Two species in group; adults having only vestige of web between fingers
and lacking tarsal fold; pollex of breeding males lacking spinous,
horny, nuptial tuberosities; mouth of tadpole greatly expanded,
funnel-shaped, lacking lateral folds, and having 3/3 tooth-rows;
breeding call consisting of series of short notes.
=Ptychohyla schmidtorum=
_Diagnosis._--Diameter of tympanum more than half of diameter of eye;
internarial region depressed; toes three-fourths webbed; no red
flash-colors on thighs.
[Illustration: PLATE 16
_Ptychohyla schmidtorum schmidtorum_ (KU 58043). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla schmidtorum schmidtorum= Stuart
_Ptychohyla schmidtorum_ Stuart, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
67:169-172, August 5, 1954 [Holotype.--CNHM 27055 from El
Porvenir (17 kilometers air-line west of San Marcos), Depto.
San Marcos, Guatemala; Karl P. Schmidt collector]. Duellman,
Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 13:351, 355, April 27, 1961.
_Diagnosis._--Vomerine teeth 5-11; dorsum dark brown; white spot below
eye; eye red in life.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 58043 from
Finca La Paz, Depto. San Marcos, Guatemala (Pl. 16). Adult male having
snout-vent length of 31.6 mm.; tibia length, 15.0 mm.; tibia
length/snout-vent length, 47.5 per cent; foot length, 12.5 mm.; head
length, 10.2 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 32.3 per cent; head
width, 9.9 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 31.3 per cent; diameter
of eye, 3.4 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.8 mm.; tympanum/eye, 52.9 per
cent. Snout in lateral profile nearly square, slightly rounded above
and below, and in dorsal profile bluntly squared; canthus pronounced;
loreal region concave; lips thick, rounded, and flaring; nostrils
protuberant; internarial distance, 2.2 mm.; internarial region
depressed; top of head flat; interorbital distance, 3.4 mm., much
greater than width of eyelid, 2.5 mm. Thin dermal fold from posterior
corner of eye above tympanum to insertion of forelimb, covering upper
edge of tympanum; tympanum round, its diameter equal to its distance
from eye. Forearm slender, lacking distinct dermal fold on wrist; row
of low rounded tubercles along ventrolateral edge of forearm; pollex
slightly enlarged; no nuptial spines; second and fourth fingers about
equal in length; subarticular tubercles small and round, distal one
beneath fourth finger bifid; discs small, that of third finger
noticeably smaller than tympanum; no web between first and second
fingers; vestige of web between other fingers. Heels overlap when hind
limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to middle of eye; no
tarsal fold; inner metatarsal tubercle large, flat, and elliptical;
outer metatarsal tubercle small, ovoid, slightly more distal than
inner; subarticular tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to
longest 1-2-5-3-4; third and fifth toes webbed to base of discs;
fourth toe webbed to base of penultimate phalanx; discs of toes
smaller than on fingers. Anal opening directed posteriorly at upper
edge of thighs; no anal flap; pair of large tubercles below anal
opening and smaller tubercles farther below. Skin of dorsum and
ventral surfaces of forelimbs and shanks smooth; that of belly and
ventral surfaces of thighs granular. Ventrolateral glands well
developed, reaching axilla and groin and narrowly separated on chest.
Tongue ovoid, emarginate posteriorly, and only slightly free behind;
vomerine teeth 3-3, situated on small triangular elevations between
ovid inner nares; openings to vocal sac large, one situated along
inner posterior edge of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsum of head, body, and limbs reddish brown with indistinct,
irregular darker brown markings on body and dark brown transverse
bands or spots on limbs; first and second fingers creamy white; third
and fourth fingers brown; dorsal surfaces of tarsi and third, fourth,
and fifth toes tan with brown spots; first and second toes and webbing
on feet creamy tan; enamel-white stripe along edge of upper lip
continuing over, and on posterior edge of, forearm to groin, expanded
to form spot below eye; belly white, unspotted; ventrolateral glands
pale brown; ventral surfaces of hind limbs and anterior and posterior
surfaces of thighs cream color; enamel-white stripe on heel; creamy
white stripe along ventrolateral edges of tarsi and forearms.
