Three species in group; adults having moderate amount of webbing
between fingers, and tarsal fold; breeding males having spinous,
horny, nuptial tuberosities on pollex; mouths of tadpoles having
lateral folds in lips and 4/6 or 4/7 tooth-rows; breeding call
consisting of one long note.
=Ptychohyla euthysanota=
_Diagnosis._--Rostral keel absent; nuptial spines in males small;
interorbital region much wider than eyelid.
[Illustration: PLATE 12
_Ptychohyla euthysanota euthysanota_ (KU 58008). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla euthysanota euthysanota= (Kellogg)
_Hyla euthysanota_ Kellogg, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
41:123-124, June 29, 1928 [Holotype.--USNM 73296 from Los
Esemiles, Depto. Chalatenango, El Salvador; Ruben A. Stirton
collector]. Mertens, Senckenbergiana, 33:169-171, June 15,
1952; Abhand. Senckenbergische Naturf. Gesell., 487:29,
December 1, 1952. Stuart, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 67:169,
August 5, 1954.
_Hyla rozellae_ Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 28:78-80, pl. 9,
fig. 1, May 15, 1942 [Holotype.--USNM 115039 from Salto de
Agua, Chiapas, Mexico; Hobart M. and Rozella Smith
collectors]. Taylor and Smith, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 95:587,
June 30, 1945. Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus.,
194:86, June 17, 1948. Stuart, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
67:169, August 5, 1954.
_Ptychohyla bogerti_ Taylor, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1437:13-16,
fig. 5, December 7, 1949 [Holotype.--AMNH 51847 from Rio
Grande, Oaxaca, Mexico; Thomas MacDougall collector]. Stuart,
Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 67:169, August 5, 1954.
_Ptychohyla euthysanota_, Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat.
Hist., 13:351, April 27, 1961.
_Diagnosis._--Dorsum tan to reddish brown; venter white; rarely
flecked with brown or black; a white stripe on upper lip, on flank,
and usually above anus.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 58008 from
Finca La Paz, Depto. San Marcos, Guatemala (Pl. 12). Adult male having
a snout-vent length of 35.0 mm.; tibia length, 16.5 mm.; tibia
length/snout-vent length, 47.1 per cent; foot length, 14.2 mm.; head
length, 11.0 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 31.4 per cent; head
width, 10.7 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 30.6 per cent; diameter
of eye, 3.3 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.8 mm.; tympanum/eye, 54.5 per
cent. Snout in lateral profile nearly square, slightly rounded above,
and in dorsal profile bluntly rounded; canthus pronounced; loreal
region moderately concave; lips thick, rounded, and slightly flaring;
nostrils protuberant; internarial distance, 3.0 mm.; top of head flat;
interorbital distance, 4.1 mm., and approximately a third broader than
width of eyelid, 2.9 mm. Moderately heavy dermal fold from posterior
corner of eye above tympanum to point above insertion of forelimb,
covering upper edge of tympanum; tympanum round, its diameter slightly
more than its distance from eye. Forearm moderately robust, having
distinct dermal fold on wrist; dermal fold, but no row of tubercles
along ventrolateral surface of forearm; pollex only slightly enlarged,
bearing triangular shaped patch of small horn-covered spines (128 on
right, 134 on left); second and fourth fingers equal in length;
subarticular tubercles round, distal one on fourth finger bifid; discs
moderate in size, that of third finger equal to diameter of tympanum;
no web between first and second fingers; other fingers one-third
webbed. Heels broadly overlap when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal
articulation reaches to middle of eye; low rounded tarsal fold; inner
metatarsal tubercle large, elliptical, and flat; outer metatarsal
tubercle small and round; low dermal fold from heel to disc of fifth
toe; subarticular tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to
longest 1-2-5-3-4; third and fifth toes webbed to base of disc; fourth
toe webbed to proximal end of penultimate phalanx; thin dermal fold
from inner metatarsal tubercle to disc of first toe; disc smaller than
on fingers. Anal opening at the level of the upper edge of thighs;
anal flap short; anal opening bordered above by thin transverse dermal
fold and laterally by heavy dermal fold. Skin of dorsum and ventral
surfaces of forelimbs and shanks smooth; that of throat, belly, and
ventral surfaces of thighs granular. Ventrolateral glands moderately
developed, not reaching axilla or groin and broadly separated
midventrally. Tongue ovoid, emarginate, and only slightly free
posteriorly; vomerine teeth 2-2, situated on small triangular
elevations between ovoid inner nares; openings to vocal sac large, one
situated along inner posterior edge of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs dull reddish brown with
irregular dark brown reticulations on head and body and dark brown
transverse bands on limbs; dorsal surfaces of first and second fingers
and webbing on hand cream color; dorsal surfaces of third and fourth
fingers dull brown; anterior surfaces of thighs dull creamy yellow;
posterior surfaces of thighs dull brown; tarsi and toes tan with brown
flecks; webbing of feet brown; faint creamy white stripe along lateral
edges of tarsi and forearms; thin white line along edge of upper lip;
distinct white stripe above and beside anal opening; axilla white;
throat, chest, belly, and ventral surfaces of forelimbs creamy white;
flanks white, separated from pale venter by a row of partly connected
dark brown spots; ventral surfaces of thighs dull creamy yellow; feet
grayish brown; ventrolateral glands pale grayish brown; small brown
flecks on periphery of chin.
In life the dorsal ground-color was pale reddish brown
(Orange-Cinnamon); dorsal reticulations dark brown (Chocolate); dorsal
surfaces of first and second fingers and webbing on hands creamy tan
(Light Pinkish Cinnamon); posterior surfaces of thighs reddish brown
(Vinaceous-Tawny); webbing of feet gray (Deep Mouse Gray); throat and
belly grayish white (Pale Gull Gray); ventral surfaces of hind limbs
creamy white (Marguerite Yellow); spots on flanks dark brown (Warm
Sepia); iris reddish bronze (Apricot Orange).
_Variation._--No geographic variation in structural characters is
discernible; variation in size and proportions is given in Table 1. Of
32 adults examined, seven have the tongue shallowly notched
posteriorly; in the others the tongue is emarginate. Twenty specimens
have a bifid subarticular tubercle beneath the fourth finger; in the
others there are no bifid tubercles.
