Hyla

“ Despite these similarities, the Hyla picta group differs from the Hyla microcephala group by having a well-developed quadratojugal that connects to the maxillary, tadpoles with teeth present and caudal fins completely enclosing the caudal musculature, and a haploid number of 12 chromosomes. In all of these characteristics the frogs of the [Pg 554] Hyla picta group more closely resemble other Middle American Hyla than they do the Hyla microcephala group. Therefore, it can best be presumed that the superficial resemblances of coloration and the mating call are the result of convergence. ”

“ Although the type series of Hyla smaragdina consists of immature specimens, the males in that series do possess vocal sacs. Since these were not breeding individuals, the sacs are not well developed. The characters of the anal tubercles and the relative width of the head are of no value in separating the two species. The apparently aestivating individuals comprising the type series of Hyla smaragdina, and the type of Hylella azteca, which also was found in a bromeliad, were green in life. Of the calling males found on the coast of Michoacán, most were yellowish tan when found ”

“ Relationship.—It would appear that the relationship of this species is with Hyla bistincta, a widespread Mexican species likewise occurring in the same general area but at a much higher elevation. It also has an elongated flap which carries the anal opening nearly to the level of venter but the terminal part lacks the triangular flap. [Pg 262] There is no prolongation of the snout tip. ”

“ Hyla boulengeri need not be compared in detail with the other Central American members of the Hyla rubra group, because all of them are smaller and have shorter snouts, smoother skin, and dissimilar color patterns.
Distribution.—In Central America Hyla boulengeri inhabits the forested lowlands in locally humid areas in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, and in the humid Golfo Dulce region of Costa Rica; it occurs on the Carribbean lowlands from central Nicaragua to South America, where it ranges to Guyana and Ecuador. ”

“ Hyla pearsoni Gaige, 1929, is a small species of Osteocephalus. Our findings substantiate Goin's suggestions relative to two other taxa. Hyla leprieurii britti Melin, 1941, from the Rio Uaupés, Brasil, and Hyla depressa Andersson, 1945, from the Río Pastaza watershed, Ecuador, are members of the genus Osteocephalus, but both are synonyms of earlier names—leprieurii and taurinus, respectively. Another name proposed by Melin (1941) , Hyla (Trachycephalus) vilarsi from Taracuá, Brasil, also is placed in the synonymy of O. taurinus. ”

“ Hyla boulengeri and H. foliamorta are distinctive in the large size of adults (snout-vent lengths 41-49 mm.) ; both have prominent bars on the thighs, a well-defined interorbital triangular mark, blotches or spots dorsally, and large choanae. Hyla elaeochroa, H. rubra, and H. staufferi are smaller (snout-vent lengths 29-40 mm.) ; they have the thighs weakly barred or vermiculate anteriorly and posteriorly or unmarked, an ill-defined interorbital triangular mark, linear markings dorsally, and small choanae.
Key to Species and Subspecies
1. ”

“ Probably no ecological group of hylid frogs (some Hyla plus Plectrohyla and Ptychohyla) in Middle America is so poorly known as those species that live in the cloud forests on steep mountain slopes and breed in cascading mountain streams. During the last half of the nineteenth century most of the species of hylids living in the lowlands of southern México and northern Central America were named and described. ”

“ With regard to the relationships of the group we must take into account certain species in South America. Our endeavors there are hampered by the absence of data on the mating calls and life histories of most of the relevant species.
As mentioned in the account of Hyla m. microcephala, the species microcephala possibly is subspecifically related to Hyla misera, a frog widespread in the Amazon Basin. Hyla misera resembles microcephala in coloration, external structure, and cranial characters. The frontoparietals are equally poorly ossified, and the frontoparietal fontanelle is extensive. ”

“ At Lago de Tejocotal Hyla charadricola was found beneath rocks near the shore of the lake and by a stream in the pine forest. Individuals were found on low vegetation over-hanging a small stream in pine-oak forest four kilometers southwest of Tianguistengo.
Five recently metamorphosed young (KU 58424-9) found at the type locality on June 8, 1960, have snout-vent lengths of 22.4 to 24.0 (average 23.2) mm. The young are colored like the adults, except that in life the dorsum is a brighter green and the flanks are more yellow than tan and have less dark spotting than in adults. ”

