Smilisca puma breeds in grass-choked ponds and marshes, where the males call from bases of dense clumps of grass in the water (Pl. 9, Fig. 1).
Smilisca sila and S. sordida differ noticeably from other species in the genus by breeding exclusively in streams, where males usually call from rocks or gravel bars in or at the edges of streams (Pl. 9, Fig. 2); sometimes individuals perch on bushes overhanging streams. In the streams, or parts of streams, utilized by these frogs the water is clear, shallow, and has a slow gradient; occasional males have been found calling along cascading mountain streams.
Breeding choruses composed of ten or more species of frogs are not uncommon in Middle America, but Smilisca usually breeds alone or with one or two other species and at the most five others. This tendency towards solitary breeding possibly is the result of selection of breeding sites that are unsuitable to many other species of frogs. Nevertheless, many other species of frogs have been found at the breeding sites with the various species of Smilisca; these breeding associates (Table 7) are most numerous for S. baudini, which has a broad geographic range, including a variety of habitats.
Calling sites.—All species of Smilisca usually call from the ground, including rocks and gravel bars; some individuals sit in shallow water near the edge of the pool or stream. Sometimes males of S. baudini, sila, and sordida call from low bushes or trees near the breeding site. One S. baudini was observed calling while it was floating on the surface of a pond. Smilisca cyanosticta, phaeota, and puma call from secluded places at the edge of the water or in the water, whereas S. baudini, sila and sordida call from open situations.
| Table 7.—Breeding Associates of the Various Species of Smilisca. | ||||||
| Associate | S. baudini | S. cyanosticta | S. phaeota | S. puma | S. sila | S. sordida |
| Rhinophrynus dorsalis | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Leptodactylus bolivianus | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Leptodactylus labialis | X | — | X | — | — | — |
| Leptodactylus melanonotus | X | — | X | X | X | — |
| Leptodactylus occidentalis | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Leptodactylus quadrivittatus | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Leptodactylus pentadactylus | — | — | X | X | — | X |
| Engystomops pustulosus | X | — | X | — | — | — |
| Bufo canaliferus | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo cavifrons | — | X | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo coccifer | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo coniferus | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Bufo cristatus | — | X | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo gemmifer | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo haematiticus | — | — | X | — | X | X |
| Bufo kellogi | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo luetkeni | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo marinus | X | — | X | X | X | X |
| Bufo marmoreus | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo mazatlanensis | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo melanochloris | — | — | X | — | X | X |
| Bufo perplexus | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bufo typhonius | — | — | X | — | X | — |
| Atelopus varius | — | — | — | — | X | X |
| Diaglena reticulata | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diaglena spatulata | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Table 7.—Continued | ||||||
| Associate | S. baudini | S. cyanosticta | S. phaeota | S. puma | S. sila | S. sordida |
| Hyla boulengeri | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Hyla colymba | — | — | — | — | X | — |
| Hyla ebraccata | X | — | X | — | — | — |
| Hyla elaeochroa | — | — | X | X | — | — |
| Hyla eximia | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hyla legleri | — | — | — | — | — | X |
| Hyla microcephala | X | — | X | — | — | — |
| Hyla phlebodes | — | — | X | X | — | — |
| Hyla picta | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hyla robertmertensi | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hyla rosenbergi | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Hyla rufioculis | — | — | — | — | — | X |
| Hyla smithi | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hyla staufferi | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hyla walkeri | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Phrynohyas inflata | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Phrynohyas spilomma | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Phrynohyas venulosa | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Phyllomedusa callidryas | X | — | X | — | — | — |
| Phyllomedusa dacnicolor | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Phyllomedusa moreleti | X | X | — | — | — | — |
| Pternohyla fodiens | X | — | — | — | — | — |
| Smilisca baudini | X | X | — | — | — | — |
| Smilisca cyanosticta | X | X | — | — | — | — |
| Smilisca phaeota | — | — | X | — | — | — |
| Smilisca puma | — | — | — | X | — | — |