The coloration described above is typical of the 16 specimens
available from Finca La Paz. The living coloration at night, when the
frogs were collected, was somewhat darker than the living colors
described above, which were recorded for the frogs the morning after
collection, at which time one individual had a pale reddish brown
dorsum (Orange-Cinnamon) with dull olive green (Deep Grape Green)
reticulations on the back and transverse bands on the limbs; the
dorsal surfaces of the first and second fingers and the discs on the
third and fourth fingers were orange (Mikado Orange).
More than half of the specimens from Finca La Paz agree in all
essential characters with the description given above. The
distinctness of the white stripe on the upper lip is variable; in two
individuals the stripe is barely discernible. Likewise, in some
individuals the white stripe on the flanks is not distinct, either
because there are few or no brown spots separating the stripe from the
pale venter, or because the ventrolateral gland has diffused the pale
color on the flanks. There is some noticeable variation in dorsal
coloration, either through a greater or lesser development of dark
pigment. One specimen (KU 58007) is grayish tan above with dark brown
markings; the posterior surfaces of the thighs are dull grayish
yellow; the first and second fingers and the webbing on the hands are
pale yellowish gray; the belly and throat are dusty white; the flecks
on the throat are gray; the ventral surfaces of the feet are grayish
brown. Dark individuals, such as KU 58009 have a uniform dark brownish
black dorsum; the belly is cream; the first and second fingers and the
webbing on the hands are dull creamy tan; the dorsal and ventral
surfaces of the feet are dark brown. In KU 58013 there is a heavy
suffusion of brown on the throat and flanks. Two specimens have
scattered white flecks on the dorsum.
The reddish brown dorsal ground-color with dark brown reticulations on
the head and body and dark brown transverse bands on the limbs seems
to be rather constant throughout the range of the subspecies.
Likewise, the presence of the white stripe on the upper lip and the
white stripe around the anal opening are present on most specimens. In
breeding males having well-developed ventrolateral glands the lateral
white stripe often is obliterated.
_Description of Tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
60042 from Finca La Paz, Depto. San Marcos, Guatemala (Figs. 4A and
6A). No limb buds; total length, 35.8 mm.; body length, 11.2 mm.; body
length/total length, 31.3 per cent. Body moderately depressed,
slightly wider than deep, ovoid in dorsal profile; mouth directed
ventrally; eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils slightly
protuberant and directed anteriorly, closer to eye than snout;
spiracle sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral.
Caudal fin low, rounded posteriorly; depth of caudal musculature about
one-half greatest depth of caudal fin; musculature extends nearly to
tip of tail.
Mouth large; lips having deep lateral folds; two complete rows of
papillae on lips; five to six rows of papillae laterally. Beaks
moderately developed, bearing peglike serrations; slender lateral
projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 4/6; upper rows subequal in
length, second longest; fourth row interrupted medially; lower rows
complete; lower rows 1-4 equal in length to upper rows; fifth lower
row somewhat shorter; sixth lower row short.
Body brown above; tip of snout cream color; grayish cream color below;
caudal musculature creamy tan; caudal fin transparent; cream-colored
crescent-shaped mark on posterior edge of body and anterior part of
caudal musculature, bordered posteriorly by dark brown blotch;
scattered brown flecks on caudal musculature and posterior part of
caudal fin. Eye bronze color in life.
_Variation._--The variation in size and proportions is given in Table
2. In some specimens the first upper tooth-row is irregular, sometimes
broken, and often shorter than other upper tooth-rows. Usually the
fourth upper and first lower, and sometimes the sixth lower,
tooth-rows are interrupted medially. One specimen has a short,
irregular, seventh lower tooth-row; all others have six.
The cream-colored crescent-shaped mark usually is distinct. The brown
blotch posterior to this mark is variously shaped ranging from a
narrow vertical bar to a triangular blotch. Brown flecks seldom are
present on the anterior part of the ventral caudal fin.
_Comparisons._--Aside from the characters given in the diagnosis, _P.
euthysanota euthysanota_ can be distinguished from both _P.
spinipollex_ and _P. leonhardschultzei_ by the absence of bold black
and white marbling on the flanks; furthermore, from the former it can
be distinguished by having more and smaller horny nuptial spines and
from the latter by having the snout, in lateral profile, rounded above
and not acutely angulate. _Ptychohyla euthysanota euthysanota_ differs
from _P. euthysanota macrotympanum_ by normally having a darker dorsal
color, broader stripe on upper lip, and a distinct lateral stripe.
Occurring sympatrically with _Ptychohyla euthysanota euthysanota_ are
several species of _Plectrohyla_, all of which differ in having a bony
prepollex, rather rugose skin on the dorsum, and more squat bodies.
Other sympatric species are _Ptychohyla schmidtorum schmidtorum_,
which lacks a tarsal fold and nuptial spines and has a red eye in
life, _Hyla salvadorensis_, which has a green dorsum and lacks spinous
nuptial tuberosities, and _Hyla sumichrasti_, a small yellow frog
usually lacking vomerine teeth.
_Life History._--This subspecies breeds in clear, swift mountain
streams. Males call from stems and leaves of plants at the edge of, or
overhanging, the streams. The breeding call consists of a soft
"wraack," repeated at intervals of three to four seconds. Each note
has a duration of 0.60 to 0.65 seconds and has 91 to 102 pulses per
second; the dominant frequency falls between 3000 and 3200 cycles per
second.
Tadpoles in various stages of development were found at Finca La Paz,
Guatemala, in late July. This indicates that there is either extreme
differential growth, or, more probably, an extended breeding season. A
tadpole having a body length of 6.8 mm. and a total length of 19.1 mm.
has a short median first upper tooth-row; lower tooth-rows 3-6 are
only two-thirds as long as lower rows 1 and 2. Two recently
metamorphosed young have snout-vent lengths of 14.2 and 14.8 mm.; they
are colored like the adults.
_Remarks._--The type specimen of _Hyla euthysanota_ Kellogg (1928:123)
is a female; therefore, when Taylor (1944) proposed the name
_Ptychohyla_ for hylids having ventrolateral glands in breeding males,
he was unaware that _Hyla euthysanota_ was a member of this group. In
his description of _Hyla rozellae_, Taylor (1942) did not compare his
specimens with _Hyla euthysanota_, but instead placed _H. rozellae_
with _H. loquax_ and _H. rickardsi_. The type series of _H. rozellae_
consists of one large adult female and several metamorphosing young.