In life dorsum reddish brown (Terra Cotta) with dark brown (Burnt
Umber) markings; first and second fingers and first and second toes
orange-yellow (Light Orange-Yellow); posterior surfaces of thighs pale
reddish tan (Ochraceous-Salmon); webbing on feet yellowish tan (Deep
Colonial Buff); belly white; iris red (Nopal Red).
_Variation._--Little variation in structural characters was observed.
All but five specimens have bifid subarticular tubercles beneath the
fourth finger. Three specimens have cordiform tongues, and in four
others the tongue is ovoid and shallowly notched behind; all other
specimens have an emarginate ovoid tongue.
Some individuals when active at night had a pale brown
(Ochraceous-Tawny) dorsum with dull olive green (Dark Olive Buff)
markings. Otherwise there was no noticeable variation in color.
_Description of tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
60051 from Finca La Paz, Depto. San Marcos, Guatemala (Figs. 5A and
6E). Small hind limbs; total length, 37.9 mm.; body length, 11.6 mm.;
body length/total length, 30.6 per cent. Body only slightly depressed,
nearly as deep as wide, in dorsal profile ovoid, widest just posterior
to eyes; in lateral profile snout rounded; mouth directed ventrally;
eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely protuberant,
directed anteriorly, somewhat closer to eye than snout; spiracle
sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Tail long and
slender; caudal fin low and rounded posteriorly; depth of caudal
musculature one-half greatest depth of caudal fin; musculature not
extending to tip of tail.
Mouth large; thin fleshy lips greatly expanded and forming large
funnel-shaped disc; width of mouth two-thirds greatest width of body;
outer edge of lips having one row of small papillae; inner surfaces of
mouth smooth; scattered large papillae forming one nearly complete row
around teeth; other large papillae laterally; beaks moderately
developed, bearing long, pointed denticulations; no lateral
projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 3/3, all short; second and third
upper rows subequal in length; first upper row shorter; first and
third upper rows interrupted medially; first lower row interrupted
medially, equal in length to second and third upper rows; second lower
row slightly shorter; third lower row shortest.
Body mottled brown and creamy gray above and below; mouth colored like
body; caudal musculature creamy tan; caudal fin transparent; dark
brown streak mid-laterally on anterior third of caudal musculature;
rest of tail and all of caudal fin heavily flecked with brown; eye red
in life.
_Variation._--The third upper tooth-row is interrupted in all
specimens; in some individuals the first upper and first lower rows
are complete. The variation in size and proportions is given in Table
2. The dark brown lateral streak on the anterior part of the caudal
musculature is distinct on most specimens; the only other variation in
coloration is in the amount of brown flecking on the caudal
musculature and fin.
_Comparisons._--_Ptychohyla schmidtorum schmidtorum_ differs from _P.
schmidtorum chamulae_ as stated in the diagnosis and in having pale
creamy tan, as opposed to dark brown, webbing on the feet; and from
_P. ignicolor_ in having a depressed, as opposed to a flat,
internarial region. Tadpoles of _P. s. schmidtorum_ have a mottled
appearance, as opposed to the more uniform brown color of _P. s.
chamulae_.
_Ptychohyla schmidtorum schmidtorum_ and several species of
_Plectrohyla_ are sympatric. All species of the latter genus have a
bony prepollex, rugose skin on the dorsum, and heavy body; also
sympatric is _Ptychohyla e. euthysanota_, which has a tarsal fold and
in breeding males spinous nuptial tuberosities.
_Life History._--This species breeds in clear mountain streams where
males call from vegetation along the stream. The call consists of
series of short notes, three to nine notes per series, sounding like
"raa-raa-raa." The duration of each note is approximately .065 of a
second, and has a rate of 96 to 119 pulses per second; the dominant
frequency is about 3400 cycles per second. The call is almost
indistinguishable from that of _Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_.
Tadpoles and metamorphosing young were found at Finca La Paz,
Guatemala, in late July, 1960. Two young lacking tails but not having
completely developed mouths have snout-vent lengths of 14.2 and 14.6
mm. L. C. Stuart collected four metamorphosing young at Finca La Paz
on May 6, 1949. By May 10 the frogs were completely metamorphosed, at
which time they had snout-vent lengths of 15.5 to 17.0 (average 16.1)
mm.
