panama west of the Canal Zone,
the blue coloration on the flanks and thighs is much less conspicuous
than in specimens from eastern Panama. The color of the iris is
variable, even in frogs from one locality. The coloration of the iris in
13 living frogs (now KU 92333-45) from Valle Hornito, Chiriqui, Panama,
was described as follows: "Iris variable--from pale to dark brown; in a
few the iris has a golden cast to the brown; in a few others the lower
half of the iris is pale gray with the upper half being light brown."
(Charles W. Myers, field notes, April 24, 1965).
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