Taylor (1949:16) based the description of _Ptychohyla bogerti_ on two
males and compared these specimens with _P. adipoventris_ Taylor [=
_P. leonhardschultzei_ (Ahl)]. Thus, in a period of 22 years the
females of this species were given two names and the male another.
Stuart (1954:169) suggested that _Hyla euthysanota_ and _Hyla
rozellae_ were _Ptychohyla_. Now that sufficient specimens are
available from throughout the range it is possible to determine that
the various named populations are conspecific.
_Distribution._--This subspecies inhabits cloud forests at elevations
of 660 to 2200 meters on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre from
extreme eastern Oaxaca and western Chiapas, Mexico, through Guatemala
to northern El Salvador; probably it occurs also in southwestern
Honduras. Aside from the specimens listed below, three in the
Frankfurt Museum from Depto. Santa Ana, El Salvador (44571, Hacienda
San Jose; 43040, Hacienda Los Planes; 65119, Miramundo) are listed by
Mertens (1952:29).
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Chiapas: Cascarada, 30 km. W of
Ciltapec_, UMMZ 87851-2; Cerro Ovando, UMMZ 87853-4; Chicomuselo, UMMZ
94439-40; Finca Juarez, 28 km. N of Escuintla, USNM 115052-5; _Las
Nubes, Cerro Ovando_, USNM 115030-8; Salto de Agua, USNM 115039-51.
_Oaxaca_: Cerro Pecho Blanco, UIMNH 40963; between La Gloria and Cerro
Azul, UIMNH 40976-7; Rio Grande, AMNH 51847-8; Santo Tomas Tecpan,
UIMNH 41071.
GUATEMALA: _San Marcos_: Finca La Paz, 2 km. W of La Reforma, KU
58001-14, 59937 (skeleton), 60042-3 (tadpoles), 60044 (4 young), MCZ
34997, UMMZ 107739, 123151-7 (tadpoles); Finca Pirineos, Rio Samala,
CNHM 35066. _Santa Rosa_: Finca La Gloria, UMMZ 123148 (tadpoles),
123150 (tadpoles). _Solola_: Finca Santo Tomas, UMMZ 123149
(tadpoles); Olas de Moca, near Moca, CNHM 20208.
EL SALVADOR: _Chalatenango_: Los Esemiles, USNM 73296. _Santa Ana_:
Miramundo, CNHM 65120.
[Illustration: PLATE 13
_Ptychohyla euthysanota macrotympanum_ (KU 58049). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla euthysanota macrotympanum= (Tanner)
_Hyla macrotympanum_ Tanner, Great Basin Nat., 17:52-53, July 31,
1957 [Holotype.--AMNH 62141 (formerly BYU 13752) from 10 miles
east of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico; Robert Bohlman
collector].
_Ptychohyla macrotympanum_, Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat.
Hist., 13:351, April 27, 1961.
_Diagnosis._--Dorsum usually pale tan; venter white with scattered
brown or black flecks; a thin white stripe on upper lip and another
above anal opening; no distinct white stripe on flanks.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 58049 from
Linda Vista, Chiapas, Mexico (Pl. 13). Adult male having a snout-vent
length of 38.0 mm.; tibia length, 19.5 mm.; tibia length/snout-vent
length, 51.3 per cent; foot length, 15.7 mm.; head length, 11.8 mm.;
head length/snout-vent length, 31.1 per cent; head width, 11.7 mm.;
head width/snout-vent length, 30.8 per cent; diameter of eye, 3.8 mm.;
diameter of tympanum, 2.1 mm.; tympanum/eye, 55.2 per cent. Snout in
lateral profile nearly square, slightly rounded above, and in dorsal
profile bluntly rounded; canthus pronounced; loreal region concave;
lips thick, rounded, and slightly flaring; nostrils protuberant;
internarial distance, 3.1 mm.; top of head flat; interorbital
distance, 3.8 mm., and approximately a fourth broader than width of
eyelid, 3.1 mm. A moderately heavy dermal fold from posterior corner
of eye above tympanum to point above insertion of forelimb, covering
upper edge of tympanum; tympanum round, its diameter equal to its
distance from eye. Forearm moderately robust, having a distinct dermal
fold on wrist; dermal fold, but no row of tubercles along
ventrolateral surface of forearm; pollex only slightly enlarged,
bearing triangular patch of small horn covered spines (94 on right,
100 on left); fourth finger slightly longer than second; subarticular
tubercles round, none bifid; discs moderate in size, that of third
finger equal to diameter of tympanum; vestige of web between first and
second fingers; other fingers one-third webbed. Heels broadly overlap
when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to middle
of eye; weak tarsal fold on distal two-thirds of tarsus; inner
metatarsal tubercle large, elliptical, and flat; outer metatarsal
tubercle small and round; no dermal fold from heel to disc of fifth
toe; subarticular tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to
longest 1-2-5-3-4; third toe webbed to base of disc; fifth toe webbed
to middle of penultimate phalanx; fourth toe webbed to proximal end of
penultimate phalanx; no fold of skin from inner metatarsal tubercle to
base of disc on first toe; discs much smaller than on fingers. Anal
opening near upper edge of thighs; short anal flap bordered above by
thin dermal fold; small tubercles and heavy dermal fold lateral to
anal opening. Skin of dorsum and ventral surfaces of fore limbs and
shanks smooth; that of throat, belly, and ventral surfaces of thighs
granular. Ventrolateral glands weakly developed, not reaching axilla
or groin and broadly separated midventrally. Tongue ovoid, shallowly
notched posteriorly, and barely free behind; vomerine teeth 2-2,
situated on small triangular elevations between ovoid inner nares;
openings to vocal sac large, one situated along inner posterior edge
of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs pale pinkish tan with the
greatest part of head and body covered by large gray interconnected
blotches; black flecks over most of dorsum; grayish brown transverse
bands on shanks; dorsal surfaces of first and second fingers pale
grayish yellow; dorsal surfaces of third and fourth fingers and
webbing on hand pale grayish tan; anterior surfaces of thighs pale
flesh-color; posterior surfaces of thighs pale grayish yellow; dorsal
surfaces of tarsi and toes pale grayish tan with black flecks; webbing
of feet pale gray; faint creamy white stripes along ventrolateral
edges of tarsi and forearms; a very thin white line along edge of
upper lip; a narrow grayish white stripe above anal opening; axilla
gray; throat, chest, belly, and ventral surfaces of forelimbs pale
grayish white; ventral surfaces of hind limbs cream color; flanks gray
flecked with brown; ventral surfaces of feet grayish tan;
ventrolateral glands pinkish tan; anterior one-half of chin flecked
with brown.