“ The condition of the tarsal fold is characteristic of the species. The dispersion of dark pigment on the flanks is variable. The type of Hyla bistincta labeculata (USNM 123689) is extreme in the development of dark dashes on the flanks, but this condition is approached in several specimes from Oaxaca and Veracruz. For example, in some specimens from Cumbres de Acultzingo, Veracruz, the mottling on the flanks is bold; in others the flanks are reticulated. ”

“ Most juveniles (less than 40 mm in snout-vent length) can be identified readily. There is a tendency for the dorsal markings of juveniles to consist of several small spots. Apparently with growth the spots usually coalesce, forming a large median blotch, but some adults retain the juvenile pattern. Cochran and Goin (1970:251) erroneously identified several juveniles from Colombia as Hyla palpebrogranulata Andersson. ”

“ Although large breeding congregations are most common in the early parts of the rainy season, males probably call throughout the year. At Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica the senior author has heard Hyla phlebodes in February, April, June, July, and August. Charles W. Myers noted calling males of this species in the area around Almirante, Bocas del Toro Province, Panamá, in September, October, and February. ”

“ Duellman (1967) reported detailed observations of the social organization in the mating call of Hyla elaeochroa. The choruses in this species are initially organized, but when many individuals call, the chorus loses organization. I observed this species breeding in a temporary pond at Puerto Viejo, Heredia Province, Cost Rica, in late June. Calling males and clasping pairs were extremely abundant within a few hours after a heavy rain. Males were mostly found calling from low emergent herbs in the pond and less commonly from bushes and trees to heights of six meters above the water. ”

“ Two other hylids (Hyla lanciformis and multifasciata) in the Amazon Basin have transverse dark marks on the dorsum. Both of these differ from leprieurii by having pointed snouts, much longer hind limbs, and smooth skin dorsally.
Distribution.—The periphery of the Amazon Basin, in the Guianas and the upper part of the basin in southern Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and extreme western Brasil (Fig. 9) . Most localities are at elevations of less than 500 m, but the species ascends the lower [Pg 28] Andean slopes to elevations of 1100 m. 265 specimens from 31 localities. ”

“ The specimens seem to be more like Hyla rubra than any of the other species in the rubra group. The presence of oval choanae and a tympanum larger than the largest finger disc separate these specimens from Hyla elaeochroa, a species with which rubra has been confused. Hyla elaeochroa does not occur in the Canal Zone or eastern Panamá. All museum specimens from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panamá that have been called Hyla rubra, plus those mentioned by Dunn and Emlen (1932:25) and Dunn (1933:61) are Hyla elaeochroa. ”

“ A prophet is not without honor save in his own country. One must needs have wings and come from a foreign land to be received among us as a prophet of the spring. Suppose a little frog noses his way up through the stiff, cold mud, bumps against the ice, and pipes, Spring! spring! spring! Has he not as much claim upon our faith as a bird that drops down from no one knows where, with the same message? The bluebird comes because he has seen the spring; Hyla comes because he has the spring in his heart. He that receives Hyla in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. ”

“ Hyla phlebodes is the smallest species; adult males attain snout-vent lengths of only 23.6 mm. The body is slender in H. microcephala and robertmertensi, slightly wider in phlebodes, and noticeably broader in sartori. ”

“ Fouquette (1958) found calling males in May, August, and September near Miraflores Locks, Canal Zone. Calling stations vary from one to two meters above ground. No clasping pairs have been found; only one female is known (KU 101589, from 8 km NE Tocumen, Panamá) ; this gravid individual was collected in early June.
The mating call of Hyla foliamorta consists of one pulsed, low-pitched, moderate trill of about O.5 second duration. ”

