In our study we examined 4151 preserved frogs, 93 skeletal preparations, 88 lots of tadpoles and young, and six lots of eggs. We have collected specimens in the field of all of the species. Observations on behavior and life history were begun by the senior author in México in 1956 and completed by us in Central America in 1964 and 1965.
Osteological data were obtained from dried skeletons and cleaned and stained specimens of all species, plus serial sections of the skull of Smilisca baudini. Developmental stages to which tadpoles are assigned are in accordance with the table of development published by Gosner (1960). Breeding calls were recorded in the field on tape using Magnemite and Uher portable tape recorders. Audiospectrographs were made by means of a Vibralyzer (Kay Electric Company). External morphological features were measured in the manner described by Duellman (1956). In the accounts of the species we have attempted to give a complete synonymy. 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. Abbreviations for museum specimens are listed below:
| AMNH—American Museum of Natural History BMNH—British Museum (Natural History) BYU—Brigham Young University CNHM—Chicago Natural History Museum KU—University of Kansas Museum of Natural History MCZ—Museum of Comparative Zoology MNHN—Museu National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris UF—University of Florida Collections UIMNH—University of Illinois Museum of Natural History UMMZ—University of Michigan Museum of Zoology USC—University of Southern California USNM—United States National Museum TNHC—Texas Natural History Collection, University of Texas ZMB—Zoologisches Museum Berlin |
Smilisca Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 17:194, Oct., 1865 [Type species Smilisca daulinia Cope, 1865 = Hyla baudini Duméril and Bibron, 1841]. Smith and Taylor, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus., 194:75, June 17, 1948. Starrett, Copeia, 4:300, December 30, 1960. Goin, Ann. Carnegie Museum, 36:15, July 14, 1961.
Definition.—Medium to large tree frogs having: (1) broad, well ossified skull (consisting of a minimum amount of cartilage and/or secondarily ossified cartilage), (2) no dermal co-ossification, (3) quadratojugal and internasal septum present, (4) large ethmoid, (5) M. depressor mandibulae consisting of two parts, one arising from dorsal fascia and other from posterior arm of squamosal, (6) divided M. adductor mandibulae, (7) paired subgular vocal sacs in males, (8) no dermal appendages, (9) pupil horizontally elliptical (10) small amounts of amines and other active substances in skin, (11) chromosome number of N = 12 and 2N = 24, (12) breeding call consisting of poorly modulated, explosive notes, and (13) 2/3 tooth-rows in tadpoles.
Composition of genus.—As defined here the genus Smilisca contains six recognizable species. An alphabetical list of the specific and subspecific names that we consider to be applicable to species of Smilisca recognized herein is given below.
| Names proposed | Valid names | |
| Hyla baudini Duméril and Bibron, 1841 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla baudini dolomedes Barbour, 1923 | = S. phaeota | |
| Hyla beltrani Taylor, 1942 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla gabbi Cope, 1876 | = S. sordida | |
| Hyla labialis Peters, 1863 | = S. phaeota | |
| Hyla manisorum Taylor, 1954 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla muricolor Cope, 1862 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla nigripes Cope, 1876 | = S. sordida | |
| Hyla pansosana Brocchi, 1877 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla phaeota Cope, 1862 | = S. phaeota | |
| Hyla phaeota cyanosticta Smith, 1953 | = S. cyanosticta | |
| Hyla puma Cope, 1885 | = S. puma | |
| Hyla salvini Boulenger, 1882 | = S. sordida | |
| Hyla sordida Peters, 1863 | = S. sordida | |
| Hyla vanvlietii Baird, 1854 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla vociferans Baird, 1859 | = S. baudini | |
| Hyla wellmanorum Taylor, 1952 | = S. puma |
Distribution of genus.—Most of lowlands of México and Central America, in some places to elevations of nearly 2000 meters, southward from southern Sonora and Río Grande Embayment of Texas, including such continental islands as Isla Cozumel, México, and Isla Popa and Isla Cebaco, Panamá, to northern South America, where known from Caribbean coastal regions and valleys of Río Cauca and Río Magdalena in Colombia, and Pacific slopes of Colombia and northern Ecuador.