In life the dorsum was pale tan (Pinkish Buff); the dark markings on
dorsum dull brown (Tawny-Olive); tarsi pale tan (Pale Pinkish Buff);
flanks pinkish tan (Pale Cinnamon-Pink); iris coppery bronze (Capucine
Orange).
_Variation._--The few specimens from a limited geographic region
preclude any analysis of geographic variation. All specimens, except
the one described above, have the fifth toe webbed to the base of the
disc. Many individuals have a bifid subarticular tubercle beneath the
fourth finger. The shape of the posterior edge of the tongue varies
from nearly straight and shallowly notched to bluntly rounded and
emarginate. Two females (KU 58050-1) have more pointed snouts in
dorsal profile than do males.
Some specimens, such as KU 58048, are notably darker than the specimen
described above; in dark specimens the dorsum is brown with dark brown
markings; all fingers and the webbing on the hand are brown. The tarsi
and feet are like those in the specimen described above, but the
posterior surfaces of the thighs are yellowish tan heavily suffused
with brown; the venter is cream color. In life KU 58048 had a brown
(Verona Brown) dorsum with dark brown (Chocolate) markings. KU 58047
is slightly darker than KU 58048 and has scattered small white flecks
on the dorsum. All specimens have the thin white line on the upper
lip, but in some individuals it is indistinct. The grayish white line
above the anus is present in all specimens.
_Description of Tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
60049 from Rio Hondo, 9.5 kilometers south of Pueblo Nuevo
Solistahuacan, Chiapas, Mexico (Figs. 4B and 6B). No limb buds; total
length, 36.2 mm.; body length, 11.1 mm.; body length/total length,
30.6 per cent. Body moderately depressed, slightly wider than deep,
ovoid in dorsal profile; mouth directed ventrally; eyes small,
directed dorsolaterally; nostrils slightly protuberant and directed
anteriorly, somewhat closer to eye than snout; spiracle sinistral and
posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Caudal fin low, acutely
rounded posteriorly; depth of caudal musculature slightly more than
one-half greatest depth of caudal fin; caudal musculature extending
nearly to tip of tail.
Mouth large; lips having deep lateral folds; two complete rows of
papillae on lips; five or six rows of papillae laterally. Beaks
moderately developed, bearing small peglike serrations; moderately
wide lateral projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 4/6; upper rows
subequal in length; fourth row interrupted medially; length of lower
rows 1-4 subequal to upper rows; fifth and sixth lower rows decreasing
in length; first lower row interrupted medially.
Body brown above; tip of snout cream color; venter creamy white;
caudal musculature creamy tan; caudal fin transparent; cream-colored
crescent-shaped mark on posterior edge of body and anterior part of
caudal musculature, bordered posterodorsally by dark brown blotch;
four dark brown blotches on dorsum of anterior part of caudal
musculature; scattered brown flecks on caudal musculature and fin; eye
silvery bronze in life.
_Variation._--The variation in size and proportions is given in Table
2. All specimens have 4/6 tooth-rows; in some the first lower row is
interrupted medially. Specimens from Jacaltenango and two kilometers
west of San Pedro Necta, Depto. Huehuetenango, Guatemala, have weakly
developed sixth lower tooth-rows.
The cream-colored crescent-shaped mark is distinct in all specimens;
the dorsal blotches on the anterior part of the caudal musculature are
narrow and do not extend far onto the sides of the tail. The blotches
are most distinct in small tadpoles and sometimes indistinct in large
ones.
_Comparisons._--_Ptychohyla euthysanota macrotympanum_ can be
distinguished from both _P. spinipollex_ and _P. leonhardschultzei_ by
the absence of bold black and white marbling on the flanks, as well as
by the characters given in the diagnosis; furthermore, from the former
it differs in having more and smaller horny nuptial tuberosities and
from the latter by having the snout, in lateral profile, rounded above
instead of angulate. _Ptychohyla euthysanota macrotympanum_ differs
from _P. e. euthysanota_ by normally having a paler dorsum, narrower
stripe on upper lip, and no distinct lateral stripe.
_Ptychohyla euthysanota macrotympanum_ occurs sympatrically with
_Plectrohyla guatemalensis_ and _P. matudai matudai_. Each of the last
two has a bony prepollex, rather rugose skin on the dorsum, and more
squat body. Other sympatric species are _Hyla walkeri_, which has a
green dorsum with brown markings and a rather pointed snout, and _Hyla
sumichrasti_, a small yellow frog usually lacking vomerine teeth.
_Life History._--This species breeds in clear mountain streams in
mixed pine and broad-leafed forest. Males call from trees and bushes
along the streams. The breeding call consists of a soft "wraack,"
repeated three to nine times with intervals of 2.7 to 3.4 seconds
between notes. Each note has a duration of 0.60 to 0.65 second, and a
rate of 92 to 100 pulses per second; the dominant frequency falls
between 3000 and 3200 cycles per second (Pl. 11B). The call is
indistinguishable from that of _P. e. euthysanota_.
Tadpoles in various stages of development were found in the Rio Hondo,
Chiapas, on June 16, 1960. The smallest tadpole has a total length of
24.1 mm.; in this individual the sixth lower tooth row has barely
started to develop. A metamorphosing frog taken at the same time has a
snout-vent length of 19.8 mm., a short remnant of the tail, and the
mouth and tongue developed, whereas another individual having a
snout-vent length of 17.8 mm. and a tail 31.0 mm. in length still has
larval teeth. Three completely metamorphosed juveniles collected by L.
C. Stuart at Jacaltenango, Guatemala, on June 6 and 7, 1955, have
snout-vent lengths of 16.0, 16.0, and 16.1 mm.
_Remarks._--Tanner (1957:52) based the description of _Hyla
macrotympanum_ on a single female, which, of course, lacked the
characters diagnostic of _Ptychohyla_. On the basis of general
external characters Tanner suggested that _Hyla macrotympanum_ was
related to _H. miotympanum_, from which it differed in having a larger
tympanum and a bifid subarticular tubercle beneath the fourth finger.
The collection of additional females, together with males of the
species, has shown that _Hyla macrotympanum_ is a _Ptychohyla_.
