In Michoacán Hyla eximia has been collected in mesquite-grassland, pine-oak forest, and cultivated areas on the Mexican Plateau from 1500 to 2300 meters; apparently it is absent from the Sierra de Coalcomán. This is the most abundant frog on the southern part of the Mexican Plateau; in the rainy season breeding choruses are found in temporary pools and in the marshes adjacent to the permanent lakes.
Hyla lafrentzi Mertens and Wolterstorff
Hyla lafrentzi Mertens and Wolterstorff, Zool. Anz., 84:235, August 25, 1929.—Desierto de los Leones, Distrito Federal, México.
Cerro San Andrés (26); Opopeo (9).
In March, 1949, James A. Peters collected this species at elevations of 2400 to 2800 meters on the west slope of Cerro San Andrés. The frogs were found beneath logs and rocks in a damp canyon in coniferous forest. Among the juveniles in this series is a completely transformed individual (UMMZ 102093) having a snout-vent length of 14.5 mm. Five adults have snout-vent lengths of 36.2-39.5 (38.0) mm. Hyla lafrentzi has noticeably longer hind limbs than H. eximia; in the former, when the hind limb is brought forward along the body, the tibiotarsal articulation extends to the snout. There are dark transverse bands on the hind limbs; the dorsolateral stripe is broken into an anterior and a posterior segment, and the latter is narrowly bordered by white in most specimens.
Hyla lafrentzi occurs at higher elevations than any other frog in Michoacán; the locality records from throughout the range indicate that it is restricted to pine and pine-fir forests. In these habitats it replaces Hyla eximia, which inhabits the lower pine-oak forests and mesquite-grassland on the Mexican Plateau. Ponds are absent at places where Hyla lafrentzi has been collected; possibly the eggs are laid in streams.
Hyla smaragdina Taylor
Hyla smaragdina Taylor, Copeia, No. 1:18, March 30, 1940.—6 kilometers east of Cojumatlán, Michoacán, México.
Hylella azteca Taylor, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 56:49, June 16, 1943.—Tepoztlán, Morelos, México.
Cojumatlán (30); Copuyo (7); 18 km. E of Dos Aguas (22); Ostula (8); Pómaro (3); Sahuayo; Salitre de Estopilas (7).