_Remarks._--There is no doubt that this frog is most closely related
to _Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_, even though the ranges of the
two subspecies are separated by the interior depression of Chiapas.
Since at least at Finca La Paz, Guatemala, _P. s. schmidtorum_ occurs
with _P. e. euthysanota_, it is surprising that the former species has
not been found at more localities along the Pacific slopes on northern
Central America. At Finca La Paz in July, 1960, _P. s. schmidtorum_
was more abundant than _P. e. euthysanota_.
_Distribution._--This species is known only from a limited area at
elevations between 1300 and 2200 meters on the Pacific slopes of the
Sierra Madre in extreme eastern Chiapas and western Guatemala.
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Chiapas_: Finca Irlandia, UMMZ
105429-30.
GUATEMALA: _San Marcos_: El Porvenir, CNHM 20755, 20761, 69904, UMMZ
80918; Finca La Paz, 2 km. W of La Reforma, KU 58016-44, 59940-2
(skeletons), 60050 (3 young), 60051 (tadpoles), 60052 (4 young), MCZ
34998-9, UMMZ 123144-7 (tadpoles).
[Illustration: PLATE 17
_Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_ (KU 58069). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae= Duellman
_Ptychohyla chamulae_ Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
13: 354-357, pl. 25, fig. 2, April 27, 1961 [Holotype.--KU
58063 from 6.2 kilometers south of Rayon Mescalapa, Chiapas,
Mexico; William E. Duellman collector].
_Diagnosis._--Vomerine teeth 4-6; dorsum bright green; white lateral
stripe; eye reddish bronze in life.
_Description._--The following description is based on KU 58069 from
6.2 kilometers south of Rayon Mescalapa, Chiapas, Mexico (Pl. 17).
Adult male having a snout-vent length of 27.6 mm.; tibia length, 13.0
mm.; tibia length/snout-vent length, 47.1 per cent; foot length, 10.8
mm.; head length, 9.6 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 34.7 per
cent; head width, 9.2 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 33.1 per
cent; diameter of eye, 3.0 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.6 mm.;
tympanum/eye, 53.3 per cent. Snout in lateral profile nearly square,
slightly rounded above and below, and in dorsal profile blunt, almost
square; canthus pronounced; loreal region concave; lips thick, rounded
and flaring; nostrils protuberant; internarial distance, 2.5 mm.;
internarial region slightly depressed; top of head flat; interorbital
distance, 3.3 mm., much greater than width of eyelid, 2.5 mm. Thin
dermal fold, from posterior corner of eye above tympanum to insertion
of fore limb, covering upper edge of tympanum; tympanum nearly round,
its diameter equal to its distance from eye. Forearm slender, lacking
distinct fold on wrist; row of low, rounded tubercles on ventrolateral
surface of forearm; pollex slightly enlarged, without nuptial spines;
second and fourth fingers equal in length; subarticular tubercles
round, that under fourth finger bifid; discs small, that of third
finger noticeably smaller than tympanum; no web between first and
second fingers; vestige of web between other fingers. Heels
overlapping when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal articulation
reaches to middle of eye; no tarsal fold; inner metatarsal tubercle
large, flat, and elliptical; outer metatarsal tubercle small,
elliptical, slightly more distal than inner; 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 base of
penultimate phalanx; discs smaller on toes than on fingers. Anal
opening directed posteriorly at upper edge of thighs; no anal flap;
pair of large tubercles below anal opening. Skin of dorsum and of
ventral surfaces of forelimbs and shanks smooth; that of throat,
belly, and ventral surfaces of thighs granular. Ventrolateral glands
well developed, not reaching axilla or groin and broadly separated
midventrally. Tongue cordiform, shallowly notched behind and only
slightly free posteriorly; vomerine teeth 2-3, situated on small
triangular elevations between ovoid inner nares; openings to vocal sac
large, one situated along inner posterior edge of each mandibular
ramus.