Intergradation between _Ptychohyla euthysanota_ and _P. macrotympanum_
has not been demonstrated. Currently their ranges are separated by the
dry valleys of the Rio Grijalva and Rio Cuilco. The similarity in
structure of the adults and tadpoles and the indistinguishable
breeding calls are the basis for considering the two populations
subspecies.
_Distribution._--This species occurs in mixed pine and broad-leafed
forests at elevations of 700 to 1700 meters on the southern slopes of
the Chiapan Highlands and Sierra de Cuchumatanes, in Guatemala. These
forests are on the south facing slopes north of the valleys of the Rio
Grijalva and Rio Cuilco.
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Chiapas_: 6 km. NE of Chiapa de Corzo,
TCWC 16183; 16 km. E of Chiapa de Corzo, AMNH 62141; Linda Vista, 2
km. NW of Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, KU 58049-51, 59939 (skeleton);
_Rio Hondo, 9.5 km. S of Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan_, KU 58047-8,
60046-7, 60048-9 (tadpoles); San Fernando, MZTG 15, 17; Tonina
(ruins), KU 41592.
GUATEMALA: _Huehuetenango_: Jacaltenango, UMMZ 123139 (tadpoles); 0.5
km. E of Jacaltenango, UMMZ 123142-3; 2 km. S of Jacaltenango, UMMZ
123141; 2 km. W of San Pedro Necta, UMMZ 123140 (tadpoles).
[Illustration: PLATE 14
_Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei_ (KU 64117). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei= (Ahl)
_Hyla leonhard-schultzei_ Ahl, Zool. Anz., 106:185-186, fig. 1,
April 15, 1934 [Holotype.--ZMB 34353 from Malinaltepec,
Guerrero, Mexico; Leonhard Schultze collector]. Smith and
Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 184:87, June 17, 1948.
_Hyla godmani_, Ahl, Zool. Anz., 106:186, April 15, 1934.
_Hyla pinorum_ Taylor, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 50:46-48,
pl. 2, fig. 2, April 21, 1937 [Holotype.--UIMNH 25049 from
Agua del Obispo, Guerrero, Mexico; Edward H. Taylor
collector]. Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 194:87,
June 17, 1948.
_Ptychohyla adipoventris_ Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.,
30:41-45, May 15, 1944 [Holotype.--UIMNH 25047 from Agua del
Obispo, Guerrero, Mexico; Edward T. Taylor collector]. Smith
and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 194:91, June 17, 1948.
Taylor, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1437:16, December 7, 1949.
Stuart, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 67:169, August 5, 1954.
_Hyla milleri_ Shannon, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., 101:473-477,
figs. 92b, 93a-c, May 17, 1951 [Holotype.--USNM 123700 from
San Lucas Camotlan, Oaxaca, Mexico; Walter S. Miller
collector].
_Ptychohyla leonhard-schultzei_, Duellman, Herpetologica,
16:191-197, figs. 1-3, September 23, 1960; Univ. Kansas Publ.
Mus. Nat. Hist., 13:351, April 27, 1961.
_Diagnosis._--Rostral keel present; snout in lateral profile not
rounded above; interorbital region much broader than eyelid; distal
subarticular tubercle beneath fourth finger bifid or double; no white
stripe on edge of upper lip; flanks white with black spots.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 64117 from
Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca, Mexico (Pl. 14). Adult male having a snout-vent
length of 35.6 mm.; tibia length, 18.0 mm.; tibia length/snout-vent
length, 50.5 per cent; foot length, 14.3 mm.; head length, 10.7 mm.;
head length/snout-vent length, 30.1 per cent; head width, 10.6 mm.;
head width/snout-vent length, 29.8 per cent; diameter of eye, 3.6 mm.;
diameter of tympanum, 1.8 mm.; tympanum/eye, 50.0 per cent. Snout in
lateral profile square, not rounded above, and in dorsal profile
rounded with pointed tip resulting from vertical rostral keel; canthus
pronounced; loreal region barely concave; lips thick, rounded, and
barely flaring; nostrils protuberant; internarial distance, 3.2 mm.;
top of head flat; interorbital distance, 3.8 mm., and approximately a
fifth broader than width of eyelid, 3.2 mm. A moderately heavy dermal
fold from posterior corner of eye above tympanum and curving ventrad
to anterior edge of insertion of forelimb, covering upper edge of
tympanum; tympanum round, its diameter equal to its distance from eye.
Forearm moderately robust, having distinct dermal fold on wrist; row
of small, low, rounded tubercles along ventrolateral surface of
forearm; pollex only slightly enlarged, bearing triangular patch of
small horn-covered spines (56 on right, 62 on left); second finger
noticeably shorter than fourth; subarticular tubercles round, distal
ones on third and fourth toes bifid; discs moderate in size, that of
third finger slightly larger than diameter of tympanum; no web between
first and second fingers; other fingers one-third webbed. Heels
broadly overlap when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal articulation
reaches to middle of eye; a low rounded tarsal fold on distal half of
tarsus; inner metatarsal tubercle elevated, flat, and elliptical;
outer metatarsal tubercle at base of fourth toe, round; row of low,
sometimes indistinct, tubercles from heel to base of fifth toe;
subarticular tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to
longest 1-2-3-5-4, third and fifth being about equal in length; third
and fifth toes webbed to base of disc; fourth toe webbed to base of
penultimate phalanx; discs of toes much smaller than on fingers. Anal
opening near dorsal surface of thighs; short anal flap; opening
bordered laterally by heavy dermal fold and ventrolaterally by large
tubercles. Skin of dorsum and ventral surfaces of forelimbs and shanks
smooth; that of throat, belly, and ventral surfaces of thighs
granular. Ventrolateral glands moderately developed, reaching axilla
but not to groin and broadly separated midventrally. Tongue cordiform,
shallowly notched behind and barely free posteriorly; vomerine teeth
4-3, situated on transverse elevations between ovoid inner nares;
openings to vocal sac large, one situated along inner posterior edge
of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs pale tan with large
interconnected dark brown blotches on head and body and broad dark
brown transverse bands on limbs; dorsal surfaces of first and second
fingers and of webbing of hands pale brown; dorsal surfaces of third
and fourth fingers dark brown; anterior surfaces of thighs
flesh-color; posterior surfaces of thighs brown; dorsal surfaces of
tarsi and feet dark brown; narrow white stripe along ventrolateral
edges of forearms and tarsi; a faint creamy white stripe above anal
opening; axilla white; flanks creamy white, boldly spotted with black;
throat and chest white; ventral surfaces of tarsi and feet dark brown;
other ventral surfaces dusty cream color; large brown spots on chin
and anterior part of abdomen.
