Oaxaca: Tuxtepec. Veracruz: 20 km. S of Jesús Carranza; 20 km. ENE of Jesús Carranza (2); Minatitlán.
I have not collected this species in the isthmus. The locality records indicate that the range is discontinuous (Duellman, 1956:27). The species occurs on the humid Pacific slopes from south-central Chiapas eastward to El Salvador and on the humid Gulf lowlands from southern Veracruz eastward into Tabasco, but is unknown from the dry Pacific slopes and plains in the isthmus.
The acquisition of several specimens of this species in southern Veracruz, Tabasco, and Oaxaca, together with a knowledge of the variation displayed by Phrynohyas spilomma, suggests that modesta may be a color variety of spilomma.
Phrynohyas spilomma Cope
Oaxaca: Tapanatepec (3). Veracruz: Amatitlán (12); Chacaltianguis (2); Ciudad Alemán (6); Cosamaloapan; Novillero (3).
Like the preceding species, this frog is unknown from the arid Pacific lowlands of the isthmus; its presence at Tapanatepec, a locality situated in more mesic conditions than prevail on the Plains of Tehuantepec, indicates that it may have a distribution on the Pacific slopes much like that of P. modesta. Furthermore, this frog was not detected in the rainforests of the Gulf lowlands; in that region it was found only in scrub forest and savanna.
On July 26, 1956, numerous choruses of these frogs were heard between Ciudad Alemán and Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. The call is a loud, nasal "grawl" repeated continuously. The males call from the water. Several clasping pairs were found in shallow grassy ponds amidst the scrub forest. The ground color varies from reddish brown to tan with dark brown dorsal markings. The iris is golden, and the vocal sacs are dark olive brown. After a light shower during the dry season, six individuals were found on the low branches of trees at night near Ciudad Alemán.
Phyllomedusa callidryas taylori Funkhouser
Oaxaca: Donají (9); Sarabia (8); Tolosita (6); Ubero (27). Veracruz: Alvarado (7); Aquilera; Berta; Coatzacoalcos (9); 10 km. SE of Hueyapan (5); Naranja (17).
In life this frog presents a striking array of colors. The dorsum varies from pale green to dark olive green; there may be scattered whitish or cream-colored spots on the back. On the flanks are bright yellow to deep cream-colored vertical bars separated by pale blue or purple interspaces. The thighs and undersurfaces of the hind limbs are golden orange; the belly is yellow, and the throat is cream-colored. The iris is crimson; the transparent part of the lower eyelid has golden reticulations. When the frog is resting, the forefeet are folded beneath the throat, and the limbs are folded tightly against the body. In this position and with the eyes closed and head flattened, this gaudy frog assumes the appearance of a small elliptical green leaf.