Dorsum of head, body and limbs reddish brown with dark purplish brown
markings on back and shanks; first finger creamy tan; other fingers
pale brown; dorsal surfaces of tarsi, third, fourth, and fifth toes
dull tan with brown spots; first and second toes creamy tan; webbing
on feet brown; anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs tan; faint
creamy white stripe along ventrolateral edges of tarsi and forearms;
enamel-white stripe on heel; axilla and groin gray; enamel-white
stripe on edge of upper lip, continuing onto proximal upper surfaces
of forelimb and on flanks to groin, widened under eye to form large
spot, and bordered below on flanks by dark brown stripe; white stripe
above and white spots below anal opening; throat and chest white;
belly and ventral surfaces of limbs cream color; brown dash on either
side of chin and brown spot on throat near angle of jaws; few brown
flecks on belly; ventrolateral glands orange-tan; ventral surfaces of
tarsi and feet brown.
In life, dorsal surfaces of head, body, and limbs bright green
(Shamrock Green); first and second fingers pale orange (Apricot
Yellow); stripe on upper lip and spot below eye enamel-white; stripe
on flanks silvery white, bordered below by brown (Saccardo's Umber)
brown; anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs yellowish brown (Old
Gold); webbing of feet dull brown (Brownish Olive); belly deep yellow
(Amber Yellow); iris reddish bronze (English Red).
_Variation._--Tubercles beneath the fourth fingers are bifid in 20
specimens and rounded in all others. The tongue is emarginate in 12
specimens and cordiform in all others. In most specimens the white
stripe on the upper lip continues onto the flanks and to the groin; in
five specimens the stripe terminates above the forearm, and in three
it terminates at mid-flank. The lateral stripe is absent in two
specimens. All specimens were uniform green above when found at night;
later some changed to pale green (Light Oriental Green) on the dorsum
with irregular yellowish tan (Naples Yellow) blotches. Most males have
brown flecks on the throat and ventrolateral gland, but some specimens
are immaculate below, and one has dark brown mottling on the throat.
Several males have a round, orange-tan glandular area on the chin, as
does _P. ignicolor_.
_Description of tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
58199 from 6.2 kilometers south of Rayon Mescalapa, Chiapas, Mexico
(Figs. 5B and 6F). Hind limbs small; total length, 39.0 mm.; body
length, 10.5 mm.; body length/total length, 26.9 per cent. Body barely
depressed, only slightly wider than deep, widest just posterior to
eyes; in dorsal profile ovoid; mouth directed ventrally; eyes small,
directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely protuberant, directed
anterodorsally, slightly closer to eye than snout; spiracle sinistral
and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Tail long and slender;
caudal fin low, rounded posteriorly; depth of caudal musculature
one-half greatest depth of caudal fin; musculature not extending to
tip of tail.
Mouth large; thin fleshy lips greatly expanded and forming
funnel-shaped disc; outer edge of lips having one row of small
papillae; inner surfaces of mouth smooth; scattered large papillae
forming nearly one complete row around teeth; other papillae
laterally; beaks moderately developed, bearing long, pointed
denticulations; no lateral projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 3/3,
all short; second and third upper rows subequal in length; first upper
row shorter; first and third upper rows interrupted medially; first
lower row interrupted medially, equal in length to second and third
upper rows; second lower row slightly shorter; third lower row
shortest.
Body dark brown above and dark gray below; fleshy part of mouth creamy
gray mottled with dark brown; caudal musculature pale tan with heavy
suffusion of brown flecks; caudal fin transparent with brown spots;
dark brown streak mid-laterally on anterior one-fifth of caudal
musculature, bordered below by cream-colored spot; eye brown in life.
_Variation._--The third upper tooth-row is interrupted in all
specimens, but in some individuals the first upper row and first lower
row are complete. The only noted variation in color is the intensity
of brown pigmentation on the caudal musculature, which in most
specimens is sufficiently dense to make the tail look brown. In some
specimens the mid-lateral streak is indistinct, and the pale spot
below the streak is absent.
_Comparisons._--Aside from the characters listed in the diagnosis,
_Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_ differs from _P. schmidtorum
schmidtorum_ by having dark brown webbing on the feet, instead of pale
creamy tan webbing, and in having in life a yellow venter, instead of
a white venter. _Ptychohyla ignicolor_ also is green in life, but has
red flash-colors on the thighs, red webbing on the feet, and lacks the
white lateral stripe diagnostic of _P. schmidtorum chamulae_.