In life the dorsum was reddish brown (Orange-Cinnamon) with dark brown
(Chocolate) blotches; first and second fingers and webbing on hand
pale reddish brown (Cinnamon); webbing on feet dark brown (Clove
Brown); flanks pale creamy white (Pale Olive Buff) with dark brown
(Bone Brown) spots; iris reddish bronze (Apricot Orange).
_Variation._--No noticeable geographic variation is apparent in the
few available specimens; variations in proportions are given in Table
1. The distal subarticular tubercle of the fourth finger is either
bifid or double in all specimens; that on the third finger usually is
bifid, sometimes single. The vertical rostral keel is prominent in all
freshly preserved specimens; in some older specimens it is indistinct.
The tongue always is notched posteriorly; in some individuals the
notch is shallow; in others it is deep.
Some specimens are paler and less boldly marked than the specimen
described above. All specimens from Agua del Obispo and some specimens
from the northern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Oaxaca have a
pale tan dorsum with brown markings. In most individuals the white
color in the axilla extends onto the posterior edge of the upper arm.
The creamy white color of the flanks is constant and usually extends
slightly dorsad in the inguinal region. The white stripe above, and
sometimes continuing down beside, the anal opening varies from a thin
indistinct line or row of flecks to a distinct continuous stripe. Two
specimens have dark brown spots on the belly; in the others the spots
are confined to the flanks and throat.
_Description of tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
68556 from 7.5 kilometers south of Yetla, Oaxaca, Mexico (Figs. 4C and
6C). No limb buds; total length, 37.3 mm.; body length, 12.2 mm.; body
length/total length, 32.7 per cent; body slightly depressed, barely
wider than deep, ovoid in dorsal profile; mouth directed ventrally;
eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely protuberant and
directed anterolaterally, about midway between snout and eye; spiracle
sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Caudal fin
low, bluntly rounded posteriorly; greatest depth of caudal musculature
about one-half depth of caudal fin; musculature extends nearly to tip
of tail.
Mouth large; lips having deep lateral folds; two complete rows of
papillae on lips; five to seven rows of papillae laterally; beaks
moderately developed, bearing short peglike serrations; moderately
wide lateral projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 4/6; upper rows
subequal in length; fourth row interrupted medially; length of lower
rows 1-4 equal to upper rows; fifth and sixth lower rows shorter;
first lower row interrupted medially.
Body brown above; tip of snout brown; venter creamy gray; caudal
musculature creamy tan; caudal fin transparent; cream-colored
crescent-shaped mark on posterior edge of body; dark brown flecks on
caudal musculature and all except anterior two-thirds of ventral
caudal fin; large brown square blotches on dorsum of caudal fin; eye
reddish brown in life.
_Variation._--The variation in size and proportions is given in Table
2. With the exception of one specimen having a short, broken, seventh
tooth-row, all specimens have 4/6 tooth-rows that are like those
described above. In some specimens the brown blotches on the dorsum of
the caudal musculature are fused and marked with cream-colored flecks.
_Comparisons._--_Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei_ differs from all other
members of the _Ptychohyla euthysanota_ group in having a square
snout, and further differs from _P. spinipollex_ in more numerous and
smaller nuptial spines and in transverse, instead of posteromedially
slanting, vomerine processes between the inner nares. _Ptychohyla
leonhardschultzei_ differs from _P. euthysanota_ in having a rostral
keel and in having white flanks boldly spotted with black.
All small hylids that are sympatric with _Ptychohyla
leonhardschultzei_ are either yellow (_Hyla dendroscarta_ and _H.
melanomma_) or green (_Hyla erythromma_, which has a red eye, _Hyla
hazelae_, which has a black line on the canthus, and _Ptychohyla
ignicolor_, which has red flash colors on the thighs).
_Life History._--This frog has been found along streams in cloud
forests and in pine-oak forest. Males call from vegetation along the
stream or from rocks in and at the edge of the stream. The call is a
single, long, soft "wraack," repeated at intervals of anywhere from
several seconds to three or four minutes. Each note has a duration of
0.62 to 0.95 of a second and a rate of 76 to 78 pulses per second; the
dominant frequency falls between 2700 and 2800 cycles per second
(Pl. 11C).
Tadpoles were found in several streams in northern Oaxaca. A tadpole
having a total length of 21.1 mm. has three upper and four lower
tooth-rows well developed; the fourth upper and fifth lower rows are
weakly present, and the sixth lower row has not started to develop.
Two metamorphosed young have snout-vent lengths of 15.2 and 15.5 mm.
_Remarks._--Four specific names have been applied to this species. Ahl
(1934:185) based his description of _Hyla leonhardschultzei_ on a
small, poorly preserved female. Taylor (1944:41) proposed the generic
name _Ptychohyla_ for a species (named therein as _P. adipoventris_)
of hylid having ventrolateral glands and horn-covered nuptial spines.
Obviously, Taylor was unaware that _Hyla leonhardschultzei_ was the
same species. Earlier Taylor (1937:46) described _Hyla pinorum_. The
types of all of these species came from the Pacific slopes of the
Sierra del Sur in Guerrero. Examination of the types and other
available specimens shows that they are representatives of a single
species. The type of _Hyla pinorum_ is an immature male having a
snout-vent length of 26.7 mm. All of these specimens have the square
snout and black and white flanks characteristic of _Ptychohyla
leonhard-schultzei_. Although Shannon (1951:473) based his description
of _Hyla milleri_ on a male having well-developed ventrolateral
glands, he overlooked the presence of these glands in his description
and discussion of relationships. The acquisition of more specimens
from northern Oaxaca has shown that _Hyla milleri_ is the same as
_Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei_.
_Distribution._--This species is known from pine-oak forest and cloud
forest on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero
and Oaxaca and from the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental
in northern Oaxaca. Specimens have been collected at elevations
between 700 and 1650 meters. Probably the species occurs in humid
forests at similar elevations around the eastern end of the Mexican
Highlands in Oaxaca.
