Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus SmiliscaDuellman, William Edward
Science
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Central America; Frogs; Smilisca
=================+====+==============+==============+===========
Species | N | Maxillary | Premaxillary | Vomerine
-----------------+----+--------------+--------------+-----------
_S. baudini_ | 20 | 49-65 (56.0) | 9-16 (13.6) | 5-9 (7.2)
_S. cyanosticta_ | 8 | 50-64 (57.9) | 10-12 (10.8) | 4-11 (7.1)
_S. phaeota_ | 20 | 50-68 (58.1) | 10-15 (12.1) | 5-9 (7.3)
_S. puma_ | 6 | 60-67 (63.6) | 11-13 (12.0) | 4-7 (5.3)
_S. sila_ | 8 | 48-60 (52.9) | 10-14 (11.3) | 5-7 (5.7)
_S. sordida_ | 12 | 39-55 (44.2) | 7-11 (9.3) | 4-6 (5.2)
-----------------+----+--------------+--------------+-----------
The teeth of all species of _Smilisca_ are spatulate and bifid. The
numbers of maxillary, premaxillary, and vomerine teeth are summarized in
Table 5. Smaller and presumably younger specimens of all species of
_Smilisca_ have fewer teeth than do larger specimens of the same
species. This correlation between size and number of teeth does not
exist as an interspecific trend within the genus; for example, the
smallest species in the genus, _S. puma_, has the highest number of
maxillary teeth. In small specimens of a given species wide gaps are
present between the maxillary teeth posteriorly; in large specimens the
gaps are filled by teeth, beginning anteriorly and progressing
posteriorly, until the maxillary dentition is continuous.
Musculature
No extensive study of the muscular system was undertaken, but certain
muscles know to be of taxonomic importance were studied.
_Jaw Musculature._--Starrett (1960) pointed out the unique jaw
musculature in _Smilisca_. In this genus M. depressor mandibulae
consists of two parts, one arising from the dorsal fascia and one from
the posterior arm of the squamosal. Two muscles arise from the anterior
arm of the squamosal and insert on the lateral face of the mandible. Of
these muscles, M. adductor mandibulae posterior subexternus lies medial
to the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; the other, M. adductor
mandibulae externus superficialis, lies lateral to the same nerve (Fig.
9). In most other hylids the latter muscle is absent. No significant
variation in the position of the muscles was noted in the various
species of _Smilisca_, though M. adductor mandibulae originate somewhat
more anteriorly in _S. baudini_ and _S. cyanosticta_ than in the other
members of the genus, all of which have a shorter anterior arm of the
squamosal that does not reach the maxillary. The two separate parts of
M. depressor mandibulae are not so widely separated in members of the
_sordida_ group as in the _baudini_ group.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account