_Plectrohyla matudai matudai_ and _P. guatemalensis_ are sympatric
with _Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_. Each of the first two has a
bony prepollex, rugose skin on the dorsum, and heavy body. Also living
with _Ptychohyla chamulae_ are _Hyla chaneque_, a large species having
a tuberculate dorsum and webbed fingers, and _Hyla bivocata_, a small
yellow species having a broad, flat head, small indistinct tympanum,
and an axillary membrane.
_Life History._--Calling males were found on leaves of herbs and
bushes by cascading streams in cloud forest. The call consists of
series of short notes, three to nine notes per series, sounding like
"raa-raa-raa." The duration of each note is .054 to .070 of a second,
and has a rate of 96 to 110 pulses per second. The dominant frequency
falls between 3350 and 3450 cycles per second (Pl. 11D). The call is
almost indistinguishable from that of _Ptychohyla schmidtorum
schmidtorum_.
Tadpoles were found in the cascading streams; the smallest tadpole has
a total length of 17.2 mm. and has only 3/2 tooth-rows. At a stream
6.2 kilometers south of Rayon Mescalapa, Chiapas, metamorphosing young
were found on June 16 and August 5, 1960. Each of two completely
metamorphosed young has a snout-vent length of 15.7 mm. Another having
a snout-vent length of 16.2 mm. has a tail stub 2 mm. long and a
completely metamorphosed mouth. Two others have snout-vent lengths of
13.6 and 14.1 mm. and tail lengths of 11.5 and 8.1 mm. respectively;
in these the mouth parts are incompletely metamorphosed.
_Remarks._--Duellman (1961:354) described _Ptychohyla chamulae_ and
stated that it probably was most closely related to _P. schmidtorum_.
Further study has revealed additional resemblance in morphological and
behavioral details. It is concluded that the two populations are more
realistically treated as subspecies than as species. The geographic
ranges, as now known, are disjunct. _Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae_
inhabits cloud forest on the Atlantic slopes of the Chiapan Highlands,
whereas _P. s. schmidtorum_ lives in cloud forest on the Pacific
slopes of the Sierra Madre in Chiapas and Guatemala. Between their
known geographic ranges are the pine clad Sierra Madre and Chiapan
Highlands, and intervening sub-humid Grijalva Valley.
_Distribution._--This species is known only from elevations between
1500 and 1700 meters on the Atlantic slopes of the Chiapan Highlands;
it is to be expected in cloud forests on the northern slopes of the
Sierra de Cuchumatanes in Guatemala.
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Chiapas: 15 km. N of Pueblo Nuevo
Solistahuacan_, UMMZ 123325 (4); _16.5 km. N of Pueblo Nuevo
Solistahuacan_, UMMZ 123322 (10); _18 km. N of Pueblo Nuevo
Solistahuacan_, UMMZ 121395-9, 123324 (8), 123326 (5); _18.6 km. N of
Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan_, UMMZ 123323 (4); _5.6 km. S of Rayon
Mescalapa_, KU 58062, 58200 (tadpoles); _6.2 km. S of Rayon
Mescalapa_, KU 58063-74, 58199 (tadpole), 58234-8, 59936 (skeleton).
[Illustration: PLATE 18
_Ptychohyla ignicolor_ (UMMZ 119603). x 2.]
=Ptychohyla ignicolor= Duellman
_Ptychohyla ignicolor_ Duellman, Uni. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist.,
13:352-353, pl. 25, fig. 1, April 27, 1961 [Holotype.--UMMZ
119603 from 6 kilometers south of Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca,
Mexico; Thomas E. Moore collector].
_Diagnosis._--Diameter of tympanum less than one-half diameter of eye;
internarial region flat; 3-7 vomerine teeth; toes one-half webbed; no
white spot below eye; no lateral white stripe; in life dorsum green;
groin and thighs having bright red flash-colors.