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Guerrero_: Agua del Obispo, CNHM
123489-90, 126651, 106300, MCZ 29639, UIMNH 25047, 25049, USNM 114551;
Malinaltepec, ZMB 34351, 34353. _Oaxaca_: 2.5 km. N of La Soledad, KU
58061; San Lucas Camotlan, UIMNH 3201, USNM 123700-1; Vista Hermosa,
KU 64116-7, 64119, 68560 (tadpoles), 71344, 71717-8 (tadpoles), UMMZ
119604; 5 km. S of Yetla, KU 60045 (tadpoles); _7.5 km. S of Yetla_,
KU 64118, 68556-7 (tadpoles), 68559 (tadpoles), 68561 (2 young), 68630
(skeleton), UMMZ 115514-5, 118863 (tadpoles); 9 km. S of Yetla, KU
68558 (tadpoles).
[Illustration: PLATE 15
_Ptychohyla spinipollex_ (KU 58054). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla spinipollex= (Schmidt)
_Hyla euthysanota_, Dunn and Emlen, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 84:25, March 22, 1932.
_Hyla spinipollex_ Schmidt, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 49:45-46,
May 1, 1936 [Holotype.--MCZ 21300 from the mountains behind
Ceiba, Depto. Atlantidad, Honduras; Raymond E. Stadelman
collector]. Stuart, Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan,
69:32-34, figs. 5-6, June 12, 1948; Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol.
Univ. Michigan, 45:22, 52, 54, 57, May, 1950; Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 67:169, August 5, 1954.
_Ptychohyla spinipollex_, Stuart, Contr. Lab. Vert. Biol. Univ.
Michigan, 68:48, November, 1954. Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ.
Mus. Nat. Hist., 13:351, April 27, 1961.
_Diagnosis._--Rostral keel present; snout in lateral profile rounded
above; eyelid nearly as wide as interorbital region; flanks white with
brown spots; belly spotted; nuptial spines pointed and moderate in
size.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 58054 from
Finca Los Alpes, Depto. Alta Verapaz, Guatemala (Pl. 15). Adult male
having a snout-vent length of 37.7 mm.; tibia length, 18.2 mm.; tibia
length/snout-vent length, 48.2 per cent; foot length, 15.8 mm.; head
length, 11.7 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 31.0 per cent; head
width, 11.7 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 31.0 per cent; diameter
of eye, 3.6 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.9 mm.; tympanum/eye, 52.7 per
cent. Snout in lateral profile nearly square, slightly rounded above,
and in dorsal profile rounded with a pointed tip resulting from
vertical rostral keel; canthus pronounced; loreal region barely
concave; lips thick, rounded, and barely flaring; nostrils
protuberant; internarial distance, 3.0 mm.; top of head flat;
interorbital distance, 3.7 mm., about equal to width of eyelid, 3.6
mm. A heavy dermal fold from posterior corner of eye above tympanum to
point above insertion of forearm, covering upper edge of tympanum;
tympanum round, its diameter equal to its distance from eye. Forearm
moderately robust, having faint dermal fold on wrist; row of low,
rounded tubercles along ventrolateral edge of forearm; pollex only
slightly enlarged, bearing triangular patch of moderate-sized,
pointed, horn-covered spines (38 on right, 43 on left); second finger
noticeably shorter than fourth; subarticular tubercles round, distal
one on fourth finger bifid; discs of fingers of moderate size, that of
third finger slightly smaller than diameter of tympanum; vestigial web
between first and second fingers; other fingers one-third webbed.
Heels broadly overlapping when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal
articulation reaches to middle of eye; distinct, but low, tarsal fold
extending length of tarsus; inner metatarsal tubercle elevated, flat,
and elliptical; outer metatarsal tubercle small and round, near base
of fourth toe; row of low indistinct tubercles from heel to base of
fifth toe; subarticular tubercles round; length of toes from shortest
to longest 1-2-3-5-4, the third and fifth being about equal in length;
third and fifth toes webbed to base of disc; fourth toe webbed to base
of penultimate phalanx; discs of toes slightly smaller than those on
fingers. Anal opening near upper edge of thighs; opening bordered
laterally by moderately heavy dermal folds and ventrolaterally by
tubercles. Skin of dorsum and ventral surfaces of forelimbs and shanks
smooth; that of throat, belly, and ventral surfaces of thighs
granular. Ventrolateral glands barely evident. Tongue ovoid, barely
notched behind and slightly free posteriorly; vomerine teeth 2-3,
situated on V-shaped elevations between round inner nares; openings
to vocal sac large, one situated along inner posterior edge of each
mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs grayish tan with dark
brown reticulations on head and body and dark brown transverse bars or
spots on limbs; first and second fingers cream color; third and fourth
fingers and webbing on hands pale grayish brown; anterior surfaces of
thighs reddish tan; posterior surfaces of thighs yellowish tan; tarsi
and toes pale grayish tan with brown flecks; webbing on foot pale
brown; faint white stripe along ventrolateral edges of tarsi and
forearms; narrow white line above and beside anal opening; no white
stripe on edge of upper lip; axilla pale flesh-color; throat, chest,
and ventral surfaces of limbs pale creamy gray; belly white with
scattered brown flecks; flanks grayish white with dark brown flecks;
ventral surfaces of tarsi dark brown; ventrolateral glands grayish
tan.
In life the dorsal ground-color of the head, body, fore limbs, and
thighs was yellowish tan (Pinkish Buff); dorsal surfaces of shanks and
tarsi pale yellowish tan (Pale Pinkish Buff); markings on head and
back brown (Snuff Brown) to dark brown (Chocolate); dark bands on
limbs brown (Tawny-Olive); first and second fingers creamy tan (Light
Pinkish Cinnamon); posterior surfaces of thighs creamy tan (Light
Pinkish Cinnamon); third and fourth fingers and webbing on hand
grayish brown (Avellaneous); webbing on feet dark brown (Olive Brown);
axilla pale pink (Hydrangea Pink); flanks buff (Cream-Buff) becoming
yellow (Lemon Chrome) in groin; spots on flanks dark brown (Clove
Brown); iris dull grayish bronze (Orange-Citrine).
_Variation._--The distal subarticular tubercle beneath the fourth
finger is bifid in about two-thirds of the specimens; in the rest it
is round. The posterior edge of the tongue varies from being
emarginate to shallowly notched. In most specimens the row of
tubercles along the outer edge of the tarsus is made up of discrete
tubercles, but in some individuals the tubercles form a nearly
continuous dermal fold. Most specimens have the vomerine teeth
situated on V-shaped elevations, but in some individuals the
elevations are more nearly transversely situated between the inner
nares.
