University of Kansas Publications
Museum of Natural History
Volume 13, No. 8, Pl. 25, figs. 1-2, pp. 349-357
April 27, 1961
BY
WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN
University of Kansas
Lawrence
1961
University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History
Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch,
Robert W. Wilson
Volume 13, No. 8, Pl. 25, figs. 1-2, pp. 349-357
Published April 27, 1961
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
PRINTED IN
THE STATE PRINTING PLANT
TOPEKA, KANSAS
1961
28-6442
BY
WILLIAM E. DUELLMAN
Field studies on hylid frogs in southern México and northern CentralAmerica have resulted in the collection of numerous specimensof Ptychohyla, a genus of hylid frogs heretofore poorly representedin museum collections. Experience with the living frogs in theirnatural habitats has been helpful in defining the species and informulating ideas concerning their relationships.
Taylor (1944) proposed the generic name Ptychohyla for a newspecies of frog, Ptychohyla adipoventris [= Ptychohyla leonhard-schultzei(Ahl)—fide Duellman, 1960] from Agua del Obispo, Guerrero.Taylor defined the genus as having large ventrolateral glandsand horny nuptial spines in males. Stuart (1954:169) discussedthe generic characters and pointed out that both the ventrolateralglands and horny nuptial spines were seasonal in their development,being found only in breeding males. Stuart then went on todescribe Ptychohyla schmidtorum, a species characterized by theabsence of horny nuptial spines in breeding males. My investigationsof these frogs have revealed the presence of two groups ofspecies. In both groups breeding males have large ventrolateralglands, but the two groups are easily separated by four characters.The first group contains, among others, Ptychohyla leonhard-schultzei,euthysanota, spinipollex, and another species in the MesaCentral of Chiapas to which I tentatively apply the name Ptychohylamacrotympanum (Tanner), 1957. This group of species is characterizedby horny nuptial spines in breeding males, presence of atarsal fold, a call consisting of a single long note, and tadpoles havinglips not greatly expanded. The second group, as recognizedhere, is characterized by the absence of horny nuptial spines inbreeding males, lack of a tarsal fold, a call consisting of a series ofshort notes, and tadpoles having greatly expanded lips. In thisgroup belong Ptychohyla schmidtorum and the two speciesdescribed below.
Only the descriptions of the new species are given in this paper;detailed comparisons, descriptions of osteological features, analyses[Pg 352]of calls, and discussions of relationships are reserved for a forthcomingreview of the entire genus.
In the spring of 1959, collections of amphibians and reptiles weremade in the cloud forests on the northern slopes of the Sierra MadreOriental in northern Oaxaca. Among the hylids found, two specimensof a heretofo