_Description._--The following description is based on UMMZ 119603 from
6 kilometers south of Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca, Mexico (Pl. 18). Adult
male having a snout-vent length of 30.0 mm.; tibia length, 14.6 mm.;
tibia length/snout-vent length, 48.7 per cent; foot length, 12.3 mm.;
head length, 9.2 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 30.7 per cent;
head width, 9.3 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 31.0 per cent;
diameter of eye, 3.2 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.3 mm.; tympanum/eye,
40.6 per cent. Snout in lateral profile square, and in dorsal profile
rounded; canthus pronounced; loreal region slightly concave; lips
moderately flaring; top of head flat; nostrils protuberant;
internarial distance, 2.8 mm.; internarial region flat; interorbital
distance, 3.3 mm., much broader than width of eyelid, 2.8 mm. A heavy
dermal fold from posterior corner of eye above tympanum to insertion
of forelimb, covering upper edge of tympanum; tympanum elliptical, its
greatest diameter equal to its distance from eye. Forearm moderately
robust having distinct dermal fold on wrist; pollex moderately
enlarged without nuptial spines; second and fourth fingers equal in
length; subarticular tubercles round, none is bifid; discs on fingers
moderate in size, that on third finger slightly larger than tympanum;
no web between first and second fingers; vestige of web between other
fingers. Heels overlap when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal
articulation extends to anterior corner of eye; no tarsal fold; inner
metatarsal tubercle large, flat, and elliptical; outer metatarsal
tubercle near inner one and triangular in shape; subarticular
tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to longest 1-2-5-3-4;
third toe webbed to proximal end of penultimate phalanx; fourth toe
webbed to distal part of antepenultimate phalanx; fifth toe webbed to
middle of penultimate phalanx; discs on toes smaller than on fingers.
Anal opening directed posteriorly at upper edge of thighs; no anal
flap; pair of large tubercles below anal opening; small tubercles
ventral and lateral to these. Skin of dorsum and ventral surfaces of
limbs smooth; that of throat and belly granular. Ventrolateral glands
noticeably thickened, extending from axilla nearly to groin and only
narrowly separated midventrally on chest; skin of anterior part of
chin thickened and glandular. Tongue cordiform, shallowly notched
behind and only slightly free posteriorly; vomerine teeth 0-3,
situated on rounded elevations between somewhat larger, round inner
nares; openings to vocal sac large, one situated along posterior
margin of each mandibular ramus.
Dorsal ground-color of head, body, and limbs dull brown with dark
brown reticulations on head and body and dark brown transverse bands
or spots on limbs; first and second fingers cream color; third and
fourth fingers dull tan; anterior surfaces of thighs pale brown;
posterior surfaces of thighs cream color with heavy suffusion of
brown; dorsal surfaces of tarsi and third, fourth, and fifth toes dull
brown with dark brown spots; first and second toes creamy white;
webbing on foot brown; axilla and groin cream color; flanks brown; no
white stripes on edge of upper lip or on flank; faint, barely
discernible tan streak above anal opening; faint creamy tan line on
ventrolateral edges of tarsi; throat, belly, ventral surfaces of
limbs, inner edges of tarsi, and first toes cream color; outer ventral
surfaces of tarsi and other toes brown; chest and throat spotted with
brown; ventrolateral and chin glands orange-brown.
In life the dorsum was uniform green (Cosse Green) becoming paler
green (Bright Green-Yellow) on flanks, later changing to paler green
(Javel Green) on dorsum with irregular darker green (Lettuce Green)
markings and greenish yellow (Green-Yellow) on flanks; anterior and
posterior surfaces of thighs, ventral surfaces of shanks, anterior
surfaces of tarsi, and upper proximal surfaces of first, second, and
third toes red (Coral Red); venter pale creamy yellow (Sulfur Yellow);
iris pale golden color (Aniline Yellow).
_Variation._--Of 13 specimens, six have a cordiform tongue; the others
have an emarginate tongue. Five specimens have round subarticular
tubercles beneath the fourth fingers; six specimens have a bifid
tubercle on one hand, and two specimens have bifid tubercles on both
hands. A round gland is present on the chin of all specimens; in some
the gland is barely visible, but in others it is large and distinct.
