Breeding congregations of this rare frog were found 8.6 kilometers west of Tehuantepec on July 5, 1956, and at Salina Cruz on July 6, 1958. Both choruses took place immediately after torrential rains. In both instances the frogs were in and about open muddy pools in the scrub forest ([Pl. 5, fig. 2]); males called from the bank near the water, and clasping pairs were found only on land ([Pl. 8, figs. 1]-[2]). The call is a loud, nasal "braaa," two to three seconds in duration. Amplexus is axillary.
The dorsal ground color is light yellowish green tending towards olive on the head and fading to yellow on the flanks. The ventral surfaces, including the vocal sac, are white; the iris is golden and flecked with black. The present series agrees well with the description of reticulata (based on two specimens) given by Taylor (1942:60). A detailed analysis of variation, comparison with related species, and descriptions of tadpoles are reserved for a future report.
Hyla baudini Duméril and Bibron
Oaxaca: Bisilana; Cerro Quiengola (2); Cerro San Pedro; Coyol; Matías Romero (12); Mixtequilla; Río Sarabia (7); Salazar; San Antonio; 11 km. S of Santiago Chivela; Santo Domingo (3); Tapanatepec (2); Tehuantepec (23); Tolosita. Veracruz: Acayucan; Amatitlán; Ciudad Alemán (3); Cosamaloapan (2); Cuatotolapam (15); 10 km. SE of Hueyapan; 20 km. S of Jesús Carranza; 38 km. S of Jesús Carranza (2); 20 km. ENE of Jesús Carranza (4); La Oaxaqueña (2); Minatitlán (2); Naranja (3); Novillero (9); Río de las Playas (2); San Lorenzo (5); Tapalapan (2).
Commonly found on both sides of the isthmus, this large tree frog nearly always is associated with trees; it is not found in the savannas, although it breeds in savannas adjacent to rainforest. It appears to be somewhat more abundant in scrub forest than in rainforest. In the daytime individuals were found under the outer sheaths of banana plants, in the axils of leaves of elephant ears (Xanthosoma), in cavities in trees, and on shaded limbs in the forest. Recently metamorphosed individuals having snout-vent lengths slightly more than 20 mm. were found in the latter part of July.
Hyla ebraccata Cope
Oaxaca: Donají (17); 43 km. N of Matías Romero (27); Sarabia (6); Tolosita (3); Ubero (17). Veracruz: Aquilera.
This small species was found only in forested areas, where calling males were on bushes and trees around rain pools. The call is a harsh squawk repeated at intervals of 15 to 20 seconds, followed by a minute or more of silence, and then repeated. Clasping pairs were found on bushes and in the water.
The dorsum bears a dark chocolate brown hour glass-shaped mark, which in some individuals is broken into a large mark posteriorly and a smaller triangular one on the head and nape. The dorsal ground color varies from pale cream or ivory to yellow or tan. The intensity of the dorsal pigmentation is subject to rather rapid change. The flanks, hands, and anterior part of the venter are lemon yellow; the feet, thighs, and posterior part of the venter are golden yellow. The dorsal surface of the shank is yellow to tan with chocolate brown bars or spots; the heel is pale yellow. There is a dark brown bar in the loreal region and a dark brown bar extending posteriorly from the eye to a point above the insertion of the forelimb. The iris is a copper color. The toes are completely webbed; the fingers, one-third webbed. There is a small axillary web that is evident when the forelimbs are at right angles to the body. Twenty males have an average snout-vent length of 28.1 mm.; three females, 35.3 mm. There are no nuptial tuberosities on the pollex of breeding males.
This species has been collected at Coyame and Catemaco in Los Tuxtlas and at various localities in Tabasco; it apparently ranges eastward from southern Veracruz, México, in humid forests to El Petén, Guatemala.