Fig. 14. Tadpoles of Smilisca; (A) S. puma, Stage 30 (KU 91807); (B) S. sila, Stage 25 (KU 80260); S. sordida, Stage 30 (KU 68475). All × 3.5.
Information on the growth and development of Middle American hylids is scanty. Adequate descriptions have been published for Phyllomedusa annae (Duellman, 1963b), Phrynohyas venulosa (Zweifel, 1964), and Triprion petasatus (Duellman and Klaas, 1964). Material is available for adequate descriptions of the developmental stages of four species of Smilisca (Tables 9-12, Figs. 11-13). Because none of the tadpoles was raised from hatching to metamorphosis, the rate of growth and duration of the larval stages are unknown.
Fig. 15. Mouthparts of tadpoles of Smilisca; (A) S. baudini (KU 60018); (B) S. puma (KU 91807); (C) S. cyanosticta (KU 87625); (D) S. sila (KU 80620); (E) S. phaeota (KU 68482); (F) S. sordida (KU 68475). All ×17.
| Table 9.—Growth and Development of Tadpoles of Smilisca baudini. (Means Are Given in Parentheses After the Observed Ranges.) | ||||
| Stage | N | Total length | Body length | Tail length |
| 21 | 10 | 5.1-5.4 (5.22) | 2.6-2.7 (2.54) | 2.5-2.7 (2.58) |
| 24 | 10 | 6.0-6.5 (6.20) | 2.3-2.6 (2.45) | 3.5-3.9 (3.69) |
| 25 | 10 | 7.2-8.3 (7.78) | 3.0-3.3 (3.14) | 4.2-5.0 (4.64) |
| 27 | 10 | 18.5-21.5 (20.22) | 8.0-9.0 (8.38) | 10.4-13.0 (11.84) |
| 29 | 10 | 21.5-24.5 (22.60) | 8.5-10.0 (9.25) | 12.5-14.5 (13.35) |
| 37 | 3 | 28.5-31.0 (30.00) | 11.0-12.5 (11.67) | 17.5-19.0 (18.00) |
| 38 | 10 | 35.0-37.5 (35.50) | 12.0-13.5 (12.80) | 21.5-24.0 (22.70) |
| 40 | 2 | 34.0-37.0 (35.50) | 12.5-13.5 (13.00) | 21.5-23.5 (22.50) |
| 41 | 10 | 34.0-37.0 (35.50) | 12.5-13.5 (13.00) | 21.5-23.5 (22.50) |
| 42 | 3 | 24.0-30.0 (27.00) | 12.5-13.0 (12.67) | 11.5-17.0 (14.33) |
| 45 | 6 | 14.0-24.0 (17.58) | 12.5-14.0 (13.37) | 1.5-10.0 (4.17) |
| 46 | 23 | —— | 12.0-15.5 (13.34) | —— |