In two specimens the ventrolateral glands are weakly developed; in the
others the glands are well developed and orange-tan. The white anal
stripe varies from a thin line to a series of white flecks. Dark brown
or black flecks are present on the throat, chest, and flanks of all
specimens. In some the flecks are small and widely scattered; in
others the flecks are larger and more numerous. All specimens were
pale green above when calling at night; later they changed to dull
green with darker green reticulations. The flash-colors on the thighs
and in the groin vary from red to orange-red or brownish red.
_Description of tadpole._--The following description is based on KU
71716 from Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca, Mexico (Figs. 5C and 6G). Hind limbs
small; total length, 39.6 mm.; body length, 11.8 mm.; body
length/total length, 29.8 per cent. Body moderately depressed, only
slightly wider than deep, in dorsal profile ovoid, widest just
posterior to eyes; in lateral profile snout rounded; mouth directed
ventrally; eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely
protuberant, directed anteriorly, somewhat closer to eye than snout;
spiracle sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Tail
long and slender; caudal fin low and rounded posteriorly; depth of
caudal musculature about one-half greatest depth of caudal fin;
musculature not extending to tip of tail.
Mouth large; thin fleshy lips greatly expanded and forming large
funnel-shaped disc; width of mouth about two-thirds greatest width of
body; outer edge of lips having one row of small papillae; inner
surface of mouth smooth; scattered large papillae forming one nearly
complete row around teeth; other papillae laterally; one large papilla
just above each end of first lower tooth-row; beaks moderately
developed bearing long, pointed denticulations; no lateral projections
on upper beak; tooth-rows 3/3, all short; second and third upper rows
subequal in length; first upper row shorter; first lower row equal in
length to second and third upper rows; second lower row slightly
shorter; third lower row shortest.
Body creamy gray with dark brown flecks above and below; mouth colored
like body; caudal musculature creamy tan; caudal fin transparent; dark
brown streak on anterior third of caudal musculature; rest of tail and
all of caudal fin, except anterior two-thirds of ventral fin, heavily
flecked with brown; iris silvery bronze color in life.
_Variation._--The only other known tadpole, which was collected with
the individual described above, differs in having only two upper
tooth-rows. The first upper tooth-row seems not to have developed.
_Comparisons._--From _P. schmidtorum chamulae_ and _P. s.
schmidtorum_, _P. ignicolor_ differs as follows: Tympanum smaller;
snout more nearly square; less webbing on toes; internarial region
flat instead of depressed; white lateral stripes lacking.
_Ptychohyla ignicolor_ and several small and moderate sized hylids are
sympatric. From _P. ignicolor_ these hylids can be distinguished as
follows: _Hyla dendroscarta_ has a round snout and yellow dorsum;
_Hyla erythromma_ has a round snout, green dorsum, white flanks, and a
red eye; _Hyla hazelae_ has a tarsal fold, green dorsum, and a black
line on the canthus; and _Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei_ has a tarsal
fold, brown dorsum, black and white flanks, and horny nuptial spines
in breeding males.
_Life History._--At Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca, males were calling on
vegetation above small streams on March 30, 1959, and on June 28,
1962; males were found on vegetation overhanging a stream 6 kilometers
south of Vista Hermosa on June 27 and July 3, 1962. The call consists
of a series of short notes, three to thirteen notes per series,
sounding like "raa-raa-raa." The duration of each note is about .08 of
a second and has a rate of 123 to 129 pulses per second. The dominant
frequency of notes in short series is about 2100 cycles per second,
whereas the dominant frequency of notes in long series is about 3150
cycles per second (Pl. 11E).
On June 28, 1962, two tadpoles of this species were found in a quiet
pool in a spring-fed rivulet at Vista Hermosa, Oaxaca. Females are
unknown.
_Remarks._--The absence of a tarsal fold and of nuptial spines in
breeding males, the nature of the breeding call, and the form of
tadpole are characters that place _Ptychohyla ignicolor_ in the _P.
schmidtorum_-group.
_Distribution._--This species is known from only two localities at
elevations of 1500 and 1850 meters in the cloud forest on the northern
(Atlantic) slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Oaxaca.
_Specimens examined._--MEXICO: _Oaxaca: Vista Hermosa_, KU 71334,
71716 (tadpoles), UMMZ 119602; 6 km. S of Vista Hermosa, KU 71335-42,
71343 (skeleton), UMMZ 119603, 123327 (2).