“ Hyla smithi Boulenger, Zool. Rec. Reptilia and Batrachia, 38:33, 1902.—Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Aguililla (14) ; Apatzingán (104) ; Arteaga; Charapendo (5) ; Coalcomán (11) ; El Sabino (44) ; La Playa (6) ; Lombardia (2) ; Nueva Italia (8) ; Playa Azul; Salitre de Estopilas (2) .
This small hylid is abundant in the Tepalcatepec Valley to elevations of about 1000 meters; it was found infrequently on the coastal lowlands. Males call from bushes in and around flooded fields and ditches, from grasses and small herbs in the water and from vegetation overhanging small streams. ”

“ Diagnosis.—A member of the Hyla taeniopus group characterized by a yellow venter, yellow flecks on posterior surfaces of thighs, bronze-colored stripe from snout, along canthus and edge of upper eyelid to point above arm, pointed snout, smooth dorsum, and no sexual dimorphism in shape of snout.
Description of holotype.—Adult male having a snout-vent length of 68.8 mm.; tibia length 36.2 mm., 52.6 per cent of snout-vent length; foot length (measured from proximal edge of inner metatarsal tubercle) 31.1 mm., 45.2 per cent of snout-vent length ”

“ The genera are:—
Phyllomedusa (3 sp.) , South America to Paraguay; Chirodryas, Australia; and Pelodryas (3 sp.) , Moluccas, New Guinea and Australia.
Family 17.—HYLIDÆ. (11 Genera, 94 Species.)
The Hylidæ are glandless Tree Frogs with a broadened sacrum. They are most abundant in the Neotropical region, which contains more than two-thirds of the species; about twenty species are Australian; six or seven are Nearctic, reaching northward to Great Bear Lake; while one only is European, and one Oriental. The genera are:—
Hyla (62 sp.) , having the range of the whole family ”

“ Ever afterwards, in memory of the threat of Heracles to ravage the land if Hylas were not found, the inhabitants of Kios every year on a stated day roamed the mountains, shouting aloud for Hylas (Apollonius Rhodius i. 1207; Theocritus xiii.; Strabo xii. 564; Propertius i. 20; Virgil, Ecl. vi. 43) . But, although the legend is first told in Alexandrian times, the “cry of Hylas” occurs long before as the “Mysian cry” in Aeschylus (Persae, 1054) , and in Aristophanes (Plutus, 1127) “to cry Hylas” is used proverbially of seeking something in vain. ”

“ At the end of each species account the localities from which specimens were examined are listed alphabetically within each state, province, or department, which in turn are listed alphabetically within each country. The countries are arranged from north to south. Localities preceded by an [Pg 521] asterisk (*) are not plotted on the accompanying maps due to the crowding of symbols that would have resulted. Abbreviations for museum specimens are listed below:
HYLA MICROCEPHALA GROUP
Definition.—Small hylids attaining a maximum snout-vent length of 27 mm. ”

“ In life, top of head yellowish tan; lateral stripe brown; belly white; anterior half of tail lacking pigment; posterior half deep orange; iris pale bronze (Pl. 15) .
Remarks.—Evidence for intergradation of Hyla microcephala with H. underwoodi is provided by four specimens [USC 818 (2) , 6081-2] from 6.1 kilometers northeast of the mouth of the Río Tarcoles, and nine specimens [USC 8254 (2) , 8255, 8256 (4) , 8258 (2) ] from Parrita, both in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. These localities lie about two-thirds the distance from the northwesternmost locality for H. m. ”

“ While he lay in this dangerous condition, the fierce Oran, whose bosom yearned over him as the youngest, and, after himself, the last of his father's children, read the secrets of his spirit; and, seeing no other means of saving his life, he formed, so soon as the sudden return of Catherine to the valley appeared to render the scheme feasible, the bold resolution of carrying her off, and thus defeating the only scruples in the way of Hyland's happiness. His own heart was a rock, and he smiled grimly as he thought of the affection of woman ”

“ But what right has Hylas to make the answers he does? The argument sets out with the position that sensible things are the only things we certainly know; these sensible things are defined as "the things we immediately perceive by the senses;" and Philonous, resolutely ignoring everything else, says:—"Whatever other qualities, therefore, you speak of, as distinct from these, I know nothing of them." Had Hylas, as he should have done, taken the same ground, the dialogue would have run thus:—
Phil. Is material substance a senseless being, or a being endowed with sense and perception? ”