Plate 17

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Ptychohyla schmidtorum chamulae Duellman
Ptychohyla chamulae Duellman, Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 13: 354-357, pl. 25, fig. 2, April 27, 1961 [Holotype.—KU 58063 from 6.2 kilometers south of Rayón Mescalapa, Chiapas, México; William E. Duellman collector].

Diagnosis.—Vomerine teeth 4-6; dorsum bright green; white lateral stripe; eye reddish bronze in life.

Description.—The following description is based on KU 58069 from 6.2 kilometers south of Rayón Mescalapa, Chiapas, México ([Pl. 17]). Adult male having a snout-vent length of 27.6 mm.; tibia length, 13.0 mm.; tibia length/snout-vent length, 47.1 per cent; foot length, 10.8 mm.; head length, 9.6 mm.; head length/snout-vent length, 34.7 per cent; head width, 9.2 mm.; head width/snout-vent length, 33.1 per cent; diameter of eye, 3.0 mm.; diameter of tympanum, 1.6 mm.; tympanum/eye, 53.3 per cent. Snout in lateral profile nearly square, slightly rounded above and below, and in dorsal profile blunt, almost square; canthus pronounced; loreal region concave; lips thick, rounded and flaring; nostrils protuberant; internarial distance, 2.5 mm.; internarial region slightly depressed; top of head flat; interorbital distance, 3.3 mm., much greater than width of eyelid, 2.5 mm. Thin dermal fold, from posterior corner of eye above tympanum to insertion of fore limb, covering upper edge of tympanum; tympanum nearly round, its diameter equal to its distance from eye. Forearm slender, lacking distinct fold on wrist; row of low, rounded tubercles on ventrolateral surface of forearm; pollex slightly enlarged, without nuptial spines; second and fourth fingers equal in length; subarticular tubercles round, that under fourth finger bifid; discs small, that of third finger noticeably smaller than tympanum; no web between first and second fingers; vestige of web between other fingers. Heels overlapping when hind limbs adpressed; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to middle of eye; no tarsal fold; inner metatarsal tubercle large, flat, and elliptical; outer metatarsal tubercle small, elliptical, slightly more distal than inner; subarticular tubercles round; length of digits from shortest to longest 1-2-5-3-4; third and fifth toes webbed to base of disc; fourth toe webbed to base of penultimate phalanx; discs smaller on toes than on fingers. Anal opening directed posteriorly at upper edge of thighs; no anal flap; pair of large tubercles below anal opening. Skin of dorsum and of ventral surfaces of forelimbs and shanks smooth; that of throat, belly, and ventral surfaces of thighs granular. Ventrolateral glands well developed, not reaching axilla or groin and broadly separated midventrally. Tongue cordiform, shallowly notched behind and only slightly free posteriorly; vomerine teeth 2-3, situated on small triangular elevations between ovoid inner nares; openings to vocal sac large, one situated along inner posterior edge of each mandibular ramus.

Dorsum of head, body and limbs reddish brown with dark purplish brown markings on back and shanks; first finger creamy tan; other fingers pale brown; dorsal surfaces of tarsi, third, fourth, and fifth toes dull tan with brown spots; first and second toes creamy tan; webbing on feet brown; anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs tan; faint creamy white stripe along ventrolateral edges of tarsi and forearms; enamel-white stripe on heel; axilla and groin gray; enamel-white stripe on edge of upper lip, continuing onto proximal upper surfaces of forelimb and on flanks to groin, widened under eye to form large spot, and bordered below on flanks by dark brown stripe; white stripe above and white spots below anal opening; throat and chest white; belly and ventral surfaces of limbs cream color; brown dash on either side of chin and brown spot on throat near angle of jaws; few brown flecks on belly; ventrolateral glands orange-tan; ventral surfaces of tarsi and feet brown.

In life, dorsal surfaces of head, body, and limbs bright green (Shamrock Green); first and second fingers pale orange (Apricot Yellow); stripe on upper lip and spot below eye enamel-white; stripe on flanks silvery white, bordered below by brown (Saccardo's Umber) brown; anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs yellowish brown (Old Gold); webbing of feet dull brown (Brownish Olive); belly deep yellow (Amber Yellow); iris reddish bronze (English Red).

Variation.—Tubercles beneath the fourth fingers are bifid in 20 specimens and rounded in all others. The tongue is emarginate in 12 specimens and cordiform in all others. In most specimens the white stripe on the upper lip continues onto the flanks and to the groin; in five specimens the stripe terminates above the forearm, and in three it terminates at mid-flank. The lateral stripe is absent in two specimens. All specimens were uniform green above when found at night; later some changed to pale green (Light Oriental Green) on the dorsum with irregular yellowish tan (Naples Yellow) blotches. Most males have brown flecks on the throat and ventrolateral gland, but some specimens are immaculate below, and one has dark brown mottling on the throat. Several males have a round, orange-tan glandular area on the chin, as does P. ignicolor.

Description of tadpole.—The following description is based on KU 58199 from 6.2 kilometers south of Rayón Mescalapa, Chiapas, México (Figs. [5B] and [6F]). Hind limbs small; total length, 39.0 mm.; body length, 10.5 mm.; body length/total length, 26.9 per cent. Body barely depressed, only slightly wider than deep, widest just posterior to eyes; in dorsal profile ovoid; mouth directed ventrally; eyes small, directed dorsolaterally; nostrils barely protuberant, directed anterodorsally, slightly closer to eye than snout; spiracle sinistral and posteroventrad to eye; anal tube dextral. Tail long and slender; caudal fin low, rounded posteriorly; depth of caudal musculature one-half greatest depth of caudal fin; musculature not extending to tip of tail.

Mouth large; thin fleshy lips greatly expanded and forming funnel-shaped disc; outer edge of lips having one row of small papillae; inner surfaces of mouth smooth; scattered large papillae forming nearly one complete row around teeth; other papillae laterally; beaks moderately developed, bearing long, pointed denticulations; no lateral projections on upper beak; tooth-rows 3⁄3, all short; second and third upper rows subequal in length; first upper row shorter; first and third upper rows interrupted medially; first lower row interrupted medially, equal in length to second and third upper rows; second lower row slightly shorter; third lower row shortest.

Body dark brown above and dark gray below; fleshy part of mouth creamy gray mottled with dark brown; caudal musculature pale tan with heavy suffusion of brown flecks; caudal fin transparent with brown spots; dark brown streak mid-laterally on anterior one-fifth of caudal musculature, bordered below by cream-colored spot; eye brown in life.