All 42 specimens from Finca Los Alpes, Guatemala, have dark brown
spots and flecks on the venter. Some individuals have only a few
flecks on the throat and a few large spots on the flanks, as does KU
64125. Other specimens, such as KU 64132, have dense spotting over the
entire venter. The color of the dorsum varies from pale tan to dark
brown with darker brown markings; the white line above the anus is
present in all specimens, but in some it is indistinct. KU 58053 and
64127 have a dark brown dorsum with large pale tan, square blotches;
in life the blotches were pale tan (Pinkish Buff); the rest of the
dorsum was dark brown (Sayal Brown). KU 58052 is dark brown with many
small white flecks on the dorsum; in life the dorsum was deep olive
brown (Dark Olive).
Aside from the differences mentioned above, all specimens from
Guatemala are similar in coloration. Three specimens from Honduras
(MCZ 21300 and UMMZ 113102-3) have unspotted white venters. MCZ 21300,
the holotype of _P. spinipollex_, lacks a white stripe above the anal
opening, whereas the stripe is indistinct in UMMZ 113102-3.
_Description of tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
60053 from Fina Los Alpes, Depto. Alta Verapaz, Guatemala (Figs. 4D
and 6D). No limb buds; total length, 37.2 mm.; body length, 12.2 mm.;
body length/total length, 32.8 per cent. Body rounded, not depressed,
as wide as deep, ovoid in dorsal profile; mouth directed ventrally;
eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely protuberant and
directed anterolaterally, somewhat closer to eye than snout; spiracle
sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Caudal fin
low, bluntly rounded posteriorly; greatest depth of caudal musculature
about one-half depth of caudal fin; musculature extends nearly to tip
of tail.
Mouth large; lips having deep lateral folds; two complete rows of
papillae on lips; six or seven rows of papillae laterally; beaks
moderately developed, bearing fine blunt serrations; slender lateral
projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 4/7; upper rows subequal in
length; fourth row interrupted medially; lower rows 1-4 equal in
length to upper rows; lower rows 5-7 decreasing in length; first lower
row interrupted medially.
Top of head and tip of snout brown; venter creamy gray; caudal
musculature tan; caudal fin transparent; faint cream-colored, narrow,
crescent-shaped mark on posterior edge of body, not bordered
posteriorly by dark brown mark; brown flecks scattered on caudal
musculature and caudal fin; only a few flecks on anterior half of
ventral caudal fin; eye bronze-color in life.
_Variation._--The variation in size and proportions as compared with
tadpoles of other species is given in Table 2. Of the 57 tadpoles of
this species that I have examined, 21 have only six lower tooth-rows,
although in some of these specimens a faint ridge for a seventh row is
present. In those specimens having seven lower rows, the seventh often
is broken.
There is considerable variation in coloration. None has a distinct
cream-colored, crescent-shaped mark bordered posteriorly by a dark
brown bar or triangle, as in the other species in the _Ptychohyla
euthysanota_ group. Most specimens have a rather indistinct crescent;
some have no crescent. In a few specimens there is a weakly outlined
dark mark posterior to the crescent. Some specimens in a series of
tadpoles from 32 kilometers north of Morazan, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala,
have faint dorsal blotches on the dorsal musculature, much like those
in tadpoles of _Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei_.
_Comparisons._--_Ptychohyla spinipollex_ differs from all other
species in the genus by having moderate-sized, instead of small,
pointed nuptial spines; also it has fewer spines than the other
species (see discussion of this character in Analysis of Data). The
nearly equal interorbital breadth and width of the upper eyelid also
is diagnostic of this species.
Other hylids sympatric with _Ptychohyla spinipollex_ include three
species of _Plectrohyla_, each of which has a bony prepollex, heavy
body, and rugose skin on the dorsum. The only other sympatric hylid
that could be confused with _Ptychohyla spinipollex_ is _Hyla
bromeliacea_, which has a round snout and yellowish tan dorsum not
marked with dark brown.
_Life History._--At Finca Los Alpes, Guatemala, in July, 1960, and in
August, 1961, calling males were found on bushes and trees along
cascading mountain streams. The breeding call consists of a soft
"wraack," repeated at intervals of 45 seconds to four minutes. Each
note has a duration of about .46 of a second and a rate of 147 pulses
per second. The dominant frequency is 4300 cycles per second (Pl. 11A).
Tadpoles have been found in cascading mountain streams. Two
metamorphosed young have snout-vent lengths of 15.0 and 15.5 mm.
_Remarks._--There is little doubt that all of the specimens herein
referred to _Ptychohyla spinipollex_ are conspecific. However, the
three specimens from Honduras, including the type of _Ptychohyla
spinipollex_, differ from Guatemalan specimens in lacking all dark
spotting on the venter. Additional specimens from Honduras and eastern
Guatemala may show that two subspecies are recognizable, in which case
the nominal subspecies will be the population in Honduras.
_Distribution._--This species lives in cloud forests at elevations of
800 to 1700 meters on the Atlantic side of the Guatemalan Highlands
from the Sierra de Cuchumatanes in western Guatemala eastward to
central Honduras.
_Specimens examined._--GUATEMALA: _Alta Verapaz_: Finca Chichen, UMMZ
90876 (tadpoles); Finca Los Alpes, KU 58052-60, 59939 (skeleton),
60053 (tadpoles), 64122-41, 68562, 68563 (tadpoles), 68631-2
(skeletons), MCZ 35000-1, UMMZ 90873, 90874 (3), 90875 (tadpoles); La
Primavera, UMMZ 90877 (tadpoles); Panzamala, UMMZ 90878 (tadpoles).
_Baja Verapaz_: 32 km. N of Morazan, KU 68564 (tadpoles); _Santa
Elena_, UMMZ 98119, 98120 (2). _Huehuetenango_: 1 km. E of Barillas,
UMMZ 123136-7 (tadpoles). _Progreso_: Finca Bucaral, UMMZ 106783 (3),
123138 (tadpoles), S-1292 (skeleton).
HONDURAS: _Atlantidad_: Mountains behind Ceiba, MCZ 21300. _Morazan_:
Cerro Uyuca, UMMZ 123102-3.