The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, MéxicoDuellman, William Edward
Science
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Mexico -- Michoacán de Ocampo; Reptiles -- Mexico -- Michoacán de Ocampo
_Tuxpan._--Fifteen specimens (UMMZ 115227), 28.7-33.0 (30.5)
mm. Dorsolateral dark stripe or row of dashes in all
specimens; dark spots in lateral green fields, at least
posteriorly in most; dark spots posteriorly in the dorsal
green field in five; lateral dark stripe separated from
dorsolateral stripe in all specimens; lateral white line
extends to the groin in all specimens.
As can be seen from the above descriptions, the distinguishing
characters of _Hyla microeximia_--confluence of lateral and dorsolateral
dark stripes posteriorly, extent of lateral white stripe, and
distribution of dark spots dorsally--are found in individuals from all
of the populations sampled. In the samples from western Michoacán there
is a higher incidence of _microeximia_-like frogs than in those from
other parts of the state. _Hyla eximia_ is a wide-ranging species
varying greatly geographically and individually. A thorough review of
the species and related members of the _Hyla eximia_-group is necessary
before certain populations can justifiably be segregated as subspecies
or species.
In Michoacán _Hyla eximia_ has been collected in mesquite-grassland,
pine-oak forest, and cultivated areas on the Mexican Plateau from 1500
to 2300 meters; apparently it is absent from the Sierra de Coalcomán.
This is the most abundant frog on the southern part of the Mexican
Plateau; in the rainy season breeding choruses are found in temporary
pools and in the marshes adjacent to the permanent lakes.
~Hyla lafrentzi~ Mertens and Wolterstorff
_Hyla lafrentzi_ Mertens and Wolterstorff, Zool. Anz.,
84:235, August 25, 1929.--Desierto de los Leones, Distrito
Federal, México.
Cerro San Andrés (26); Opopeo (9).
In March, 1949, James A. Peters collected this species at elevations of
2400 to 2800 meters on the west slope of Cerro San Andrés. The frogs
were found beneath logs and rocks in a damp canyon in coniferous forest.
Among the juveniles in this series is a completely transformed
individual (UMMZ 102093) having a snout-vent length of 14.5 mm. Five
adults have snout-vent lengths of 36.2-39.5 (38.0) mm. _Hyla lafrentzi_
has noticeably longer hind limbs than _H. eximia_; in the former, when
the hind limb is brought forward along the body, the tibiotarsal
articulation extends to the snout. There are dark transverse bands on
the hind limbs; the dorsolateral stripe is broken into an anterior and a
posterior segment, and the latter is narrowly bordered by white in most
specimens.
_Hyla lafrentzi_ occurs at higher elevations than any other frog in
Michoacán; the locality records from throughout the range indicate that
it is restricted to pine and pine-fir forests. In these habitats it
replaces _Hyla eximia_, which inhabits the lower pine-oak forests and
mesquite-grassland on the Mexican Plateau. Ponds are absent at places
where _Hyla lafrentzi_ has been collected; possibly the eggs are laid in
streams.
~Hyla smaragdina~ Taylor
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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